Review on how Italian survives and thrives in Switzerland’s multilingual economy
What is it about?
Casoni’s book explores how Italian, a minority language in Switzerland, remains active in business and work. It shows how multilingualism links culture and economy, and why preserving linguistic diversity matters in a globalized world.
Why is it important?
This review highlights a work that uniquely combines sociolinguistics and economics to examine language vitality, a rare interdisciplinary perspective. Casoni’s book is timely because it explores how globalization and digitalization reshape linguistic practices in the workplace, revealing the growing tension between economic efficiency and cultural diversity. By focusing on Italian, a minority but official language, it illuminates broader challenges faced by multilingual societies in balancing inclusiveness with competitiveness. The review also underlines the need for updated policy measures to sustain linguistic diversity in Switzerland’s evolving economy.