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I read that after the unification of Italy, Latin was seriously considered as the standard official language of the newly created Italian state. This had some plausible backing to it: few people in the country spoke standard Italian (being essentially the Tuscan dialect), and naturally Latin has massive cultural weight and prestige. It also helps, of course, that Italy was the original geographic homeland of Latin and the Roman Republic/Empire. On the minus side, I had also read it would likely be a death knell for the native Italian vernacular languages.

What would the effects of a Latin-speaking Italy be in history? It could have some interesting effects in how the country is perceived both by itself and by the world at large in subsequent history, especially presuming Mussolini comes to power and establishes the "New Roman Empire" as in OTL.
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