ITALOPHONY: THE ITALIAN LANGUAGE BEYOND BORDERS

Culture, a fundamental part of Italian identity, represents both tangible and intangible heritage. This heritage includes the Italian language, a legacy of the past and a bridge to the future.[1] Organized by Italian ambassadors and cultural institutions under the High Patronage of the Italian Presidency, World Italian Language Week is recognized as an example of cultural diplomacy that strengthens Italy’s soft power. Since 2001, the third week of October has been celebrated annually as World Italian Language Week (Settimana della Lingua Italiana nel Mondo).[2] The theme of the 25th World Italian Language Week, celebrated from 13 to 19 October 2025, is “Italophony: Language Beyond Borders”.

Titles of previous editions include: 2001 Italian in Literature, Theater, and Film, 2002 Italian and the Arts of the Word, 2003 The Contribution of Italian Culture and Language to the Consolidation of National Identity and, at the Same Time, to the Formation of European Culture, 2004 Italian in Music and the Language of the Theater, 2005 The Italian Language in Fiction from the 1950s to the Present, 2006 Food and Celebrations in Italian Language and Culture, 2007 The Italian Language and the Sea, 2008 Italian in the Piazza, 2009 Italian in Art, Science, and Technology, 2010 Italian, Ours and Others’, 2011 “Happy Birthday Italy!”, 2012 The Italy of Territories and The Italy of the Future, 2013 Research, Discovery, Innovation: The Italy of Knowledge, 2014 Writing the New Europe: Italian Publishing, Authors, and Readers in the Digital Age, 2015 The Italian of Music, the Music of Italian, 2016 Italian and Creativity: Brands and Customs, Fashion, and Design, 2017 Italian at the Cinema, Italian in Cinema, 2018 Italian and the Internet, Networks for Italian, 2019 Italian on the Stage, 2020 Italian Between Word and Image: Graffiti, Illustrations, Comics, 2021 Dante, Italian, 2022 Italian and Young People. Excuse Me? I’m Not Following You, 2023 Italian and Sustainability, 2024 Italian and Books: The World Between the Lines.[3]

Italian Language Week aims to celebrate the linguistic, cultural and social aspects of the Italian language, creating a new international community united by their love for Italian culture and identity.[4] World Italian Language Week is an event that promotes Italian as a vital language in classical and contemporary culture. Celebrated with numerous events across the world, this initiative serves as a showcase for remarkable cultural highlights.

The Italian Cultural Center in Istanbul, an organization affiliated with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, announced the opening of the 25th World Italian Language Week with a special event dedicated to Andrea Camilleri, at Istanbul University’s Faculty of Letters. Moderated by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Cristiano Bedin from the Department of Italian Language and Literature at Istanbul University, the event began with Adriana Pannitteri’s documentary “Camilleri sono…” and continued with speeches by Adriana Pannitteri and Prof. Dr. Giovanni Capecchi.[5] As part of the “Laterza History Lessons” organized in collaboration with the Italian Cultural Center and the Italian High School, a presentation titled “The Discovery of Italian” was given by Fabio Rossi on October 16.[6] Additionally, Giorgio Diritti’s film “I Wanted to Hide” was shown.[7] A program exploring writing and living for the addiction that takes the Italian language “beyond borders” was held in Istanbul with the Ambassador of the Italian Republic to Ankara, Giorgio Marrapodi, and the author Carmine Abate.

The opening event of the 25th World Italian Language Week, organized as part of the 90th anniversary celebrations of Ankara University’s Faculty of Language, History, and Geography, began on October 13th with a lecture by Calabrian author Carmine Abate, “The White Olive Tree and Other Stories of Departure and Return.” The event attracted considerable attention. Attendees included Loriana Marrapodi, wife of Ambassador Giorgio Marrapodi; Maria Luisa Scolari, Cultural Attaché of the Italian Embassy; and university faculty and students. Organized under the auspices of the Italian President and through the initiative of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the events continue from October 14th to 17th with a theater workshop by Marco Martinelli and Ermana Montanari Albe, “The Purgatory of the Poets.” [8]As part of World Italian Language Week in Izmir, with the theme “Italophony,” the conference series “An Italian Levante: The Variability of Italian” by Ugo Braggiotti, “Italian on a Journey: Language as an Intercultural Bridge” by Timur Guda, and “An Italian Among Books” by Laura De Santo were held on October 15th in collaboration with Comites Izmir.[9] Furthermore, book club activities have resumed. As can be seen, the 25th World Italian Language Week is being celebrated in Ankara, Istanbul, and Izmir, Türkiye, with events rich in linguistics, literature, theater, and cinema.

[1] Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale, Diplomazia Culturale, https://www.esteri.it/it/diplomazia-culturale-e-diplomazia-scientifica/cultura/, 16,10.2025.

[2] Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale, Settimana Della Lingua, https://www.esteri.it/it/diplomazia-culturale-e-diplomazia scientifica/cultura/promozionelinguaitaliana/settimanalinguaitaliana/, 17.10.2025.

[3] Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale, Settimana Della Lingua Italiana Nel Mondo I Titoli Delle Edizioni Precedenti, https://www.esteri.it/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/250317_SLIM_Titoli-edizioni-2001-2024.pdf, 17.10.2025.

[4] Governo Italiano Presidenza Del Consiglio Dei Ministri, Campagna Di Comunicazione Istituzionale “Settimana Della Lingua Italiana Nel Mondo”, https://www.governo.it/it/media/campagna-di-comunicazione-istituzionale-settimana-della-lingua-italiana-nel-mondo/29995, 17.10.2025.

[5] Istituto Italiano di Cultura di İstanbul, Camilleri Sono…|#SLIM2025, https://iicistanbul.esteri.it/tr/gli_eventi/calendario/camilleri-sono-slim2025/, 17.10.2025.

[6] Istituto Italiano di Cultura di İstanbul, L’invenzione dell’italiano – Fabio Rossi | Lezioni di Storia Laterza #SLIM2025, https://iicistanbul.esteri.it/it/gli_eventi/calendario/linvenzione-dellitaliano-fabio-rossi-lezioni-di-storia-laterza/, 17.10.2025.

[7] Istituto Italiano di Cultura di İstanbul, Volevo Nascondermi (Giorgio Diritti, biografico, Italia, 2020, 120′) | #SLIM2025, https://iicistanbul.esteri.it/it/gli_eventi/calendario/volevo-nascondermi-giorgio-diritti-biografico-italia-2020-120%e2%80%b2-slim2025/, 17.10.2025.

[8] Ambasciata d’Italia Ankara, XXV Settimana Della Lingua Italiana Nel Mondo Ankara, 13-19 Ottobre 2025, https://ambankara.esteri.it/, 17.10.2025.

[9] Centro Culturale Italiano, ITALOFONI Italiano a İzmir, https://www.iicizm.org/it/post/italofoni-italiano-a-izmir, 17.10.2025.