Dos obras publicadas e inmediatamente olvidadas: las gramáticas de español para italianos de Gennaro Sisti (1742) y de José Martínez de Valdepeñas (¿1785?)

Abstract

Within the framework of the historiographical research conducted by the authors of this study, two Spanish reference grammars for Italian speakers – which had never been mentioned, neither in following publications of this type, nor in any catalogue and related literature – came to light. These two single editions – that are particularly rare in libraries – share the same purpose and the fact that they had been forgotten right after their publication, even if their common grammaticographical features are undoubtedly interesting. The first one in chronological order (Traduzione dal francese del nuovo metodo di Porto Reale. Con cui agevolmente s’insegna la lingua spagnola. Con l’aggiunzione di due dialoghi ed un copioso nomenclatore in fine fatta da D. Gennaro Sisti) was published by the semitist Gennaro Sisti in 1742 (Napoli: Serafino Porsile); the second one (Grammatica della lingua spagnuola, ossia La vera scuola della lingua castigliana chiamata volgarmente lingua spagnuola) was published by the former Jesuit Martínez de Valdepeñas around 1785 (Genova: Franchelli). Since the 18th century has always been characterized by a very limited number of original works so far, both publications represent a milestone for the reconstruction of the Spanish grammar tradition aimed at Italian speakers. The purpose of this study is to introduce the abovementioned texts to linguistic and grammar historians through a structural description and analysis starting from their sources (Nouvelle méthode pour apprendre facilement et en peu de temps la langue espagnole by Claude Lancelot [first edition of 1660] and Gramática de la lengua castellana by the Real Academia Española [edition of 1771]) and an interpretation of the way they adjusted the texts for Italian recipients, thus making them part of the Spanish grammar tradition for Italian speakers.