Sprache als humanisierende Macht

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Lorenzo Valla, a leading Humanist of the Italian quattrocento, builds on the theories of the Roman rhetorician Quintilian to assert the unique semantic distinction of classical Latin, characterized by a special quality of elegantia. This elevates Latin above barbarised vernaculars and even Greek, establishing it as the foundation of all literary and scholarly traditions. Valla emphasizes the renewal of Latin as a unifying sacral power for humanity, placing the responsibility for this revival on humanists and their patrons, who are portrayed as linguistically skilled urban cultural figures. This volume explores Valla’s argument for the unmatched status of Latin as a transformative educational force, drawing on Quintilian’s rhetorical ideals.