Questions tagged [vulgar-latin]
For questions about the Latin that was commonly spoken, rather than written (i.e. classical) Latin. Note that this does not refer solely to profanity, but any non-standard, spoken dialect of Latin.
53
questions
8
votes
1
answer
539
views
Do we ever see mixing of B and V word-initially?
In later Latin, /b/ between vowels merged with /w/, eventually leading to forms like modern Italian avere from Latin habēre. This only happened within a word: illa bucca became Italian la bocca, not *...
- 64.6k
3
votes
1
answer
401
views
Does Latin have minced oath interjections?
Does Latin have minced oath interjections analogous to English's Jeez (< Jesus), Gosh (< God), gee whiz (< geewhillikins < Jerusalem)?
cf. Christianity StackExchange question "Do ...
- 3,490
5
votes
1
answer
535
views
What academic evidence is there of the pronunciation of gn as ɲn in Vulgar Latin?
I've come across a fairly frequent claim that gn was pronounced as ɲn in vulgar Latin. However, I haven't been able to find any kind of academic sources to back that up. I've found a few sources (and ...
- 53
1
vote
0
answers
61
views
Possibility of Vulgar Latin or Old Romanian origins of "Akoldo" and "Dir" in medieval Primary Chronicles of Kievan Rus
The names "Akoldo" (that's how he was called for the first time, and later he is mentioned as Askold) and "Dir" are mentioned as the first Varangian rulers of Kiev in the medieval ...
- 111
5
votes
2
answers
240
views
Parallel examples of the change of Apothēca to boutique?
French boutique, Spanish bodega etc. are by etymology said to be from Latin apothēca (REW).
Are there other cases of word-initial a- being lost in Romance languages?
From the top of my head, words ...
- 249
1
vote
0
answers
58
views
When do the demonstratives ille, illa, illud become reduced definite articles?
More specifically, what are the first attestations of the nascent reduced forms of the definite articles in Latin (or Proto-Romance) e.g. Latin illam > la?
3
votes
2
answers
355
views
Is the word "pitikkus" (meaning small) attested in Vulgar (or other) Latin?
Being interested in the obscure etymology of popular Romanian word "pitic" (n.m. "dwarf", adj. "of small stature") I have oddly concentrated only on a possible Greek-...
- 411
6
votes
1
answer
224
views
Is the ancient word Greek πῐ́θηκος / píthēkos ("monkey") attested with the meaning "dwarf" more than once?
I am interested in the obscure etymology of popular Romanian word "pitic" (n.m. "dwarf", adj. "of small stature").
It might have a connection with the Latin line that led ...
- 411
5
votes
0
answers
86
views
How did Latin's inchoative verb endings (-sco) get very productive in the Romance languages?
How did this particular suffix scheme get so common in the daughter Romance languages?
Take Latin: finire, finio
Then look at Spanish: fenecer, fenezco
Italian: finire, finisco
French: finir, je finis
...
3
votes
0
answers
94
views
What is the modern day pronunciation of v in Latin as in van or as a w? And is the c soft as in cellar or hard as in cat?
What is the modern day pronunciation of v in Latin (as in van) or as a w sound? And is the c soft as in cellar or hard as in cat?
- 31
2
votes
1
answer
100
views
From what date do we find spellings with V for B?
In late Latin, there was frequent confusion between B and V between vowels (a position where the distinction was eventually lost throughout the Romance languages), and even at the start of words (...
- 26.5k
4
votes
1
answer
524
views
Sources for Roman graffiti of Pompeii and Herculaneum
I'm beginning to learn about vulgar latin and I came across the following verses which is one of the graffiti preserved by the lava.
Quisquis ama valia, peria qui nosci amare.
Bis tanti peria ...
- 539
3
votes
2
answers
369
views
The classical Latin speakers called Vulgar Latin sermo vulgaris, sermo vulgi, and sermo plebeius, but what did plebeians call their language?
The elite and the educated, the classical latin speakers, called Vulgar Latin sermo vulgaris, sermo vulgi, and sermo plebeius, but what did plebeians and the other non elite Ancient Romans call Vulgar ...
- 113
0
votes
0
answers
78
views
How did sedeo, sedere supplant some forms of sum, esse in Vulgar Latin?
I had learned that the Romance languages' copulas come from Latin's sum verb obviously, but not all of its forms transferred over. Specifically the verb's present subjunctive forms seem to have been ...
16
votes
1
answer
838
views
Is there a relationship between the phonology in Old Latin and later Vulgar Latin?
After some reading and research, I can't help but notice many similarities between Old Latin and what would become the Romance Languages. For example, the case endings for the nominative and ...
2
votes
2
answers
458
views
Intonation pattern in Classical Latin that is the same intonation pattern Dora Marquez of Dora the Explorer does at times when she is speaking English
Listening to Classical Latin literature I have noticed that Thomas Bervoets launches into the same intonation pattern that Dora Marquez of Dora the Explorer does when she is speaking English at times!
...
- 113
1
vote
3
answers
239
views
What is the name of the thing that the tongue does on the trī part in the word patrī?
What is the name of the thing that the tongue does on the trī part in the word patrī? The word is at the 5:06 mark of this video! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdQawsU2RFg&t=308s
- 113
4
votes
2
answers
197
views
What is the meaning behind "calcostegis" from the Appendix Probi?
I saw this entry from the Appendix Probi and can't seem to decide what it is exactly and what it means? From looking at it, it has something to do with walking from the 'calco' part, but not sure ...
6
votes
1
answer
187
views
Informal ways of expressing gratitude (and replying to the same) in Latin?
Background, modern examples
Most people who learn Latin and who want to gain some oral proficiency, will early on learn the phrase Grātiās tibī/vōbīs agō, and simply a Grātiās! to match English Thanks!...
- 3,369
5
votes
0
answers
125
views
Latin Perfect Tense and romance languages particularly Portuguese
How did the perfect tense evolve in each romance language?
For example is the Preterito Perfeito functionally equivalent to the Latin Perfect Tense?
Heri dormivi.
Ontem dormi.
Ayer dormi.
Hier j'ai ...
- 191
0
votes
1
answer
212
views
recordings of eras of Latin
I'm not sure if this question is allowed here or not but are there recordings of eras of Latin (Old Latin, Late Latin, and Vulgar Latin) and also African Latin that are recited as perfectly as ...
- 113
6
votes
1
answer
197
views
Euler passage translation (Latin in 18th century)
I would like to include a translation of a brief passage from Euler's music text Tentamen novae theoriae musicae (1739) in an article I am writing, but find the original somewhat tricky to work with. ...
- 415
11
votes
1
answer
347
views
Why is *salāta feminine? What was the original noun it is modifying?
OED traces the "salad" family of words (Portuguese salada, Fra. salate, Spa. ensalada, Ita. insalata etc.) to spoken Latin *salāta, from the verb salāre.
One notices that salāta as well as ...
- 211
4
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Which modern language is more similar to classical latin?
Since Spanish, Italian and French languages are all romance languages and which one of them is the most similar one to classical latin language? Is it Italian? (Rationally maybe?)
EDIT1: I found this ...
- 357
2
votes
1
answer
222
views
Was there a standard accent in Latin in the Roman era?
I know that the standard language was Classical Latin and that the average person spoke Vulgar Latin, but was there a standard dialect or pronunciation for Latin? Like the way it was spoken in Rome?
Infinite
-1
votes
2
answers
240
views
How could Dalmatian "anca" derive from Latin "hanc hodie"?
The semantic derivation from hanc hodie "this here day" to "also", "even" etc. does make no sense to me. The editor who added the etymology to wiki/anca and a many other languages, that share this ...
- 249
2
votes
1
answer
154
views
Pronunciation of "Formulæ"
What is the pronunciation of Formulæ in Latin ?
Is there any difference (in pronunciation) between classical and vulgar Latin ?
The answer can be in International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) format.
2
votes
1
answer
218
views
What evidence is there for volēre over volere?
In this answer, fdb mentions the Classical verb volō, velle transforming into *voleō, volēre in Vulgar Latin. The main evidence for this is a form volendi in Augustine and reflexes like voglio, volere ...
- 64.6k
4
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Was there ever a difference between 'volo' and 'volo'?
The words "I want" and "I fly" are both volō.
Was there ever any difference in pronunciation in the classical era or later?
I expect such differences to be more likely in vulgar Latin.
The rest ...
- 110k
3
votes
1
answer
146
views
Latin expression for "carrying something on one's back"
In Spanish, the word cuesta is nowadays used as slope. Nonetheless, the etymology of the word indicates that it comes fom Latin costa, ae meaning "a side" but also "a rib". In fact, an old meaning for ...
- 2,209
-2
votes
2
answers
77
views
What semantic notions connect 'fold' with 'plight' = predicament?
Of the two noun homonyms 'pledge', I'm asking merely about that derived from Latin. For the other homonym from Proto-Germanic , please see this. Etymonline for 'plight (n.1)' :
"condition or ...
user37
10
votes
2
answers
1k
views
What is the superlative of ipse?
In later Latin, as ipse started to lose its force, Petronius uses ipsimus for emphasis:
Tamen ad delicias ipsimi [domini] annos quattuordecim fui. Nec turpe est, quod dominus iubet. Ego tamen et ...
- 64.6k
3
votes
2
answers
211
views
Can "ave, vire" be used colloquially as "hey, bro"?
There's a Spanish webcomic called ¡Eh, tío!, an expression that can be translated into English as hey, man or maybe as hey, bro. The webcomic had some time ago a story arc set in an alternate universe ...
- 2,209
2
votes
0
answers
90
views
Could the vulgar verb "toccari" have existed in Vulgar Latin?
As a follow-up of the previous interesting question (Did the Vulgar Latin verb "toccare" exist? ), could the vulgar Vulgar Latin verb toccari (in the sense of the deponent verb masturbari) ...
- 7,511
8
votes
2
answers
896
views
Did the Vulgar Latin verb "toccare" exist?
According to the Royal Spanish Academy dictionary, the word tocar 'touch' has its origin in the toc toc onomatopoeia. Something similar is registered in Etymonline for the English verb touch:
from ...
- 2,209
11
votes
1
answer
1k
views
How would Marcus Aurelius have pronounced his Latin?
It is my understanding that Julius Caesar, Cicero, Octavian (Augustus) would have pronounced Latin in a manner that is decidedly Classical, characterised by:
"v" as /w/
"c" and "g" always hard (i.e., ...
- 213
4
votes
0
answers
78
views
Do we have evidence of clipped words in Latin?
In English, it's common for words to be clipped down to their first couple syllables: "brother" becomes "bro", "university" becomes "uni", "doctor" becomes "doc", "veteran" becomes "vet", and so on. ...
- 64.6k
10
votes
2
answers
2k
views
What do we know about Vulgar Latin pronunciation?
Nowadays, most Latinists learn the "reconstructed classical" pronunciation: an attempt at reconstructing the way Cicero, Caesar, or Vergil might have spoken in formal settings.
However, it seems ...
- 64.6k
5
votes
1
answer
130
views
Is *rīcus attested?
The word for "rich" in most Romance languages looks something like, well, "rich". It declines like a first/second declension adjective, and seems to go back to Germanic *rīkijaz (possibly through ...
- 64.6k
11
votes
2
answers
1k
views
What would a 5th-6th century learned Latin pronunciation have sounded like?
Is there any information on the status of learned pronunciations from the late imperial period up to 1000 CE? I am wondering because the Classical Latin reconstruction seems to make clear that by the ...
- 113
6
votes
1
answer
493
views
Is there support for claiming -gn- was pronounced as /ŋ/ in classical Latin?
According to what I have learned, -gn- was commonly pronounced /ŋn/, e.g. [ˈmaŋ.nʊs] (magnus). However, this excerpt from Encyclopædia Britannica had me wondering:
The sound represented by ng (...
- 3,369
8
votes
1
answer
426
views
When did the infinitive of purpose arise?
In Classical Latin, purpose would normally be expressed with ut, or ad with a gerund, or a supine with a verb of motion, or numerous other ways.
However, in later and vulgar Latin (most notably the ...
- 64.6k
3
votes
0
answers
163
views
Is the suffix -izo, -izare, -izavi, -izatum formal?
The suffix -ize (or similar) are used to form verbs from nouns and adjectives in several Romance languages.
Wiktionary suggests that this stems from the vulgar latin -izo, -izare, -izavi, -izatum, ...
- 529
2
votes
3
answers
527
views
How did '-met' + 'ipse' + '-issimus' compound to mean <the same> (in *metipsimus)?
[ Wiktionary for *metipsimus :] Etymology
[0.] From -met (emphatic suffix) + ipse (“himself”) + -issimus (superlative suffix).
Adjective
*metipsimus (feminine *metipsima, neuter *metipsimum); first/...
user37
1
vote
1
answer
108
views
What semantic notions underlie <the same> (in *metipsimus) and <even> (in 'même')?
[ Wiktionary for 'même' :] Etymology
[3.] From Middle French mesme, from Old French mesme, earlier meïsme,
[2.] from Vulgar Latin *metipsimus [= the same],
[1.] from Latin -met [emphatic suffix] ...
user37
4
votes
1
answer
289
views
Appendix probi: "cannelam nun canianus"
Appendix probi was a book written in 3rd-4th century AD to correct people's written Latin.
It consists of lines of the form "xxx non yyy", meaning that people commonly wrote yyy, where xxx is the "...
- 837
11
votes
5
answers
4k
views
How did Latin sound?
Does anybody know how normal Latin dialog sounded — not the oratory or ecclesiastical versions? Are there any audio files that you recommend?
- 219
1
vote
1
answer
146
views
What underlying semantic notions connect the Latin for '(from then) to this hour' to the French « encore »?
[ CNRTL : ] Du lat[in] vulg[aire] *hinc ha (c) hora ou *hinc ad horam;
la forme a[ncienne] fr[ançaise] uncore, oncore est due à l'infl[uence] de onque, onc*.
This thread redirects you to the ...
user37
14
votes
1
answer
380
views
Did word order have any function in colloquial Latin?
In Latin, word order is mostly free. This is used intensively by poets and other authors to achieve a desired rhythm or rhetoric figures like chiasms. However, this does not apply to regular, spoken ...
- 1,184
11
votes
1
answer
312
views
Can the use of articles be traced back to Late/Vulgar Latin?
The Romance articles developed from Latin ille. Was ille already used in a way that resembles articles more than demonstratives in very late or Vulgar Latin? Or did it this use only emerge after Latin ...
- 19.8k