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Article published In:
On the Systematic Nature of Writing Systems
Edited by David F. Mora-Marín and Lynne Cahill
[Written Language & Literacy 26:1] 2023
► pp. 96–130

Latin < XS >: Seeing double

| Università di Pisa

We can observe a systematic reorganization of the Latin Spelling System in the II and I centuries BC. We will focus on the etiology and diffusion of < XS > spelling for the /ks/ cluster instead of < X >, highlighting the interplay between centripetal and centrifugal forces in the standardization process. Its etiology and further diffusion will be compared to the emergence of other spelling innovations in the Latin writing system of the second century BC. We will propose that the progressive integration of < XS > spelling in the systematic orthography of Latin was favored by both morpho-graphemic and phono-graphemic factors. Moreover, we will take into consideration the complex social network of the Roman Republic to trace back < XS > diffusion path. We will propose that, alongside the leading role of the urban elites in its diffusion, also local communities independently developed such a spelling variant, probably as a consequence of Greek systematic orthography’s influence.

Keywords: Latin, Greek, standardization, orthography, spelling, writing systems, orthography-phonology interface, graphematics, historical linguistics
Article outline
  • 1.The cultural and linguistic landscape of the Roman Republic: “Adaptive integration” and social networks
  • 2.The co-existence of standard ideology and variation
  • 3.A reorganization of the writing system of Latin
    • 3.1The case of geminatio vocalium
    • 3.2The case of geminatio consonantium
  • 4.The case of <XS>: Only two possible explanations?
    • 4.1A quantitative analysis of <XS> attestations from 200 BC to 50 BC
    • 4.2A lens on the first occurrences of <XS>
    • 4.3The diffusion system of <XS>
  • 5.Conclusion: A graphematic analysis of <XS>
  • Notes
  • References
Published online: 25 April 2024
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/wll.00075.sen
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