Table of Contents

Introduction; 1. Languages in contact with Latin; 2. Code-switching; 3. Bilingualism, linguistic diversity and language change; 4. Latin in Egypt; 5. Bilingualism at Delos; 6. Bilingualism at La Graufesenque; 7. The Latin of a learner (P. Amh. II 26): a case study; 8. Some concluding remarks.

Promotional Information

First systematic and wide-ranging treatment of problems of communication involving Latin in the Roman world.

About the Author

J. N. Adams is a Senior Research Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford and a Fellow of the British Academy. He was previously Professor of Latin at the Universities of Manchester and Reading.

Reviews

'A marvellously informative study of the contacts between Latin and other languages in the Roman world, exploring the linguistic diversity of the empire on a scale, and at a depth, that no one has done before ... An extraordinarily impressive book and a masterful collection of material [demonstrating] just how central the study of language is to any proper understanding of the ancient world.' The Times Literary Supplement ' ... J. N. Adams's splendid new book ... it is essential for all who would study the linguistic situation in the Roman world.' London Review of Books '... terrific book ...'. JACT '... exhaustive, theoretically current, philologically exacting, and methodologically rigorous - a landmark publication.' Language in Society 'Among the most enjoyable features of his book are the unexpected, sometimes minor and obscure, texts that turn out to provide material for innovative study and important conclusions.' The Linguist