On the morning of May 12, 2026, Prof. Mari D’Agostino, Head of the School of Italian Language for Foreigners at the University of Palermo, Professor of Italian Sociolinguistics, and Doctoral Supervisor, visited the School of Foreign Studies (SFS) at Nankai University. Prof. Yan Guodong, Dean of the SFS, attended the meeting. Prof. Yang Lin, Head of the Department of Italian, along with faculty members Dr. Ni Yang, Dr. Ruan Yufeng, Dr. Feng Lisi, and Italian teacher Ms. Letizia Vallini, participated in the meeting.
Prof. D’Agostino expressed her sincere appreciation for the warm reception and thoughtful arrangements made by the SFS. She recalled posting a photo with Prof. Yang Lin on Italian social media during the pandemic and shared how this cross-border friendship became a testimony to refuting misinformation and conveying the friendship between the Chinese and Italian peoples. She emphasized that face-to-face interactions and communication between hearts are irreplaceable by any translation tool. She noted that language serves as a bridge for cultural exchange, and that both Chinese and Italian languages and cultures possess profound traditions, with much for the two sides to learn from and draw upon each other. At the conclusion of the meeting, Prof. Yang Lin shared a greeting letter written by Associate Prof. Renata Vinci, a Sinologist at the University of Palermo, to the faculty and students of the SFS.
Group Photo After the Meeting
Following the meeting, Prof. D’Agostino delivered an academic lecture entitled Language Policy in Italy: Theory and Practice for faculty members and students of the Department of Italian. The lecture was interpreted by Dr. Ni Yang.
Prof. Mari D’Agostino Delivers an Academic Lecture
Drawing on her own research experience, Prof. D’Agostino systematically reviewed the evolution of Italian language policy, tracing its development from multilingualism to monolingualism and then back to multilingualism. She examined language policy from two dimensions: “top-down national policies” and “bottom-up grassroots multilingual practices.” Through real cases and data analysis, she explored Italy’s current multilingual landscape and discussed differences in attitudes toward linguistic diversity among various social groups.
Dr. Ni Yang Interpreting the Lecture
During the lecture, faculty members and students engaged in in-depth discussions with Prof. D’Agostino on topics including Italian language policy, family language use data, the relationship between dialects and standard Italian, the use of English vocabulary in Italian, and suggestions for learning dialects in Italian language education. Prof. D’Agostino patiently and thoroughly answered the questions raised by participants, creating an active and engaging atmosphere. Faculty members and students commented that the lecture combined theoretical depth with practical guidance, not only broadening their academic perspectives but also deepening their professional understanding of Italian language policy research. The lecture provided valuable insights for future study, teaching, and academic research.
Group Photo of Faculty Members and Students from the Two Universities
Participating in the University of Palermo’s “New SEASON Project”
