The Italian Section and the Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics at the University of Cambridge announce, with profound sorrow, the passing of Professor Giulio Lepschy, who died in London on Sunday 8 February 2026, at the age of 91.
A scholar of unparalleled distinction, Professor Lepschy was a Fellow of the British Academy and an Accademico ordinario of the Accademia della Crusca. He was Emeritus Professor of Italian at the University of Reading, Honorary Professor at University College London and at the University of Toronto, and a visiting research fellow at the University of Cambridge. In the year 2000 his distinguished scholarship was recognised with the British Academy Serena Medal for Italian Studies and in 2003 he was awarded the title of Commendatore della Repubblica (Ordine della Stella della Solidarietà Italiana).
Professor Lepschy was educated at the University of Pisa and the Scuola Normale Superiore in Pisa and then continued his academic career at the universities of Zurich, Paris, Oxford and London. In 1964 he was appointed as Lecturer in Italian at the University of Reading, where he became Professor in 1975, remaining until his retirement in 1997.
Professor Lepschy was a highly regarded and respected scholar in the fields of Linguistics and Italian Studies, both in the United Kingdom and internationally. He made foundational contributions to the fields of the history of linguistics, structural linguistics, and contemporary Italian language studies. His prolific academic publications include seminal works, such as La linguistica strutturale (1966; translated into several languages), Intorno a Saussure (1979), Mutamenti di prospettiva nella linguistica (1981), Sulla linguistica moderna (1989), La linguistica del Novecento (1992). He edited the monumental Storia della linguistica (3 vols, 1990-1994; and in 4 vols in English translation 1994-1998).His enduring influence is further reflected in his numerous essay collections on grammatical, phonological and dialectological issues, including Saggi di linguistica italiana (1978), Nuovi saggi di linguistica italiana (1989), and in more recent years Mother Tongues and Other Reflections on the Italian Language (2002), Parole, parole, parole e altri saggi di linguistica (2007), and Tradurre e traducibilità (2009). His acclaimed volume The Italian Language Today, first published in 1977, was co-authored with his wife, Professor Anna Laura Lepschy.
He embodied the finest academic qualities: true intellectual brilliance, endless knowledge, rigour, precision, and an unwavering integrity. He was defined by a remarkable modesty that belied his extraordinary stature. Generations of students and colleagues remain indebted to him for his selfless mentorship and the graceful generosity with which he shared his vast erudition. He was a rare combination of a truly exceptional scholar and a fine, kind, generous person, with an unforgettable wit and a gentle spirit. We offer our deepest condolences to his wife, Professor Anna Laura Lepschy.
Giulio Lepschy will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him, as a scholar, colleague, teacher, mentor, and those who had the very special honour of being his friend.
Grazie, Giulio, for everything.
By Helena Sanson, Professor of Italian, History of Linguistics, and Women’s Studies (Italian Section)