Aims

At the end of the course, the student will know the essential features of the so-called Vulgar Latin, by contrast to Classical Literary Latin. He will also be able to read and comment on texts written in Later Latin.

Main themes

The course is divided in two parts :
1) The linguistic concept of Vulgar Latin : definitions ; sources ; principal features on the phonetic, morphological, syntactical and lexical level ; reading of some major texts (Cena Trimalchionis, Itinerarium Egeriae, inscriptional and documentary writings, etc.).
2) The development of Later Latin, esp. at the beginning of the Middle Ages : linguistic study of selected texts ((Itinerarium of Antoninus of Piacenza, historical writings of Gregorius Turonensis, Jordanes, etc.).

Content and teaching methods

Lectures illustrated by the reading of texts will introduce students to the study of the phonetic, grammatical, and lexical features of Vulgar and Medieval Latin.

Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

Faire acquaintance with Classical Latin.
Evaluation : oral examination at the end of the term.
The students will be given full course notes.
References :
VÄÄNÄNEN V., Introduction au latin vulgaire, Paris 19813.
HAADSMA R.A. & NUCHELMANS J., Précis de latin vulgaire, suivi d'une anthologie annotée Groningen 19662.
HERMAN J., Le latin vulgaire, Paris 1975 (English transl.: Vulgar Latin, University Park, PA, 2000).
LÖFSTEDT E., Late Latin, Oslo 1959.

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