Difference between revisions of "Vulgar Latin"
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'''Vulgar Latin''' - sometimes called '''Medieval Latin''' - is the form of [[Latin]] spoken, from the final centuries of the [[Roman Empire]] to the end of the Middle Ages, throughout the countries of the Mediterranean and in some other areas which had been part of the [[Roman Empire]]. '''Vulgar Latin''', which is usually contrasted with [[Classical Latin]], i.e., the language of educated and especially literary Latinists such as [[Cicero]], [[Livy]], and [[Virgil]], was a living language and, as such, developed over time as well as differing from one region to another under the influence of, among other things, the various pre-existing native languages of the regions. | '''Vulgar Latin''' - sometimes called '''Medieval Latin''' - is the form of [[Latin]] spoken, from the final centuries of the [[Roman Empire]] to the end of the Middle Ages, throughout the countries of the Mediterranean and in some other areas which had been part of the [[Roman Empire]]. '''Vulgar Latin''', which is usually contrasted with [[Classical Latin]], i.e., the language of educated and especially literary Latinists such as [[Cicero]], [[Livy]], and [[Virgil]], was a living language and, as such, developed over time as well as differing from one region to another under the influence of, among other things, the various pre-existing native languages of the regions. | ||
| − | '''Vulgar''' in the expression '''Vulgar Latin''' has no [[pejorative]] force, and this use of the word must be distinguished from its (more frequent) use to mean ‘rude, crude, or tasteless’. '''Vulgar''' comes from the [[Latin]] ''vulgaris'', meaning ‘common’, ‘general’, an [[adjective]] from the [[noun]] ''vulgus'', ‘the mass of the people’, ‘the public’, ‘the common people’, ‘the crowd’: '''Vulgar Latin''' is so called simply because it was a widely spoken form of the language rather than a form used only by the well-educated or the learned. | + | '''Vulgar''' in the expression '''Vulgar Latin''' has no [[pejorative]] force, and this use of the word must be distinguished from its (more frequent) use to mean ‘rude, crude, or tasteless’. '''Vulgar''' comes from the [[Latin]] ''vulgaris'', meaning ‘common’, ‘general’, an [[adjective]] from the [[noun]] ''vulgus'', ‘the mass of the people’, ‘the public’, ‘the common people’, ‘the crowd’: '''Vulgar Latin''' is so called simply because it was a widely spoken form of the language rather than a form used only by the well-educated or the learned. Its statusin thehistory of the Latin language may be seen in [[Forms of Latin]]. |
::See also [[Latin in the History of English]]. You may also want to see AWE's article on [[Vulgate]], which is a [[cognate]] word. | ::See also [[Latin in the History of English]]. You may also want to see AWE's article on [[Vulgate]], which is a [[cognate]] word. | ||
| − | [[Category:Latin]][[Category:Etymology]][[Category:Clarification of meanings]] | + | [[Category:Latin]] |
| + | [[Category:Etymology]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Clarification of meanings]] | ||
Latest revision as of 20:01, 17 December 2021
Vulgar Latin - sometimes called Medieval Latin - is the form of Latin spoken, from the final centuries of the Roman Empire to the end of the Middle Ages, throughout the countries of the Mediterranean and in some other areas which had been part of the Roman Empire. Vulgar Latin, which is usually contrasted with Classical Latin, i.e., the language of educated and especially literary Latinists such as Cicero, Livy, and Virgil, was a living language and, as such, developed over time as well as differing from one region to another under the influence of, among other things, the various pre-existing native languages of the regions.
Vulgar in the expression Vulgar Latin has no pejorative force, and this use of the word must be distinguished from its (more frequent) use to mean ‘rude, crude, or tasteless’. Vulgar comes from the Latin vulgaris, meaning ‘common’, ‘general’, an adjective from the noun vulgus, ‘the mass of the people’, ‘the public’, ‘the common people’, ‘the crowd’: Vulgar Latin is so called simply because it was a widely spoken form of the language rather than a form used only by the well-educated or the learned. Its statusin thehistory of the Latin language may be seen in Forms of Latin.
- See also Latin in the History of English. You may also want to see AWE's article on Vulgate, which is a cognate word.
