Old Latin

period of the Latin language

Old Latin, also known as Early, Archaic or Priscan Latin (Classical Latin: prīsca Latīnitās, lit.'ancient Latinity'), was the Latin language in the period roughly before 75 BC, i.e. before the age of Classical Latin.[1] It descends from a common Proto-Italic language; Latino-Faliscan is likely a separate branch from Osco-Umbrian with possible further relation to other Italic languages and to Celtic; e.g. the Italo-Celtic hypothesis.

Old Latin
𐌔Ⲟᚾ𐤠𐌋ᚾ𐌔
The Duenos inscription, one of the earliest Old Latin texts
Native toLatium, later the Roman Kingdom and Republic
RegionItaly
EthnicityLatins, Romans
EraAttested since 7th century BC. Developed into Vulgar Latin as colloquial form, and Classical Latin as literary form, around 75 BC.
Early forms
Etruscan, Latin
Official status
Official language in
Rome
Regulated bySchools of grammar and rhetoric
Language codes
ISO 639-3None (mis)
qbb
Glottologoldl1238
Expansion of the Roman Republic during the 2nd century BC. Very little Latin is likely to have been spoken beyond the green area, and other languages were spoken even within it.
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The use of "old", "early" and "archaic" has been standard in publications of Old Latin writings since at least the 18th century. The definition is not arbitrary, but the terms refer to spelling conventions and word forms not generally found in works written under the Roman Empire. This article presents some of the major differences.

References

change
  1. "Archaic Latin". The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition.