Bilingualism and the Latin Language (review)

The three principal topics of this fascinating volume are code-switching and its relationship to linguistic interference and borrowing, language contact as a determinant of linguistic change in the languages in contact, and the role played by language choice and language switching in the projection of identity. Other subjects dealt with include L2 acquisition among non-elites, diglossic relationships, language choice for accommodation, solidarity, or power, and onomastic change in response to language contact. All are addressed in an engaging and enlightening manner.

The volume is divided into two parts, each with four chapters. The first part is thematic. After Ch. 1 (1–110), which discusses the study of bilingualism and the sources of information on it in the ancient world, Ch. 2 (111–296) examines the extant evidence for the numerous languages in contact with Latin and the specific evidence for each that bears upon bilingualism. The languages discussed include not only the languages of ancient Italy, but also Celtic, Punic, Berber, Aramaic, Hebrew, Germanic, Egyptian, and the language of the Iberian Peninsula, among others. Ch. 3 (297–416) addresses numerous motivations for code-switching with particular attention paid to evidence in the correspondence of Cicero, and Ch. 4 (417–526) investigates the typology of borrowing and interference that subsequently leads to linguistic change. Brief case studies illustrate the effects of phonetic, morphological, and syntactic interference and lexical borrowing that led to the regional diversification of Latin.

The second part is composed of four extended case studies. Ch. 5 (527–641) examines the use of Latin in Egypt, especially with regard to the expression of power or accommodation and its diglossic relationship with Greek. Ch. 6 (642–86) explores Latin-Greek bilingualism on the Greek island of Delos, where a trading community of Romans and Italians existed after 167 bc. Adams demonstrates, among other things, that these Italian traders were fully integrated into Greek society and used Latin in inscriptions to associate themselves with Rome, but Greek to express a separateness from other Roman outsiders. Ch. 7 (687–724) studies various aspects of bilingualism as attested in the accounting records of the ceramic factory at La Graufesenque. While some texts are principally in Latin and others in Celtic, the code-switching in some is of such an order that it is difficult to identify the matrix language. Ch. 8 (725–50) is a close analysis of the Latin of a learner contrasted with examples of fluent colloquial Latin.

In a volume dealing with so many languages and philological traditions, A has had, of course, to rely heavily on the research of others. I have noted that he has occasionally followed the errors of others, though such instances are never serious. Finally, while there is a great deal for general linguists to learn from this erudite volume, the intended audience is clearly classicists, for translations of Greek and Latin forms and passages are usually not provided.