Sociolinguistics

Mullen, Alex

Abstract

This chapter begins by considering the motivations for undertaking sociolinguistic studies and discusses the range and quality of evidence that can be marshalled for early Britain. The pre-Roman linguistic situation and the advent and spread of Latin are assessed using linguistic and archaeological evidence, and the extent and nature of Latin–Celtic bilingualism across time, space, and social levels explored. A presentation of the long-standing debate on the nature of Latin spoken in Roman Britain follows, and new evidence is offered to counter the traditional view that British Latin was particularly conservative. The chapter closes by looking at the legacy of the linguistic impact of Roman Britain, briefly considering the post-Roman inscriptions and language contact phenomena in the Germanic languages.

Citation

Mullen, A. (2016). Sociolinguistics. In M. Millett, L. Revell, & A. Moore (Eds.), Oxford handbook of Roman Britain. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199697731.013.032

• Acceptance Date: Mar 24, 2014
• Online Publication Date: Nov 30, 2014
• Publication Date: Sep 1, 2016
• Deposit Date: Aug 7, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 7, 2017
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Series Title: Oxford Handbooks
• Book Title: Oxford handbook of Roman Britain
• ISBN: 9780199697731
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199697731.013.032
• Keywords: bilingualism, British Celtic, British Latin, curse tablets, epigraphy, identities, language, sociolinguistics, Aquae Sulis/Bath, Ratcliffe-on-Soar (Nottinghamshire)
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/803103
• Additional Information: Chapter 28.