Book contents
- The Cambridge Handbook of Language Standardization
- cambridge handbooks in language and linguistics
- The Cambridge Handbook of Language Standardization
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Figures
- Tables
- Contributors
- Introduction
- Part I Revisiting Models and Theories of Language Standardization
- Part II Legitimacy, Authority and the Written Form
- 7 Standard Languages in the Context of Language Policy and Planning and Language Rights
- 8 State-Appointed Institutions
- 9 Grammars, Dictionaries and Other Metalinguistic Texts in the Context of Language Standardization
- 10 An Industry Perspective
- 11 The Role of Literature in Language Standardization
- 12 Standardization, New Speakers and the Acceptance of (New) Standards
- 13 Creoles and Variation
- Part III Norms, Literacy and Education
- Part IV Beyond the National
- Part V Standardization in Late Modernity
- Name Index
- Subject Index
- References
11 - The Role of Literature in Language Standardization
The Case of Italy
from Part II - Legitimacy, Authority and the Written Form
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 July 2021
- The Cambridge Handbook of Language Standardization
- cambridge handbooks in language and linguistics
- The Cambridge Handbook of Language Standardization
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Figures
- Tables
- Contributors
- Introduction
- Part I Revisiting Models and Theories of Language Standardization
- Part II Legitimacy, Authority and the Written Form
- 7 Standard Languages in the Context of Language Policy and Planning and Language Rights
- 8 State-Appointed Institutions
- 9 Grammars, Dictionaries and Other Metalinguistic Texts in the Context of Language Standardization
- 10 An Industry Perspective
- 11 The Role of Literature in Language Standardization
- 12 Standardization, New Speakers and the Acceptance of (New) Standards
- 13 Creoles and Variation
- Part III Norms, Literacy and Education
- Part IV Beyond the National
- Part V Standardization in Late Modernity
- Name Index
- Subject Index
- References
Summary
“The linguistic history of Italian is an interesting case study for reflecting upon the concept of a standard language and its nature, diffusion and impact. Whereas in other European countries the process of linguistic standardization was predominantly related to political or religious factors, in Italy, in the absence of a unified country (until 1861) and of a commonly spoken language, the standardization of Italian was founded on literature. The elitist norm that prevailed was based on archaic literary models, notably on Dante, Petrarch and Boccaccio, which raised long-lasting issues concerning the homogeneity/heterogeneity and rigidity/flexibility of the standard, as well as questions related to its share-ability and incisiveness. It is only from the twentieth century onwards, when the process of Italianization reached completion and Italian became the language of all Italians, that we can speak of the norm as an ‘average of individual realizations’; that is, as a norm that comes mainly from below. Certain phenomena previously considered ‘substandard’, many of which derive from a new relationship of give and take between written and spoken language, have finally been accepted, hence the configuration of a neo-standard which is at least partly different with respect to the ‘historical’ one.”
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- The Cambridge Handbook of Language Standardization , pp. 313 - 346Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2021
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