'ORSÙ, NON PIÙ SIGNORA, […] TORNATE A SEGNO': WOMEN, LANGUAGE GAMES, AND DEBATES IN CINQUECENTO ITALY.

In sixteenth-century Italy the Questione della lingua was much more than an arid and inconclusive debate among pedantic men of letters in a refined environment. Nor were discussions on the Italian language merely the prerogative of male scholars, writers, or theorists. In upper-class circles mastery in language use was important for men and women alike, and evidence of women's participation in discussions on language can be gathered from contemporary works of literature, such as fictional literary dialogues and accounts of social games. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]