The project brings together the work of over 60 specialists from universities and research centers, constituting a fundamental contribution to the study of historical Catalan and Romance linguistics. The work, published by Publicacions de la Universitat de València (PUV) and co-edited by the University of Alicante, along with other public universities from the Catalan-speaking area, the Institut Interuniversitari de Filologia Valenciana, the research group IVITRA at UA, and the Institut d'Estudis Catalans, is structured into five volumes and 57 chapters, spanning nearly 5,000 pages.
The UA's contribution is particularly notable due to the involvement of its Department of Catalan Philology. Professors Josep Martines and Jordi M. Antolí are part of the grammar's editorial team, alongside Manuel Pérez Saldanya from the Universitat de València and Gemma Rigau from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Additionally, seven researchers and lecturers from the University of Alicante have contributed to writing chapters: Vicent Beltran, Josep V. Garcia, Maribel Guardiola, Caterina Martínez, Sandra Montserrat, Elena Sánchez, and Carles Segura.
The Grammar of Old Catalan provides a systematic description of the grammatical structures of medieval Catalan, with a special focus on syntax. The work incorporates numerous examples drawn from medieval textual corpora, allowing for the linguistic analysis to be grounded in historical documentation and for a deeper understanding of the changes that have shaped modern Catalan.
Its publication represents a significant advancement for research into the history of the language, bringing together specialized knowledge in a comprehensive work that enhances the understanding of Catalan's grammatical evolution and configuration.
The UA's involvement also extends to the initiative's scientific and organizational trajectory. UA's IVITRA provided support for the grammar's development and publication, while the Seu Universitària de la Nucia played a prominent role in the project's conception.
Since its launch in 2006, this university campus hosted various preparatory scientific activities and became a crucial meeting and coordination space for the participating researchers. Its involvement contributed to the development of a collective initiative that now culminates in the publication of a far-reaching work for historical linguistics studies.
