Abstract

This essay focuses on the question of why the history of Italian, in contrast with the history of other major European languages, has been written and studied mainly on the basis of external factors, pertaining to the cultural and literary dimension, more than on the basis of its grammar. In summary, on why the history of Italian has been more external than internal. A proposal is put forward in favour of a more balanced relationship between these two perspectives, which should both be present in the history of any language.