Kansankielestä = De vulgari eloquentia

In this work, Dante Alighieri’s insights on vernacular language come alive through the collaboration with Päivi Mehtonen and Jaana Vaahtera. The text navigates the significance of language as not merely a tool for communication but as a vibrant cultural force, shaping identity and tradition. It reflects on how the vernacular can serve to elevate the common voice, connecting the elite with the populace in a shared literary experience.

Dante emphasizes the importance of embracing one's own linguistic heritage. He contemplates how literature in the vernacular can resonate more deeply with the hearts of the people than does a more formalized language. This exploration is not just linguistic but intricately tied to socio-political themes of his time, challenging the class divides that dictate intellectual discourse.

As a reproduction of a classic work, the publication is infused with historical nuances, reminding readers of the enduring relevance of language and the power it holds in expressing communal identities. With the careful editing by Mehtonen and Vaahtera, the essence of Dante's vision is preserved, inviting modern audiences to reflect on their relationship with language and culture today.