The Latin Language

by Leonard Robert Palmer

This excellent study traces the relation of Latin to other Indo-European languages and guides the reader lucidly through Latin phonology, morphology, and syntax. It should prove fascinating not only to Latinists but also to linguists generally and, expecially, to students of Romance languages. Over the years, readers have found that Palmer’s treatment of this so-called dead language reveals Latin’s continuing vitality and "soul."

Genres: Linguistics, Classics, Language, Nonfiction

384 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1954

Reviews

[James F · Rating 4 out of 5]

In my high school Latin class I memorized forms and constructions. After reading this, I finally learned the historical reasons why they were what they were.

The book begins with a history of the language, from the beginnings (the author discusses the relationship of Latin to the Italic languages, to Celtic and to Greek), what can be inferred of the spoken language, through the literary works of the classical period, late Latin, the rise of Christian Latin and ends with the end of the Roman Empire, the development of the written language into Mediaeval Latin and the breakup of spoken Latin into the Romance languages.

The second part of the book goes into the phonetic, morphological, and syntactic details, explaining how the language evolved from proto-IndoEuropean and how it continued to evolve through the historical periods discussed in the first part.

While the book is somewhat difficult, it ishould be fascinating to anyone with an interest in linguistics. I look forward to reading the author's companion book on Greek.

[Rebecca Thomason · Rating 4 out of 5]

So.dense. I have to read a bit then stop to digest. Packed with info.

[Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Expansive and all-encompassing. He does a brilliant job changing topics, as good a reviewer of literary styles as he is of historical linguistics. His discussion of the linguistics of Latin itself, however, I found to be very thick in some parts and far too thin in others: why so much devotion to the evolution of partitive genitives but zero discussion on the appearance and evolution of deponent verbs? Otherwise, fantastic.

[Colin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not quite as good as his history of the Greek language, nevertheless Palmer's history of Latin is quite good.