The Ministry of Education and Merit's proposal to advocate proper usage of the Italian language in official school documents sparked a heated discussion. Initially viewed as an ideological imposition, authoritative linguistic institutions such as the Accademia della Crusca and the Dante Alighieri Foundation have attempted to confirm its cultural and educational legitimacy. The Dante Alighieri Foundation has claimed that the introduction of graphic indicators unfamiliar to the Italian language, such as the schwa
or the asterisk, constitutes a "cultural prohibition" that modifies a centuries-old heritage. Language, while always evolving, is modified by speakers' spontaneous use rather than impositions from above. Claudio Marazzini, honorary president of the Crusca, claims that in recent years, ideas for artificial linguistic alterations have multiplied without regard for the language's natural growth. The Ministry's action would thus be a vital defense of the Italian language against ideological pressure. At the heart of the dispute is a concept of language as an expression of national culture and identity that cannot be altered through legislation or politics, but rather through a spontaneous and collaborative process.