Solidità e vitalità degli scambi linguistici nei secoli XIX e XX tra siciliano, italiano e l’arabo-tunisino

The linguistic exchanges between the Italian and the Tunisian Arabic during the XIX and XX centuries were examined by means of a Tunisian Arabic Dictionary and the language of the Italian community in Tunisia. The Tunisian Arabic shows, in addition to French words, numerous Italian words related to the house, the work, the amusement, social relations and so on. The words don’t belong only to concrete objects but also to abstract nouns like feelings and emotions: for instance nerfūzī, dakurdū, basta (!), etc. This suggests a friendly relationship between Tunisians and the Italian immigrants, the nearness of dwelling places, closeness of sites of works, common activities, etc. Also some geographic elements show to be affected by the Italian influence: for instance La Goulette, word derived from the Italian “La Goletta”, that was, in turn, the Italian modification of the Arabic “ḥalq al-wādī”.
The opposite movements are exhibited by the language of Italians in Tunisia which assumed Arabic words describing the novelty of Tunisian society. More frequent ones are the exclamations of religious character manifesting Allah’s power and favors in everyday events.