Today, with the advent of the Internet, the use of traditional dictionaries has diminished. The new generation may not even know how the pages of a dictionary smell or how enjoyable it can be to search for words manually!
A dictionary provides comprehensive explanations about words, and as I continue reading “L’italiano è bello” (Italian is Nice) by Mariangela Galatea Vaglio, I have discovered intriguing information about the origins of the very first Italian dictionary and the first academy that validates every new word to be accepted as part of the Italian language.
At the end of the 16th century, Italians spoke a vernacular language. Following Dante’s works in the 14th century, which were written in a more elegant Florentine Italian than the vernacular, writers thought to establish a grammar for the Florentine language. They believed that having rules would simplify writing and speaking for themselves and future writers.
In 1583, The Accademia della Crusca was founded. If translated into English, it would be The Bran Academy, metaphorically representing the language ground in all its words, which are like cereals. Initially, it was a club where writers gathered to discuss literature and linguistic issues. Today, it serves as the national and official academy where new Italian words are incorporated into the language.
In 1612, the first Italian dictionary was published. All words were listed in alphabetical order, and each word included several examples based on different contexts.
All of Europe began to follow the Italian example. This undoubtedly helped the writers of that time and continues to aid modern writers.
I emphasize the importance of keeping dictionaries alive and actually using them, as their main purpose is to educate, inform, and enrich our intelligence.
The book I’m reading is fascinating, and I will certainly share more insights from it in future articles. There is always something new to learn!
Do you use your native language dictionary?
Gregorace Translations 