BRIDGING MIGRATION AND RURAL REGENERATION: RETHINKING LINGUISTIC INTEGRATION FOR DEMOGRAPHIC SUSTAINABILITY

Abstract

This study examines how language learning contributes to demographic resilience in rural Southern Italy, with Pietradefusi as a case study. It addresses a significant knowledge gap by exploring the intersection of migration, linguistic integration, and rural sustainability.

Findings reveal that migrant settlement is sustained by a hybrid ecosystem that combines formal instruction, informal community hubs, and digital tools. These practices foster social cohesion, encourage long‑term settlement, and position language acquisition as a strategic demographic resource rather than solely a cultural one, strengthening the demographic sustainability of depopulated regions.

Policy implications highlight the need for municipalities to recognise non-institutional hubs as grassroots integration centres and to complement them with AI-enabled language platforms that support certification requirements. Such hybrid strategies can enhance accessibility through flexible scheduling, transport provision, and multilingual resources. Ethical design, human oversight, and attention to digital literacy and privacy are essential to ensure that technological innovation strengthens rather than replaces human connection.

Although the study’s small sample size limits generalisation, it opens pathways for further research across rural contexts and for testing operational models that embed inclusive language practices into demographic policy. Ultimately, the findings highlight how inclusive language strategies can transform integration into a driver of rural resilience.

Although the study’s small sample size limits generalisation, it opens pathways for further research across rural contexts and for testing operational models that embed inclusive language practices into demographic policy. Ultimately, the findings highlight how inclusive language strategies can transform integration into a driver of rural resilience.