Abstract
Based on a corpus of radio interviews held with non native speakers, the paper explores the ways in which Italian as an L2 is made relevant and oriented to by hosts and interviewees – musicians and actors – against the background of the public nature of broadcasting. By adopting the perspective of Conversation Analysis, it is examined how Italian as an L2 can be topicalized through moves such as announcements, compliments and code negotation. Furthermore, it is analysed how interviewees’ non-standard productions only occasionally give rise to correction sequences – particularly when intelligibility for listeners is at risk –, documenting a general preference for self-correction as well as radio hosts’ ability to ensure a fluid interaction progression while enhancing interviewees’ positive face on the one hand, and intersubjectivity on the other.