Arba Sicula is a not-for-profit international society whose main objective is the preservation and promotion of the Sicilian language

Sicilian language

Sicilian is a Romance language. Its dialects make up the Extreme-Southern Italian language group, which are spoken on the island of Sicily and its satellite islands; in southern and central Calabria ; in the southern parts of Apulia, the Salento ; and Campania, on the Italian mainland, where it is...

 and culture. Its administration is located in New York

New York

New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...

, USA. The majority of members are also from the USA, although there are also members from Sicily

Sicily

Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...

, Canada

Canada

Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

 and other countries where Sicilian immigrants are found in large numbers. The society was founded in 1979.

Arba Sicula publishes an annual edition of its bilingual journal of the same name, and a biannual magazine entitled Sicilia Parra. Both publications represent one of the very few printed periodicals available in Sicilian. Both publications contain poetry, essays and news items about Sicily and the Siculo-American community. Arba Sicula also has a publishing arm that publishes many books on matters relating to Sicily and/or in Sicilian.

Gaetanu Cipolla has been the President of Arba Sicula (and editor of the journal and magazine) for the last 18 years. He is also a professor of languages at St. John's University

St. John's University (New York City)

St. John's University is a private, Roman Catholic, coeducational university located in New York City, United States. Founded by the Congregation of the Mission in 1870, the school was originally located in the borough of Brooklyn in the neighborhood of Bedford–Stuyvesant...

, New York. He has written books on Sicilian culture and language and has translated some of the most important Sicilian poetry into English, including the verses of the celebrated poets: Giovanni Meli

Giovanni Meli

Giovanni Meli was a Palermitan Sicilian poet and man of letters. After studying philosophy and medicine he worked as a doctor in Cinisi in the province of Palermo...

 and Nino Martoglio

Nino Martoglio

Nino Martoglio was a Sicilian writer, a publisher, a journalist and a producer of theatrical works. He wrote mostly in Sicilian and likewise, his theatrical works were mostly in Sicilian. He founded a theatre company in Catania in the early part of the 19th century...

.