Culture and language awareness in the multicultural environment of Slovene Istria

This paper concentrates on the interethnic/intercultural attitudes of the Slovene majority toward the autochthonous Italian minority population in the Slovene part of the Istrian peninsula. Research results confirm the hypothesis that a positive attitude toward the second language and culture, and bilingualism or bi/interculturalism in general, do not compete with positive attitudes toward the mother tongue and culture. This research outcome can be reconciled with a view of culture and language awareness within a view of interethnic/intercultural awareness. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.