Condizionali controfattuali in italiano: norma, variazione e immaginario linguistico

This article explores the concept of immaginaire linguistique (IL), introduced in the 1970s by Anne-Marie Houdebine, to examine the acceptability judgments of counterfactual conditionals in Italian. Although largely overlooked in Italian sociolinguistics, this concept reflects the social perception of a language within a community and its impact on linguistic norms. The study combines the IL model with previous research on conditionals and the issue of standardization and normativity in historical Italian. Data were collected through an online questionnaire targeting native speakers and Italian teachers. The results reveal significant variability in the acceptance of hypothetical periods as standard, despite their historical attestation in Italian. Analyzed forms include the double imperfect indicative and combinations with the imperfect and pluperfect in the apodosis or protasis. The primary aim is to highlight how codified grammatical models fail to provide precise references for contemporary Italian speakers. The findings suggest that despite a tendency toward linguistic purism, there is a growing openness to grammatical variations. This study emphasizes the need for further research to understand how and why some linguistic norms are not integrated into the IL, demonstrating the persistence of a dichotomous right-wrong view among educators. This conservative approach contributes to the preservation of traditional norms and resistance to non-standard variants.