Ticino, jego mieszkańcy i ich tożsamość językowo-kulturowa Ticino, jego mieszkańcy i ich tożsamość językowo-kulturowa

The purpose of the article is to discuss and analyze the linguistic and cultural identity of Ticino and its inhabitants . The text presents the Swiss region and its language(s) from a historical and contemporary perspective, as well as two areas of language micro-policy: 1) implemented in the region by representatives of local elites/decision makers 2) present in the daily life of the inhabitants of Ticino: their decisions, views and attitudes towards languages . Discussion of these issues is based on the analysis of ethnographic research conducted in the region and existing documents and literature on the subject . I argue that although multilingualism is present in the region and in its inhabitants’ beliefs and everyday life practices, it does not contradict the fact that Italian is considered to be culturally the most important distinguishing feature of Ticino and the main language of the canton . I conclude that language policy implemented at the regional and local level in recent times has had little impact on the linguistic and cultural identity of the region and its inhabitants .