Enhancing Resolution - Grapho-phonological Phenomena in Ancient Roman World: Variation, Continuity and Discontinuity #857835

The study of Latin texts of direct tradition, including inscriptions, ostraca, tablets, and papyri, has long been recognized as an almost inexhaustible field of research for the analysis of grapho-phonological variation in relation to historical processes. These primary sources offer valuable insights into the linguistic dynamics of the ancient Roman world, capturing variations that reflect both the spoken language and the evolving norms of written Latin. Moreover, the increasing availability of comprehensive digital databases that make these documentary texts accessible to a wider audience has revolutionized the field. Scholars can now work with large corpora, enabling more robust and nuanced analyses of language patterns across regions and time periods.
The present volume brings together a collection of 'historically-oriented' studies that delve into specific grapho-phonological phenomena, like vowel prosthesis before word-initial /sC/, consonant gemination and the variable orthographic representations of the /kt/ cluster. Each phenomenon is examined through the dual lens of qualitative and quantitative analysis, focusing on language contact, the relationship between synchronic variation and change, and the reflections of ancient grammarians.