dediche

Dediche is the Italian term for dedications, referring to short texts in which an author or creator explicitly dedicates a work to a person, a group, or a concept. In publishing and other creative fields, a dedica (singular) or dediche (plural) typically appears as a dedication page or a brief inscription in the front matter of a book, an album, or a film program. The content ranges from personal acknowledgments to formal tributes, and may name individuals such as family members, patrons, mentors, or friends, or invoke a place, memory, or ideal that inspired the work. The wording can be simple or elaborate, sometimes taking the shape of a short poem.

Historically, dedications have roots in manuscript culture, where authors would address patrons or rulers who funded or supported the work. In the modern publishing industry, dediche serve as a social signal of gratitude or endorsement and can reflect the relationships underlying a work’s creation. They are distinct from acknowledgments, which typically appear at the end and may enumerate various contributors; dediche are usually fixed to the front matter and carry a more personal or ceremonial tone.

In contemporary Italian usage, dediche can be found in literature, poetry, music, and other media, and the practice remains a conventional way to signal homage or gratitude. See also dedication, dedication page, and dedication in arts.