It’s often said that language is the living history of a people, and the Italian language has had a very exciting life! In this week’s episode, we dive into the history of the Italian language, from its Latin roots to its standardization straight through to its evolution into the languages of Italy’s 100 million person diaspora. 

Our team also discusses the complex relationship between standard “Florentine” Italian and its regional languages and dialects, showing how they all formed through the various tribes, trials and conquests that have taken place on the Italian peninsula since the days of Ancient Rome. We also explore the first written forms of Italian and Dante’s role as the “father” of the standard Italian language.