Vulgar Latin - Paperback

by József Herman (Author), Roger Wright (Translator)

"Vulgar Latin" refers to those features of Latin language that were not recommended by the classical grammarians but existed nonetheless. Although "Vulgar Latin" is not well documented, evidence can be deduced from details of the spelling, grammar, and vocabulary that occur in texts of the later Roman Empire, late antiquity, and the early Middle Ages. Every aspect of "Vulgar Latin" is exemplified in this book, proving that the language is not separate in itself, but an integral part of Latin.

Originally published in French in 1967, Vulgar Latin was translated more recently into Spanish in an expanded and revised version. The English translation by Roger Wright accurately portrays "Vulgar Latin" as a complicated field of study, where little is known with absolute certainty, but a great deal can be worked out with considerable probability through careful critical analysis of the data. This text is an invaluable aid to research and understanding for all those interested in Latin, Romance languages, historical linguistics, early medieval texts, and early medieval history.

Author Biography

Jozef Herman is former Director of the Linguistic Research Institute at the Hungarian Academy, now Professor at the University of Venice.

Roger Wright is Professor of Spanish at the University of Liverpool. He is editor of Latin and the Romance Languages in the Early Middle Ages (paperback issued by Penn State, 1996). His other books include Late Latin and Early Romance in Spain and Carolingian France (1982) and Spanish Ballads: A Critical Guide (1991).