Traces of Bilingualism in Early Medieval Northern Italy: The Evidence from Eighth- and Ninth-Century Private Charters
Marco Stoffella
This chapter investigates the scattered traces of bilingualism in northern Italy from beginning eighth to end ninth century. The analysis is conducted on original documents written both Lombard and Carolingian periods, focusing their content, writers, subscribers. aims study are twofold: first, understand mentalities decisions taken by authors, and, second, clarify instances linguistic skills early medieval Italian scribes. At centre this modalities diffusion survival a Germanic language, which was introduced Lombards transmitted through toponymy onomastics. Northern presents an opportunity relationships between Latin, Italo-Romance, persistence terminology. latter gradually assimilated into local traditions lesser or greater extent depending region. use Germanisms, quality numerous terms Italo-Romance also depended scribes’ formal training social influence, as notaries themselves teachers subsequent generations public functionaries. In these cases, substantial differences regions north Alps can be observed. ends with case number words origins, such ferquidem, found formulae Tuscan private second half first explores how when began employed Pisa Lucca, usage became diffused across century via notarial practice appearance formularies.
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