Occitan Language's Development Process within Italy and Spain: Comparative Aspect

The article provides a detailed analysis of Occitan language development process in Italy and Spain. The research revealed that the Occitan language development process in Italy and Spain includes three following periods: the period of dawn (X-XV centuries), the period of decline (XVI – XVIII centuries), the period of renaissance (XIX century – up to the present. time). In general, the Occitan language development in these countries proceeded at almost the same rate and for similar causes. The research enabled to reveal a diglossia situation trend in Spain and Italy from the Xth century up to the present, i.e. Occitan + other regional languages of Spain / Italy vs Latin (X-XV centuries) => Occitan + other regional languages of Spain / Italy vs a literary language based on Castilian/ Tuscan language (XVI century – up to the present time). The material contained in the article allows to fill in the gap in the Occitan language description caused by lack of accurate structured data on its development process.