Understanding how speakers perceive and evaluate language has long been a central challenge in historical sociolinguistics. Grammars and lexica provide a unique window into these perceptions. In addition to documenting linguistic variation, these texts often reveal how variation was evaluated and the ideological frameworks that shaped these evaluations. The Early Modern period introduced a pivotal development: the emergence of vernacular grammars as critical sources of linguistic knowledge. However, unlike other European nations, Greece lacked an indigenous tradition of
publishing vernacular grammars until the late 18th century, due to the dominating role of the archaizing language. The grammars that were published and circulated were primarily authored by non-Greek Catholic missionaries. This project aims to illuminate a largely untapped area of research with profound implications for understanding language perception and variation. By comparing four grammars written by Greek authors to four grammars produced by Catholic missionaries, this study investigates how these distinct social actors interpreted and codified linguistic variation. Through this comparative analysis, the project will unravel the sociolinguistic dynamics of Early Modern Greek (EMG), exploring how multilingual and multireligious contexts influenced linguistic practices. Additionally, this project highlights the invaluable role of metalinguistic sources as a complementary lens to linguistic analysis.