People

Giacomo Iazzetta

Postgraduate Research Student
Department of Language and Linguistics
 Giacomo Iazzetta

Profile

Ask me about
  • Sociolinguistics
  • Language Policy
  • Language in Education
  • Language and Inequalities
  • Arabic Sociolinguistics
  • Multilingualism

Biography

I am a passionate researcher and aspiring academic with a strong interest in the fields of education, language policy, sociolinguistics, and the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) countries. With a background in languages and civilizations of Asia and North Africa, my academic journey has provided me with valuable insights into the intricate dynamics of language, culture, and society. Currently pursuing a PhD in Sociolinguistics at the University of Essex, my research focuses on understanding the role of language policy in the construction and maintenance of inequalities in Morocco and Tunisia. I aim to shed light on the complexities of linguistic policies, practices and language attitudes in these contexts, with a particular emphasis on the implications for social hierarchies and educational systems. Driven by a deep passion for exploring the intersections of language, identity, and power, I have presented my research and other papers at numerous international conferences. I strive to foster dialogue and collaboration among scholars working in similar areas of interest. My ultimate aim is to contribute to the development of inclusive language policies, educational practices, and social equity in the MENA countries and beyond.

Qualifications

  • MA in Language and Civilisations of Asia and Mediterranean Africa Ca' Foscari University of Venice (Italy) (2020)

  • BA in Language, Culture and Society of Asia and Mediterranean Africa Ca' Foscari University of Venice (Italy) (2017)

Research and professional activities

Thesis

Understanding the role of language policy in the construction and maintenance of inequalities in Morocco and Tunisia after the Arab Spring

Language policy plays an important role through the education sector especially in multilingual and postcolonial contexts such as Morocco and Tunisia. The discriminatory nature of language policy contributes to the construction of the socioeconomic status and social inequalities (Leibowitz 1974). This project analyzes the ways in which the socioeconomic status is shaped in and through language policy in education in the Moroccan and Tunisian contexts. The political metamorphosis that took place

Supervisor: Hannah Gibson , Tracey Costley

Contact

giacomo.iazzetta@essex.ac.uk

Location:

Colchester Campus