Studies in Latin etymology and phonology
The well-known American Indo-Europeanist and classicist Brent Vine will visit the University of Copenhagen to give a three-day seminar on Latin etymology and phonology highlighting his recent studies.
The program for the seminar is as follows:
Monday, October 8 at 12-14 in room 24.4.01
“Some Latin f-Words (and some qu-words, g-words, etc.): Initial-syllable Syncope and the Prehistory of Italic Accent”
Etymological highlights: Lat. focus, fimus, flōs, crās, quaerō, quirīs, glōs, grūs, bonus (dvenos)
Phonological highlight: “initial-syllable syncope” and early Italic mobile accent
Tuesday, October 9 at 10-12 in room 21.1.21
“A Crass, Gross (but Classic) Problem”
Etymological highlights: Lat. crassus (and crassundia), grossus, classis (and related words: calāre, Calābra, clārus, etc.)
Phonological highlights: • rhotacism (and a certain class of exceptions)
• the treatment of PIE *ghr- and *ghl- in Latin
• the Latin version of “Grassmann’s Law”
Tuesday, October 9 at 16-18 in room 21.1.21
“Bird-Watching in Ancient Italy: Umbrian avieka- ‘auspicā-’, Latin ōmen, and Italic Augural Phraseology”
Etymological highlights: Umbrian aviekate (and related forms), Lat. ōmen
Phonological highlight: dissimilatory front-vowel lowering
Wednesday, October 10 at 10-12 in room 24.4.01
“A Visit to the PIE Dentist”
Etymological highlights: (i) Lat. gingīva and salīva; (ii) Lat. famēs
Phonological highlights: • the Latin version(s?) of “Grassmann’s Law” (again; cf. Session 2)
• expressive nasalization (i.e., nasal insertion)
• initial-syllable syncope (again; cf. Session 1)
Click here to watch the lectures live. Questions may be e-mailed to Thomas Olander (olander@hum.ku.dk).
Handouts for the lectures:
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