Blackwell Reference Online

Latin, the lingua franca of the ancient Romans, flourished long after the demise of the mighty empire. In fact, for a “dead” language, Latin went on to achieve an elevated stature unmatched by few living languages – its cultural cachet evidenced through countless terms and phrases utilized in Western law, medicine, religion, and science. To celebrate this extraordinary legacy, A Companion to the Latin Language offers a comprehensive account of the evolution of Latin from its Indo-European origins to its modern-day usage. Internationally renowned classicists, linguists, and Latin language specialists offer contributions on topics such as Latin language sources; the linguistic structure of Latin; the idioms and styles characteristic of a range of Latin literary registers; and the social and political contexts of the language.

Unmatched in breadth of coverage and scholarly rigor, A Companion to the Latin Language presents the most thorough and up-to-date consideration of the rich complexities and enduring legacy of the Latin language available today.