La questione della lingue nel cinquecento

Luigi Speranza

trato da M. Ward.

The object of this study is to ascertain the basic nature of linguistic theory as expressed in 9 outstanding Cinquecento dialogues:

1. Bembo's "Prose", -- pro-Tuscan

2. Castiglione's "Il Cortegiano" -- 'lingua cortigiana'

3. Gelli's "Ragionamento"

4. Giambullari's "Della lingua che si parla in Firenze, Il Gello",

5. Machiavelli's "Discorso" "nostra lingua"

6. Speroni's "Dialogo delle lingue"

7. Tolomei's "Il Cesano"

8. Trissino's "Il Castellano"

9. Varchi's "L'Ercolano"

Following a survey of previous scholarship (indicating general neglect of Italian Renaissance language science) there appears an introduction to the treatises examined and a consideration of their significance in light of noteworthy sociopolitical, intellectual, and linguistic trends.

The central discussion involves a division of material into

"macro-linguistic"

and

"micro-linguistic"

--data relating, respectively, to

language as system

-- and to particular utilization of such framework by
individual speakers, alla Grice.

A distinction is made, within the former grouping, between synchronic and diachronic aspects.

Twenty-two specific topics are explored:

(1) description of language functions.

(2) phono-lexical aspects

(3) morpho-syntactic data.

(4) phonology/lexicon

(5) morpho-syntax

(6) geography

(7) sociocultural criteria.

(8) use of artificial/dead languages

(9) relation of linguistic to natural, psychological, cultural phenomena -- alla Grice.

(10) origin of language -- alla Grice's 'myth'.

(11) cause of linguistic change.

(12) description of language development, continuity, extinction.

(13) change in phonology/lexicon and

(14) change in morphosyntax.

(15) spread and recession of languages.

(16) significant subjective "macro-linguistic" observations

(17) shaping of usage by linguistic factors

(18) shaping of usage by non-linguistic factors;

(19) acquisition of bidialectalism/bilingualism

(20) primary tongue

(21) secondary tongues

(22) significant subjective "microlinguistic" remarks.

As all dialogue characters represent historical figures or express current viewpoints, no attempt is made at restricting attention to opinions consonant with those of the text's authors.

Thus within each area discussed we profit from a variety of often contrasting perspectives.

A concluding recapitulation presents characteristic "traditional" as well as salient "modern" ideas contained in the works investigated.

Ref.
Ward, M. "Linguistic theory in the dialogues of the cinquecento", PhD, Penn.