Chapter 3 - Identifying Latin in Early Inscriptions

Summary

This chapter analyses the corpus of epigraphic evidence from the period 400-200 BC (c. 480 inscriptions). The inscriptions present a multifaceted and sometimes mixed situation in relation to graphemic and phonological features, with notable fluctuation between the preservation of fossilised, old-fashioned and innovative traits, sometimes occurring together in the same type of text. Fluctuations between archaic and innovative traits characterise a differentiated level of literacy in the documents from Rome and from the neighbouring towns and districts of old Latium, such as Praeneste, Tusculum, and Ardea. The chapter examines text classes, tendencies, quantitative data and distribution of the inscriptions on the territory (altars, objects,pocola deorum, tabulae triumphales, graffiti on pottery, jars); graphemic innovations/reforms (e.g. rhotacism, gemination of consonants and vowels, diphthongs; omission of final -s); social aspects such as features of urban vs rustic features. The emerging picture is that of a complex situation, the analysis of which is further complicated by the lack of a central Roman control and the persistence of epichoric linguistic and graphic practices.