The project explores multilingualism as a method of social unity in the ecclesiastical and religious context of South Tyrol, with its three official languages—Italian, German, and Ladin. Taking an interdisciplinary approach, it employs sociolinguistic methods of participant observation, ethnography, and discourse analysis to describe contemporary language use in parishes and chart the history of multilingualism in the Diocese. The writings of Chiara Lubich, founder of the Focolare Movement and champion of intercultural unity, provide an opportunity to delve into the theological meaning of unity and to evaluate the motivations for linguistic practices in light of her charismatic vision. Probing the theological and spiritual aspects of multilingual unity deepens the question in its particularity and expands its significance beyond the confines of this Diocese. The Church in South Tyrol has helped to ease tensions between the three language groups by encouraging multilingualism, but little research has been done on how or why. Within the complexities and relationships between and within each language group, much remains to be researched at the level of not only language, but also culture. Multilingualism is an advancing field in today’s shrinking globalized world as effective social integration and communication become of decisive value. Shedding light on ‘Catholic multilingualism in South Tyrol’ will translate to other case studies across religions and cultures for the benefit of the field and groups working to promote multilingualism and minority language rights.
