The Role of Language in the Formation of National and Ethnic Identity: Analysis on the Example of Italy and Spain

This article examines the role of language as a key instrument in the formation of national and ethnic identity. Particular attention is paid to its dual nature: its ability to act as both a consolidating factor and a differentiating tool. The aim of the study is to identify and substantiate this dual influence through a comparative analysis of two models of interaction between language and the state. Historical and political cases serve as empirical foundations: Italy, where the formation of a single literary language became the foundation of national unification, and Spain, where the preservation of regional languages serves as a resource for ethnic mobilization and a source of political and legal conflicts. The scientific novelty lies in the substantiation of a two-tiered model of language influence (national and ethnic), which allows for a comprehensive assessment of its potential from the perspectives of sociolinguistics, cultural studies, and political philosophy. The obtained results confirm that language is not only a means of communication but also a mechanism of political influence, determining the stability and structure of multiethnic states.