After providing the basic terminological knowledge, with didactic units and propedeutic content, the fundamental stages of the history of the Italian language will be presented with particular reference to the evolutionary traits that mark the transition from Latin to Italian and to problem of production, circulation and use - between orality and writing - of literary texts in historically limited spaces and in complex situations of polycentricism and plurilingualism. The aim of the course is therefore to promote critical reflection on the topics covered.