Vulgar Latin
Vulgar Latin
Vulgar Latin, often referred to as Colloquial, Popular, Spoken, or Vernacular Latin, represents the non-formal registers of Latin that were prevalent from the Late Roman Republic through to the early stages of the Romance languages. It is distinguished from the literary and formal Classical Latin, which was the standard written language of the Roman Empire.
Linguistic Characteristics
Vulgar Latin is characterized by variations in phonology, grammar, and vocabulary when compared to Classical Latin. It was the everyday speech of the Roman populace, evolving significantly over time and differing by region. Terms such as sermo plebeius and sermo vulgaris were used by Roman authors to denote the informal, vernacular speech distinct from the formal register.
Historical Context
Vulgar Latin began taking shape during the Roman Republic and reached its height during the Empire's expansion, as it spread throughout the newly conquered territories. Its evolution was influenced by the languages and dialects of these regions, facilitating the later development of the Romance languages, including Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, and Romanian.
Regional Variants
Various forms of Vulgar Latin existed, shaped by geographic and cultural factors:
- British Latin: Spoken in Great Britain during the Roman and sub-Roman periods.
- Pannonian Latin: A variant in Pannonia which became extinct after the province's loss.
These regional variants contributed to the diversity seen in modern Romance languages.
Transition to Romance Languages
The transition from Vulgar Latin to the Romance languages was not abrupt but rather a gradual evolution. This process involved the simplification of Latin's complex inflectional system and the incorporation of local lexicons and sounds, ultimately leading to the distinct languages recognized today.
Modern Understanding
The term "Vulgar Latin" gained prominence during the Renaissance when scholars began to examine how their vernacular languages emerged from the "corrupted" Latin. The notion of a unified Vulgar Latin is largely theoretical, as evidence is gleaned from inscriptions, literature, and early Romance texts, all of which reflect varying degrees and types of vernacular Latin.