Matteo Madao

The Ozierese Matteo Madao (1723-1800) writes, as an introduction to one of his works, a convinced defense of the Sardinian language, which he says is illustrious like Italian, Spanish and French.
She was a Jesuit until the dissolution of the order in the second half of the century, then she moved to the Sardinian capital to the college of San Michele. It can be considered the first lexicographer of the Sardinian language because of two volumes: one with Sardinian words derived from Greek and the other with those derived from Latin. In 1787 he published his best-known work “The Harmonies of the Sardinians”, a collection of poetic compositions in Sardinian, of a religious and profane nature. Linguists and lovers of 'sa limba', on the other hand, know him for “The cleaning up of the Sardinian language worked on his anthology with the two language matrices, Greek and Latin.” The author develops a reflection on the Sardinian language, arriving at puristic proposals. He also composes verses and numerous other historical works, but it is the issue of the Sardinian language that is closest to his heart. On the contrary, it seems that, beyond the strictly glottological issues, Madau concealed real patriotic aspirations towards Sardinia. In the 'Cleaning' he traces the ideal path through which Sardinian should become the island's' national 'language. The Savoy, however, who aimed at hegemony over the Peninsula, despite having hitherto privileged French, also opted in Sardinia for the use of Italian.

Update

10/3/2025 - 11:58