Anna Laura Lepschy

This book provides an up-to-date survey of the role of linguistic and cultural interaction in the process of language change. It covers theoretical issues; different forms of language contact in Medieval and Renaissance Italy; and dialect transition and diversity in the North and South of Italy.

'a truly authoritative short Italian grammar ... possibly the best concise account now available in any language' - The Times Literary Supplement 'a stimulating and scholarly introduction to Italian for the serious student. It contains a great deal of original material and the authors' unequivocal attitudes to the linguistic reality of modern Italy...make it important that it should be read and discussed by Italianists everywhere' - The Times Higher Education Supplement 'a major new contribution to the literature in English...it will be an essential part of the linguistic formation of every Italianist' - The Year's Work in Modern Language Studies Recently revised to bring it completed up-to-date, this book remains a unique source on the Italian language as it is actually spoken and written in Italy. The combination of historical perspective and contemporary grammar make it particularly useful for Italian linguistics.

This book provides an up-to-date survey of the role of linguistic and cultural interaction in the process of language change. It covers theoretical issues; different forms of language contact in Medieval and Renaissance Italy; and dialect transition and diversity in the North and South of Italy.

Italian as a national spoken language is a new experience for Italians; until very recently it was normal for the majority of the people to speak in a dialect, and Italian was a literary language used only by a minority. The first section of this book provides an outline of the language, and a sketch of the dialects. The authors also describe the formation of the modern standard language in its varieties (regional, social, and occupational). Part two is a reference grammar of contemporary educated Italian, presented in the way it is actually used, rather than according to traditional prescription. The book concentrates on contemporary usage and will enable the reader to understand and use appropriately a wide range of expressions, characterized where necessary according to their level of formality or their regional nature. The illuminating combination of historical perspective and contemporary grammer make this a unique contribution to Italian linguistics, and an invaluable reference book for all students and scholars in the field of Italian. The second edition has been revised throughout to bring it completely up to date.

'a truly authoritative short Italian grammar ... possibly the best concise account now available in any language' - The Times Literary Supplement 'a stimulating and scholarly introduction to Italian for the serious student. It contains a great deal of original material and the authors' unequivocal attitudes to the linguistic reality of modern Italy...make it important that it should be read and discussed by Italianists everywhere' - The Times Higher Education Supplement 'a major new contribution to the literature in English...it will be an essential part of the linguistic formation of every Italianist' - The Year's Work in Modern Language Studies Recently revised to bring it completed up-to-date, this book remains a unique source on the Italian language as it is actually spoken and written in Italy. The combination of historical perspective and contemporary grammar make it particularly useful for Italian linguistics.