Late latin grammars in the early middle ages
Vivien Law
Summary The popularity, and hence survival, of certain the grammars late Antiquity in early Middle Ages can to a large extent be described typological terms. two principal ancient genres, Schulgrammatik regulae type, were joined fifth century by new genre, grammatical commentary. overwhelming importance Donatus commentaries on emergence elementary foreign-language grammar seventh eighth centuries reveal subsistence level language study Christendom. conceptually more challenging as well shorter works suffered temporary eclipse. greater linguistic confidence Carolingian Renaissance shifted balance toward varied demanding nature. Priscian’s Partitiones Institutiones grammaticae re-entered circulation next few assiduously excerpted glossed. Ancient superseded newly-written ones authors Phocas Eutyches. Shorter type minor enjoyed brief return favour first half ninth but failed establish themselves curriculum. Instead, teachers devoted development another parsing grammar, which was survive into sixteenth century. survival pattern Late Latin thus reflects priorities Ages. In an environment language, with it basic literacy, barely established, theoretical disquisitions Varro Priscian irrelevant unhelpful. Many texts undoubtedly lost at end Antiquity, during transition from papyrus parchment; others may have disappeared pre-Carolingian period, when demands teaching uppermost. This final hurdle: those survived are virtually all available today.
Historiographia Linguistica