Linguistic identity of pottery craftsmen in Salento

Linguistic research into the identity of social type can take on numerous different forms. The intention here is to use lexicon as the main focus of observation. This paper considers local identity categories that are directly related to the focus of the research: pottery production in southern Italy. These categories were elaborated as a result of ethnographic observation and fieldwork. The current production of pottery is characterized by the presence of both modern and traditional types of production. At the same time, the linguistic repertoire of the community is characterized by the presence of different varieties of language. Not all craftsmen using traditional production methods use traditional dialect. This paper sought to approach the question of identity by combining an analysis of linguistic variation with an examination of pottery production as well as a consideration of the identity assumed by the craftsmen themselves.