(January 6, 2017) With the death of Tullio De Mauro, Italy loses not only “a great light and an active scholar on many fronts,” but also a defender of “integration values” with a great passion for the Italian language and always ready to “promote our linguistic heritage abroad”. To remember the great Italian linguist, who died aged 84, is the Dante Alighieri Society, always committed to the defense and promotion of the Italian language in the world. According to Andrea Riccardi, President of the Society, “the warnings from De Mauro on the dangers of return illiteracy faced by the younger generation, as well as to the values of integration with immigrants and the preservation of the linguistic heritage of dialects, have been fundamental”. Riccardi defines “memorable” his essays and his investigations “on the vitality of the Italian language throughout the world.” De Mauro was also a great friend of the Dante Alighieri Society: “Always ready to share ideas and projects – said Riccardi -, from those in the years when he served as minister of Education, to the innovation of the Strega Prize with the inclusion of Dante Alighieri Society among the jurors”. (Red)
