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Modern Italy's Changing Language And Its Role In Nationalism, Abby Thomas

History Class Publications

Language makes a people. Or, at least, for centuries that has been seen as the case. European nationalists have consciously employed language as a tool and a means for creating a national identity for centuries. They believed that within a nation a common religion or common customs did not matter so much in defining them as a people as having a common language. While certainly flaws can be found with this definition, it does make some sense. How can people be said to belong to the same group if they cannot communicate with each other? Likewise, having a separate language …