This is the final version. Available from Pacini Editore via the link in this recordIn this article, I will discuss the presence of Veneto dialect in the linguistic
repertoire of Igbo-Nigerians living in the city of Padua. The case of Veneto dialect
is particularly interesting, as it is one of the most widely spoken Italo-Romance
dialects in everyday communication with friends and outsiders. The study analyses
interview excerpts in which participants talk about the linguistic repertoire of the
Veneto region and their knowledge, use and perception of Veneto dialect. The findings show that participants are aware of the sociolinguistic situation of the Veneto
region and make comparisons between the Veneto linguistic repertoire and the one
in the Igbo-speaking area in Nigeria. Moreover, participants use the Veneto dialect
in communications at work, with Italian friends and elderly people. The use of dialect is not a choice but rather a necessity for effective communication. Participants
do not have a positive attitude toward using Veneto dialect, as they still perceive
the dialect to be too geographically restricted and prefer to put effort into learning
Italian
