Il contributo dei missionari italiani nella prima documentazione delle lingue etiopiche (XIX sec.)

This article examines the linguistic work of 19th-century Italian missionaries in Ethiopia, focusing in particular on the Capuchin friar Giusto da Urbino and the Lazarist Giuseppe Sapeto. Although primarily engaged in evangelization, both produced grammars and dictionaries of local languages such as Gǝʿǝz and Amharic. Often overlooked, these works reveal a significant scientific commitment that extended beyond religious purposes. By analyzing their linguistic contributions, this study highlights how missionary activity intersected with early efforts to document and understand Ethiopia’s linguistic heritage, offering valuable insights for both historical linguistics and knowledge production in the colonial era.