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The purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of regional images of Italy on the purchase probability of wine. Instead of regarding country image as a homogeneous national construct, this article focuses on revealing regional differences in Italian country image and investigating whether they are related with purchase probability. Moreover, several scholars state, that the development of larger regional brands can improve consumer choice especially for the product wine. In the light of growing global competition from ‘New World’ wine countries and simultaneously decreasing competitivity of the main European wine-producing countries (including Italy), the possibility to actively shape the development of regional brands and thereby potentially strengthening the competitive advantage within the European Union and on a global level, seems to offer an adequate approach to maintain the leading role of Italian wine producers in European and international trade. Therefore, this study aims to test, whether using larger regions (and not specific wine regions) as origin information for wine is applicable and improving consumer choice. The empirical framework was tested on a random sample of consumers living in Germany and comprises (a) the description of image differences between Northern and Southern Italy, (b) measuring the influence of regional indication of origin on purchase probability, (c) determining the predictive value of image components for purchase probability, and (d) the investigation of moderation effects of country knowledge on the results. Data from 388 respondents were analysed using multiple linear regression and paired t test. Results show significant image differences, which affects purchase probability. It is shown that the image of Southern Italy does not provide respondents with a suitable decision-making heuristic for buying wine. Furthermore, country knowledge negatively influences the predictive value of the measured regional image for purchase probability. As the predictive value of Southern Italian image does not contribute to the explanation of purchase probability, the present work corroborates the hypothesis of region-specific tendencies in the relationship between regional Italian image and consumer behaviour. Thus, this work provides a fundamental understanding of the regional composition of the Italian country image. It therefore serves practitioners as a decisional basis for the utilization of origin-related product information.

This paper presents the results of a pilot study on the distribution of indefinite determiners in contexts with narrow scope interpretation in current informal Italian. It individuates the available forms and presents their diatopic distribution. The research is based on data collected through an online questionnaire designed to detect optionality. The results show that in narrow scope indefinite contexts, i. e., negative statements, both the zero determiner and the definite article are widespread throughout the country. The partitive determiner is only found in episodic sentences and is limited to restricted geographic areas. In all contexts and areas, a large degree of optionality is found. In some context and area, however, it is possible to identify one form more prominent than the others. This can be related to the context, which may favour some specialized meaning of one specific form, e. g., saliency and small quantity, or to diatopic variation due to language contact with the dialect, as shown by comparing present-day informal Italian with the dialectal data reported in AIS and analysed in (Cardinaletti and Giusti. 2018. Indefinite determiners: Variation and optionality in Italo-Romance. In Diego Pescarini & Roberta D’Alessandro (eds.), Advances in Italian dialectology: Sketches of Italo-Romance grammars, 135–161. Amsterdam: Brill).

This conversation analytic study describes the uses of ciò ([ʧɔ]) in talk-in-interaction. This discourse marker is documented as a linguistic resource in several Venetan Italo-Romance varieties still widely spoken in the Veneto region, and it is also frequently used in the regional Italian spoken in that area. The data come from informal telephone calls and from family dinner conversations in both Italian and Trevigiano ([trevi'zaŋ]), which is a dialect spoken in the Treviso area. Preliminary results show that ciò (derived from the imperative form of the Venetan verb ciór / tór / tòr ([ʧor] / [tor] / [tɔr], ‘to take’)) is mainly mobilized as turn preface, often preceded by other particles. However, ciò is also found within the turn and, in a limited number of cases, in turn-final position. From a sequential point of view, in our data ciò occurs almost exclusively in responsive turns. This study shows that a conversation analytic approach yields a much more comprehensive understanding not only of specific structures of spoken languages but also of the complex relations existing between different linguistic varieties in Italy Basato sui principi teorici e metodologici dell’analisi della conversazione, questo studio descrive gli usi in interazione di ciò ([ʧɔ]), un segnale discorsivo presente in diverse varietà italo-romanze ancora ampiamente diffuse in Veneto, ma frequente anche nell’italiano regionale parlato in quest’area. I dati provengono da telefonate informali e da conversazioni in famiglia, in italiano e in dialetto trevigiano ([trevi'zaŋ]). I risultati preliminari mostrano che ciò (dalla forma imperativa del verbo veneto ciór / tór / tòr ([ʧor] / [tor] / [tɔr], ‘prendere’) è usato principalmente all’inizio del turno di parola, spesso preceduto da altre particelle. Tuttavia ciò si trova spesso all’interno e, in un numero limitato di casi, anche alla fine del turno. Dal punto di vista sequenziale, nei nostri dati la presenza di ciò è riscontrabile in maniera pressoché esclusiva in turni di risposta. Questo studio dimostra che un approccio metodologico di tipo analitico conversazionale può dare un utile contributo alla comprensione non solo di strutture e fenomeni caratteristici del parlato ma anche delle complesse relazioni esistenti tra varietà linguistiche diverse in Italia.

This article questions the long-standing assumption that heritage Italian can be characterized as italiano popolare on account of a number of similar non-standard features. It is argued that this is a problematic comparison due to some methodological lacunae in research into heritage Italian and that a systematic corpus-based analysis is needed in order to reveal its underlying sociolinguistic dynamics. This study focuses on a corpus of Italian spoken by the Italian community in Flanders (the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium) and presents a multivariate analysis of a set of morphosyntactic simplification features that have been labelled as typical of italiano popolare. It will be shown that the features of heritage Italian clearly correlate to a set of traditional language contact variables (e.g., contact with the home language and intergenerational transmission). This variation pattern shows that heritage Italian can no longer be connected to italiano popolare in the original sense of the term (viz. an interlanguage or diastratically lower regional Italian).

There is evidence today that, depending on different regions, Italians pronounce certain phonemes in different way. For example, the grapheme in zio ‘uncle’ and zitto ‘quiet’ in Northern Italy is always pronounced as [dz], while in the South we hear [ts]. The situation is very similar with the grapheme , which has two different outcomes, [s] and [z], depending on diatopic variable and distributional context (Berruto; Benincà ; Sobrero; Telmon; Canepari). These particular types of pronunciation and articulation can be explained by several factors: dialectal influence on Regional Italian, incoherence of the orthographic system for certain phonemes (with some of the phonemic distinctions being graphemically undistinguished) (Maraschio; Cignetti and Demartini), phonemic (non)functionality and problematic phonemes in Italian language (Muljačić). In this paper we will try to examine the significance of each of these factors that have influenced the variation in pronunciation of Regional Italian as well as the usage of the problematic phonemes in Italian language in the future. On one hand, this paper will compare studies on different articulation and perception of Italian phonemes depending on regional variability (Regional Italian), especially for the problematic phonemes in Italian language. On the other hand, we will analyse the possible influence that the incoherent orthographic system has on the loss of distinctive functions in pronouncing those phonemes (today and in the past). In this way we will try to understand what is going to happen in the future with the (non)articulation/perception of certain phonemes of Standard Italian and how this will affect the phonemic system of Italian language., U radu se objašnjavaju razlike u izgovoru talijanskog regionalnog jezika (italiano regionale), koje su primarno prouzročene dijalektalnim supstratom. Većina dijalektalnih govornika prvih generacija difuzije talijanskog standarda usvojila ga je kao drugi jezik. Stoga su i u izgovoru bile jače prisutne njegove regionalne razlike. Danas je to ipak drugačije, no varijacije u izgovoru i dalje prirodno postoje. Uzimajući velik broj (113) fonetičkih karakteristika regionalnoga talijanskog (iz Telmona), došli smo do zaključka da su neke od tih varijacija sekundarno prouzročene i netransparentnom grafijom i vrlo lošim fonološkim statusom ponekih fonema koji stvaraju veće, odnosno makroarealne razlike na cijelom talijanskom teritoriju. Kako bi se standardni jezik ponajprije osuvremenio te donekle unificirao u izgovoru, predlažemo rješavanje nekih postojećih problema: (1) osuvremeniti i ujednačiti nekoherentni grafički sustav, često temeljen na etimologiji; (2) riješiti fonološke probleme (nefunkcionalne parove prilagoditi prema najnovijem modelu (većinskom) izgovora); (3) predložiti paralelni sustav koji uzima u obzir regionalne varijetete koji bi bili prihvaćeni u gramatikama kao ispravni oblici usmenog jezika.

In questo lavoro si analizzano i toscanismi presenti nel Dizionario di fraseologia dell’italiano regionale (DFIR). Dato che si tratta del gruppo più importanti di fraseologismi regionali contenuti nel DFIR, si realizza uno studio di tipo trasversale secondo le tipologie di unità fraseologiche, secondo i loro componenti interni e le marche d’uso usate nel corpus sul quale è stato costruito il DFIR. Il risultato è una visione più ampia e critica del concetto di toscanismo, in quanto l’uso del marchio toscanismo nei dizionari odierni si confronta a volte con una visione arcaicizzante dell’unità fraseologica., The aim of this presentation is to analyse the Tuscanism of the Dizionario di fraseologia dell’italiano regionale (DFIR). Since this is the most important group of regional idioms contained in DFIR, a crosssectional study according to the types of phraseological units and their internal components is made. The result of our research is a broader and more critical concept of Tuscanism, since the use of the brand “Tuscanism” in the phraseological units present in contemporary dictionaries is compared sometimes with an archaic vision of the phraseologism.

Physical education in primary school contributes to the educational process of a person and can be considered a public health measure. Numerous studies have confirmed its benefits of increasing levels of physical activity, disease prevention and health promotion. The aim of this study is to present the results of the triennial SBAM regional program aimed at monitoring 8- year old children in the Apulian region of Southern Italy from 2013 to 2016. Thus, the program included 17,102 children in the first year, 16,104 children in the second year and 14,847children in the third year. SBAM is a multi-component program and includes different integrated action plans: physical education, active transport (pedibus), and methods for developing healthy eating habits. For each year, three motor tests (standing long jump, shuttle run 4x10, and medicine ball throw), a motor coordination test and two self-reports for evaluating self-efficacy and enjoyment were proposed to all children. The results show gender and group differences (normal-weight vs. overweight-obese) in both motor tests and self-reports (p

This article examines the mechanisms involved in the formation of regional Italian from the perspective of contact linguistics. Varieties of regional Italian containing elements of both local dialects and Standard Italian (SI) are spoken throughout Italy; this paper focuses primarily on Salento, a southern region characterized by a strong bilingual environment. The aim is to investigate the interaction between a dialect and a standard language, as well as the concrete linguistic mechanisms involved. The historical background of the acquisition of SI and its diffusion throughout the national territory are considered crucial moments in language transmission. Sociolinguistic characteristics of speakers are also analyzed, as are three types of constructions: change of verb transitivity, use of polyvalent complementizer, and gerunds. The analysis confirms that the spoken variety of Italian, regional Italian, is a result of contact-induced change of SI influenced by the local dialect, Salentino.

Apresentamos neste artigo o resultado de uma pesquisa sobre a situação atual dos italianos regionais, quanto ao uso de palavras diferentes para o mesmo significado. Essa fonte de riqueza lexical, observada do ponto de vista dos dialetos, é um tema de grande relevância que deve permitir aos alunos incorporá-la, desde o início de sua aprendizagem da língua.

This research tries to interpret the results of the empirical analysis of urban land value variations from 1977 to 2012 in the regional Italian capital cities based on the well-known theory of urban land rent. The historical series to be analyzed were obtained as the difference between the market value of a property and its cost of production. The paper shows, in quantitative terms, how differential and absolute rents will be translated into the dynamics of land values in relation to local specificities. The analysis of urban land rent evolution and the comparative study of the phenomenon compared to urban geography highlighted the difference among the various urban systems investigated and the criticalities generated by processes of transformation that have affected some Italian urban contexts. The difference is essentially explained by the different weight of macroeconomic variables, related to national and international contexts, and microeconomic variables, closely related to local demand and supply, in the process of rent formation.

Recently introduced rapidly mutating Y-chromosomal short tandem repeat (RM Y-STR) loci, displaying a multiple-fold higher mutation rate relative to any other Y-STRs, including those conventionally used in forensic casework, have been demonstrated to improve the resolution of male lineage differentiation and to allow male relative separation usually impossible with standard Y-STRs. However, large and geographically-detailed frequency haplotype databases are required to estimate the statistical weight of RM Y-STR haplotype matches if observed in forensic casework. With this in mind, the Italian Working Group (GEFI) of the International Society for Forensic Genetics launched a collaborative exercise aimed at generating an Italian quality controlled forensic RM Y-STR haplotype database. Overall 1509 male individuals from 13 regional populations covering northern, central and southern areas of the Italian peninsula plus Sicily were collected, including both "rural'' and "urban'' samples classified according to population density in the sampling area. A subset of individuals was additionally genotyped for Y-STR loci included in the Yfiler and PowerPlex Y23 (PPY23) systems (75% and 62%, respectively), allowing the comparison of RM and conventional Y-STRs. Considering the whole set of 13 RM Y-STRs, 1501 unique haplotypes were observed among the 1509 sampled Italian men with a haplotype diversity of 0.999996, largely superior to Yfiler and PPY23 with 0.999914 and 0.999950, respectively. AMOVA indicated that 99.996% of the haplotype variation was within populations, confirming that genetic-geographic structure is almost undetected by RM Y-STRs. Haplotype sharing among regional Italian populations was not observed at all with the complete set of 13 RM Y-STRs. Haplotype sharing within Italian populations was very rare (0.27% non-unique haplotypes), and lower in urban (0.22%) than rural (0.29%) areas. Additionally, 422 father-son pairs were investigated, and 20.1% of them could be discriminated by the whole set of 13 RM Y-STRs, which was very close to the theoretically expected estimate of 19.5% given the mutation rates of the markers used. Results obtained from a high-coverage Italian haplotype dataset confirm on the regional scale the exceptional ability of RM Y-STRs to resolve male lineages previously observed globally, and attest the unsurpassed value of RM Y-STRs for male-relative differentiation purposes. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

We make here the review of Paolo D’Achille’s L’italiano contemporaneo. The author deals with a lot of themes concerning contemporary Italian in this book: the situation of Italian language today (the fact that it is spoken along with dialects, its main characteristics, the italiano standard and the italiano dell’uso medio or neostandard); the onomastics (the first names, the ergonyms…); the lexicon (the basic Italian, the loan words…); the phonetics and the phonology (the Italian phonemes and the question of the consonant’s length, the structure of the syllable…); the inflected morphology (the system of the pronouns and the system of the verb and their innovations…); the lexical morphology (the formation of the words by derivation, by composition…); the syntaxis (the dislocations, the interrogative phrase, the coordination and the subordination…); the spoken varieties (the main characteristics of spoken Italian from a phonetic and morphosyntactic point of view, the regional Italian, the Italian spoken by young people…), the written varieties (the Italian of literature, the Italian of the newspapers, the Italian of the semicolti…) and the varieties of the italiano trasmesso, that is to say the Italian “spoken from distance” (by telephone, at the radio, in the films or at the television) and the Italian “written from distance” (the Internet sites, the e-mails, the chats and the sms). Paolo D’Achille takes particularly into account the notion of variation in his description of Italian language and thus gives of this one a complete view. We sum up and analyse each chapter of the book. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.sal.0.24.6152

ProSisMu (acronym of the Italian translation of Seismic Protection of Masonry structures) is an Italian project ideated by the synergy of the ERREGI group, a company which works in the civil and architectural engineering field, and the scientific contribution of the University of Rome Sapienza, Department of Structural and Geotechnical Engineering, recently approved to be financed by the regional finance company FILAS, Lazio Italy. The problem of seismic protection of historic masonry structures is always current in Italy, a country reach of history and of an extensive cultural heritage. The tragic seismic events happened in this territory, the last significant one refers to the L'Aquila earthquake in April 2009, together with the necessity of restoration and preservation of the cultural heritage, faced the necessity of a systematic analysis of the kind of structural damages induced on masonry structures. This work aims to illustrate the program of the project which shall be realized in the next two years.

We performed MBL2 genotyping in 47 CF patients—cared of at the regional CF Centre of Trieste—trying to establish a correlation within allelic variants of MBL2 and modification of patients' clinical outcome. FEV1 values were significantly lowered and a significantly earlier age at onset of Pseudomonas aeruginosa colonisation was found in CF patients with at least one MBL2 variant.

The biological structure of the regional Italian populations, defined by gene frequency distributions of erythrocytic markers, was analysed according to the strong migratory movements of the Italian population over recent decades. The analyses were conducted by means of principal components analysis on a sample representative of native and resident populations. This vastly larger resident population was subdivided into two groups, representing before and after the more marked migratory movements. The analysis shows that, with the exception of Sardegna, there is a trend toward greater overall homogeneity among the regional populations. The north-south distinction has tended to diminish. But while the northern regions have become more homogeneous with regard to each other, this difference between southern regions—especially those exclusively influenced by emigration—has been accentuated.

Frisch's (1959) conjecture on the behavior of the income elasticity of the marginal utility of income is tested by means of regional Italian data. Results offer some support to the empirical validity of the conjecture.