Italian language explained to kids

Italian is a Romance language spoken by about 60 million people in Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, Malta, and Eritrea. It is also the official language of the European Union. Italian is descended from Latin, the language of the Roman Empire. However, it has been influenced by other languages over the centuries, including French, German, and Spanish. Italian is a relatively easy language to learn for speakers of other Romance languages, such as French, Spanish, or Portuguese. It is also possible for English speakers to learn Italian, although it may be more challenging. There are a number of regional dialects of Italian, although the standard form of the language, known as Italiano, is understood by speakers of all dialects. Some of the most famous Italian authors include Dante Alighieri, Giovanni Boccaccio, and Niccolò Machiavelli. Italian is also the language of many great works of art, including operas by Giuseppe Verdi and Giacomo Puccini.