#printedword

[pittrarebooks]

“I started to wonder about the history of Latin”

This post was written by Natasha Skorupski, a Department of Classics Intern in Archives & Special Collections for the Spring of 2022.

During my internship with the Hillman library and the Classics Department of the University of Pittsburgh I worked in the Archives & Special Collections, looking over Latin manuscripts.  While looking through these I started to wonder about the history of Latin and how the spoken language fell yet the written word continued.  

 (Above)  Evangeliorum quattuor Codex Durmachensis or The Book of Durrow, Olten: Urs Graf; sole distributors in the United States: P.C. Duschnes, New York by  Arturus Aston Luce, 1960 facsimile.  Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System.

Due to that I have found out the following information.  Latin is thought to be derived from ancient Greek and Italic languages.  Italy used to be made up of many different tribes that spoke many different languages, and these languages are called Italic languages today.  The first evidence of Latin is an inscription on a cloak pin that was found from the sixth century BCE.  On the pin it says, “Manius me fhefhaked Numasioi” which translates to “Manius made me [this] for Numerius”.  The first literary records of Latin have been dated back to 250-100 BCE.  The popularity of Latin increased with the rise of Roman political power.  This spread was initially in Italy and then continued to most of Western Europe and parts of coastal Africa.

Latin has been classified into three groups. There is the written Latin, oratorical Latin (public speaking), and colloquial Latin (common speaking) (When Did Latin Die? and Why).  The later Latin saw the greatest variation in its use and continuous divergence from it eventually evolved into Vulgar Latin.  From Vulgar Latin we get the Romance Languages we know today, which include Italian, French, Spanish, Portuguese and Romanian.  

The beginning of the end of the western Roman empire occurred in 395 CE.  It fell for multiple reasons, some of them being military invasions, economic troubles, overreliance on enslaved labor, overexpansion and overspending of the military, political instability and corruption, among others (Andrews).  With this fall came the decline of colloquial and Vulgar Latin.  

There was a small period of resurrection for Latin under the “Roman Emperor” Charlemagne during 768-814AD. At this point in time, Latin was spoken, written, and read predominantly in religious settings as Italian, French and Spanish were rapidly evolving, allowing for a great decline of Latin (When Did Latin Die? and Why). During the mid-14th century, the Black Death Plague occurred.  It killed millions of people, including numerous scholars and professors, creating a negative ripple effect on the entire education system (When Did Latin Die? and Why).

During the 15th and 16th centuries, there was another slight resurgence as people started to read Latin literature from classical authors.  This was the time of the renaissance that spread mostly through Italy, France and later Britain.  With the greater developments in science, Latin terminology was put into place as a way to regulate findings and encourage international research (When Did Latin Die? and Why).

 (Above) Cosmographia Petri Apiani. Antwerp: Veneunt Antuerpi�� Gregorio Bontio sub Scuto Basiliensi .. by  P. & Gemma Apian, 1553. Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System.

Latin was seen as a status symbol at this point—you were seen as educated if you could read and write it.  Though it was no longer spoken, it was used predominantly in literature and religion. Until the 19th century, Latin was a requirement for all that attended college.  College was usually attended by white males of a privileged background (When Did Latin Die? and Why). However, this changed around the mid 1960s when the younger generation decided they also shared the right to higher education.  

Today very few people can read Latin, even fewer can write it, and almost no one speaks it.  However, it is one of the official languages of Vatican City and plays a vital role in Catholicism.  Latin words are all over Catholic scripture and there are many recited terms that come from it (Is Latin a Dead Language? Let's Explore Why?).  

(Above) Inni sacri, per tutto l’anno : à quattro voci pieni, da cantarsi con l’organo e senza ... : opera quarta by G. A Silvani, 1705.  Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System.  

A fun fact, Pope Francis is the most influential Latin speaker today with about 40 million followers between his multiple accounts that vary in languages.  One of these accounts posts solely in Latin! With his bio stating “Tuus adventus in paginam publicam Papae Francisci breviloquentis optatissimus est” which roughly translates to “Your arrival to the public page of the Tweeting Pope Francis is most welcome” (Pope Francis).  

Latin words also dominate in modern science as names of medicine, drugs, diseases, body parts, and it is especially used in binomial nomenclature (the system for naming plants and animals). It is also greatly prevalent in the legal field.  Amicus curiae, habeas corpus, and ex post facto being just a few of the more common ones.  A fun fact is the jury comes from the Latin word “jurare” meaning “to swear” (Is Latin a Dead Language? Let's Explore Why?).

Latin is a dead language as it is no longer spoken. However it is not extinct, and still can be encountered more than most people in the world today would expect.

Works Cited 

Andrews, Evan. “8 Reasons Why Rome Fell.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 14 Jan. 2014, https://www.history.com/news/8-reasons-why-rome-fell.

“Is Latin a Dead Language? Let's Explore Why?” The Language Doctors, 14 Mar. 2022, https://thelanguagedoctors.org/is-latin-a-dead-language/.

Pope Francis. “Pope Francis Tweeter Account.” Twitter, Twitter, 23 Apr. 2022, https://twitter.com/pontifex_ln?lang=en.

“When Did Latin Die? and Why?” Global Language Services, Global Language Services Ltd, 3 Feb. 2022, https://www.globallanguageservices.co.uk/did-latin-die/.

[librarycompany]

Oh, hello incunabula. Fancy meeting you here! An incunable or “fifteener” refers to material printed before 1501. 

[tsgminneapolisminnesota]

Don’t let the rain trap you inside today, plenty to explore right here in the city! Top of our list is a visit to one of Minneapolis’ iconic bookstores @magersandquinn. There’s nothing like browsing for a good read for summer ahead. In this digital world, it’s so important to unplug and connect with the printed word. That’s why TSG believes in the power of print! 📷: @granttillery #supportlocalbusiness #exploreminneapolis #explorestpaul #powerofprint #bookstore #magazine #print #shoplocalmpls #printedword #magersandquinn #tsgminneapolis #smallbusiness #mplsbooksellers #rainydayfun #mplsfamilyfun #stpaulfamilyfun #mommyinmpls (at Magers & Quinn Booksellers) https://www.instagram.com/p/BylKj4kBiVO/?igshid=147dt9wuf86kq

[markesackett-theboxsf]

I always love stopping by the ARGOSY BOOK STORE in Manhattan! Treasures, books, prints and beautiful design everywhere! And I found something I have been wanting for over 40 years yesterday! #books #illustration #letterpress #chromolithograph #printing #rare #books #binding #marbling #history #printedword #bookarts #literature #lettering #typography @theboxsf of #sanfrancisco and my new #letterpressprinting and #Ephemera #Mercantile is always happy to promote our favorites! (at Argosy Book Store)

[hamoudablog]

20190812 Printed Word - in Explore by Dolores.G My morning brain exercise. For Macro Mondays: Printed Word. And my POTD. https://flic.kr/p/2gVCgqx

[ulatino]

“Please, no matter how we advance technologically, please don't abandon the book. There is nothing in our material world more beautiful than the book." ― Patti Smith #Books #Libraries #Reading #Pages #PrintedWord #Thankful #Appreciative #Love #Family #Friends #Goodwill #Community #Sonoma #GlenEllen #ValleyOfTheMoon #SonomaValleyLife #LifeStyle #YouBelongHere #California #Welcome #ThankYou (at Glen Ellen, California)

[1conocla5t]

This instruction manual is rather difficult to follow. Perhaps it was clearer in the sixth edition. #delinquency #delinquent #evilbook #readingtime #readingleadstoknowledge #1conocla5t #iconoclast #booklearnin #sociology #thebookmademedoit #malepolish #printedword #clockworkorange #kidsthesedays #noveltybuttons

[wanderredge]

"When you loved the one who was killing you, it left you no options. How could you run, how could you fight, when doing so would hurt that beloved one? If your life was all you had give your beloved, how could you not give it? If it was someone you truly loved?" - Bella Swan-Cullen. ("Breaking Dawn", 2008) 🥀🖤

.

.

.

#RehinaReads #twilightsaga #breakingdawn #teamcullen #stepheniemeyer #novel #saga #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #book #booklover #bookaddict #booksofinstagram #instabooks #booksofig #goodbookstoread #whattoreadnext #greatreads #printedwords #printedbooksforever #bookshelffinds #igbookclub #nofilter

[margaridacadima]

It's not all fun and sun... I'm back to this trinity: the printed words, the written words and the typed words. #portugal #lisboa #universidadenovadelisboa #fcsh #faculdadedecienciassociaisehumanas #library #libraryday #funandsun #backtowork #trinity #printedwords #writtenwords #typedwords #phd #phdlife (at Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas - FCSH NOVA)

[abookblog]

My library by Alan Cleaver on Flickr.

[hamoudablog]

Macro Mondays "Printed Word" by Michael J P Lord Of The Rings. HMM! Everyone. https://flic.kr/p/2gVnGfb

[133designcollective-blog]

Printed Word featured artist - Barbara E Byrd

We were honored to host the beautiful work of Babara E Byrd at our “Printed Word” exhibition last Friday. Barbara’s handmade book featured captivating poetry and beautiful collage work. More about Barbara below! 

Barbara E Byrd is from Hartford, Connecticut and has relocated to New York City. She is a dual degree student studying Fine Arts at Parsons School of Art and Design and Screen Studies at Eugene Lang College of Liberal arts. Her work uses a multitude of mediums that confronts power, history, gender, pop culture, and myth.

[hamoudablog]

Define yourself by helensaarinen Dictionary Does anyone ever consult, or even own, a print dictionary anymore?🤔 https://flic.kr/p/2gVbQN5

[aquamo]

I find this to be true. #library #read #book #film #printedword #imagination (at Butte County Library, Chico Branch)

[rubzonline]

Finally, We Got Our Orders from #LifeIsLikeABookPage! #BookSale #RaisingBookWorms #PrintedWord