Linguistic awareness in Rome: Contrasting theory and practice in light of the use of h in inscriptions
Abstract
Abstract This paper takes a closer look at the changes in Roman spelling standards through the Roman inscriptions of the Imperial period based on the data of the LLDB-Database. The phoneme marked with h disappeared from the Latin language system at the end of the Republican era, but its use in spelling remained, and thus became a prime indicator of literacy. The two most important objectives of the current study are the following: to provide evidence that the proportion of aspiration errors more than doubled from the pagan to the Christian era; to argue that the comparison of correct and incorrect forms is a valid measure of the level of contemporary spelling, thus also of literacy, and their change.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Classical Studies and Philology
Linguistics and language evolution
Classical Antiquity Studies
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Acta Linguistica Academica
- Volume
- 73
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 135–159
- Publication date
- 3 March 2026
- Language
- EN