Publisher's Synopsis
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.
