Accademia della Crusca: ‘rather than’ does not mean ‘or’

Using “rather than” with a disjunctive value, ie in the sense of “or”, introduces “an ambiguity, and therefore in a certain sense increases the entropy of Italian grammar to use a physics term”. Thus Marco Biffi, professor of Italian Linguistics at the University of Florence and web manager of the Accademia della Crusca. The considerations of the teacher of the Crusca come on the occasion of the publication of ‘Rather than’, the new didactic piece composed by the singer-songwriter Lorenzo Baglioni and chosen as the soundtrack of ‘The right school for you? Rather than choosing at random, giovanisi.it ‘, a communication campaign – of which Baglioni himself is testimonial – carried out by the Tuscany Region (Department of Education and Training) and Giovanisì, the project of the Tuscany Region for the autonomy of young people (structure of Fondazione Sistema Toscana), in collaboration also with the Regional School Office, and financed by the European Social Fund, in support of the measures and activities developed by the Region for school guidance. The term ‘rather than’ is as old as ours tongue. Not surprisingly, it is found for the first time in a writing by Brunetto Latini, a Florentine poet and teacher of Dante Alighieri. In the thirteenth century it was written detached – rather than – which made its meaning of ‘instead of’, ‘instead of’ even more evident. This disjunctive value remained intact until, at the beginning of the new millennium, in the spoken language, we began to misuse it as a synonym for or. “A recent phenomenon, born in the North in a socio-economic context that we could identify with the so-called ‘Milan to drink’, with that of companies and professionals”, explains Professor Biffi. “This origin – underlines the linguist della Crusca – has meant that what is in fact an error for grammar was perceived as a more elegant, winning, fashionable way of expressing oneself, a way to declare belonging to a certain group This is how its diffusion began. “Since 2002, the Accademia della Crusca has intervened to clarify the right way to use rather than, that is, to express a preference. “The problem – adds Biffi – is that it is not a transformation of the language that somehow completes the evolution from Latin to Italian, as happens with many other traits that have become frequent in the recent use of our language, but of a ‘innovation that wreaks havoc in the grammar system because with the spread of this use it is no longer possible to be sure whether whoever says rather intends to express a choice – as the grammar wants – or a simple alternative “. And in Tuscany? “In our region we are more resistant to this error, but certainly not immune”, concludes Professor Biffi. The new song by Lorenzo Baglioni shines the spotlight on a debate that not only excites experts and academics, but also many Italians. After ‘The subjunctive’ and ‘The apostrophe’, the Tuscan singer and actor (as well as a professor of mathematics), on May 4th launched his new didactic song entitled ‘Rather than’, whose video has already reached over 900 thousand views. The dance-rhythm song clearly explains that “Rather than does not mean or”. “We are very honored by the intervention of the Accademia della Crusca and happy to contribute through our communication campaign on school orientation to correct the distortions to which the ‘common use can subject some expressions of the Italian language – declares the councilor for education and training of the Tuscany Region, Alessandra Nardini – It is certainly an added value for the campaign, on which we will continue to work so that it is useful for the choices they will have to make our girls and our boys “. The Region of Tuscany has in fact been involved for some time on the theme of guidance, as a tool for combating early school leaving, through multiple actions that accompany students throughout their educational path. Actions that this year are enriched by a communication campaign specially designed for female students, playing on their language and on the tools most used to communicate.The communication campaign promoted by Giovanisì and the regional council for education and training, which will help Tuscan middle school and two-year high school students and students to find the most suitable training path for them, will continue throughout 2021 with a full program of events and initiatives aimed not only at students, but also at professors and to families.