…ma noi l’italiano lo parliamo! Processi di traduzione e alfabetizzazione giuridica fra i giovani delle seconde generazioni in Italia.

The accessibility of institutional communication in Italy, particularly for migrant populations, rises multifaceted challenges due to the diverse composition of communities, each of which is characterized by varying levels of integration. Despite the presence of initiatives designed to support these groups, many of them remain ‘invisible’ in terms of civic participation. A significant barrier lies in the widespread lack of legal and institutional literacy, which complicates the exercise of rights and access to essential services. While language translation constitutes a critical initial step, it falls short of ensuring comprehensive inclusion. This limitation is especially evident when addressing legal and institutional concepts—such as ‘good faith’ or principles related to taxation and payroll systems—that demand nuanced understanding beyond mere textual translation. Such complexities underscore the necessity of an integrated approach that tackles with not only linguistic obstacles but also cultural and systemic barriers, enabling migrant people to fully exercise their rights as citizens. This situation becomes even more intricate when considering second-generation youth. While the lack of legal and institutional literacy among parents also affects them, their situation proves to be often more frustrating. Many of them, assuming that they are already linguistically integrated, tend not to turn to immigrant associations, precisely because they consider themselves fully competent in Italian. However, these young people often demonstrate considerable difficulty in fully understanding the legal and administrative texts presented to them, thus bringing to the fore the existence of a discrepancy between their perception of their own fluency in spoken Italian and their actual ability to navigate institutional systems. This phenomenon of ‘presumed legal literacy’ creates a kind of ‘rift’ between their sense of inclusion and their ability to effectively engage with the legal framework. On the other hand, second-generation youth represent a vital resource as potential cultural and legal mediators. Their unique position—straddling the cultural world of their families and the Italian socio-institutional context—makes them indispensable for the development of more effective systems of legal mediation and translation. Recognizing their lived experiences as a bridge between these two spheres, this article aims to explore, acknowledge, and enhance their role not merely as passive beneficiaries of inclusion policies but as active agents of transformation and participation within the Italian socio-legal landscape.