Late Latin and Early Romance in Spain and Carolingian France
Roger Wright
Late Latin and Early Romance presents a theory of the relationship between during period 400-1250. The central hypothesis is that what we now call 'Medieval Latin' was invented around 800 AD when Carolingian scholars standardised pronunciation liturgical texts, otherwise spoken simply local variety Old French, Spanish, etc. Thus, view generally held before publication this work, 'Latin' 'Romance' existed alongside each other in earlier centuries, anachronistic. Before 800, Romance. This examined first from viewpoint historical linguistics, with particular attention paid to idea lexical diffusion (ch. 1), then 2) through detailed study pre-Carolingian texts. Chapter 3 deals impact France introduction by scholars, shows how earliest texts written vernacular resulted it. final two chapters turn situation Spain eighth thirteenth centuries. Ch. 4 suggests, on evidence large 1080 new (i.e. Medieval Latin) not used; 5 charts slow spread, as result Europeanising reforms, distinction 1250. There an extensive bibliography full indexes. Wright's controversial book wide range evidence, quotation relevant documents. When it published 1982 challenged established ideas fields linguistics Latin. collectively facts are however explained better his revolutionary innovation consequent upon reform, than miraculous conservative survival lasted unchanged for millennium. draws philological, literary medieval period, seminal work these areas scholarship.
Modern Language Review