The Extent of Our Knowledge of Latin: From Classical Literature to Vulgar Latin

Despite the survival of only a small fraction of Latin literature from the Roman Empire, our understanding of the language is surprisingly extensive. The Romans were prolific writers, and a list of authors reveals a diverse range of literature, from poetry to political memoirs, suggesting that literacy was widespread in the empire.

Classical Latin and Its Widespread Use

Although only a tiny fraction of classical literature has survived to this day, there is still a substantial body of work to study. Countless administrative documents, which were written in Latin, provide a wealth of information about the language beyond formal literature. Latin's enduring influence can be seen in its continued use as a lingua franca for trade, diplomacy, and administration. It was also the language of the Catholic Church and academic discourse well into the modern era.

For example, classical Latin was a prestigious and challenging language for Romans to master. As a result, there are authentic learner's handbooks and grammars available, illustrating that our knowledge of the language is, in many ways, well-established. The literacy rate in the Roman Empire was relatively high, meaning that we have a significant body of texts written by various individuals, including low-level bureaucrats and administrators.

Challenges in Understanding Pre-Classical and Vulgar Latin

However, our knowledge of pre-classical Latin and vulgar Latin remains more incomplete. Older texts that predate classical Latin cannot be fully comprehended without additional context or advanced linguistic knowledge. On the other hand, vulgar Latin, which was the everyday speech of the common people, was rarely written down. This gap in our knowledge limits our ability to fully grasp the evolution of the language over time.

The Limitations of Latin in Modern Contexts

Latin, once a dominant language in the Western world, has declined significantly with the fall of the Western Roman Empire. However, its influence can still be seen in many aspects of modern life. For instance, Newton wrote in Latin, and Latin remained a hallmark of a proper education until very recently. Serious academic and scientific works were often written in Latin before the modern era.

One should note that the Latin era was relatively short, and as a man-made language, it is subject to the limitations of human memory. Only agglutinating languages, such as Latin, can recombine and renew their vocabulary through combinatoric fusion of memes (or etymons). This highlights the unique character of Latin and its ability to evolve and adapt over time.

Conclusion

While only a small fraction of classical Latin literature has survived, the body of work available to us provides a profound understanding of this ancient language. Despite some gaps, particularly in pre-classical and vulgar Latin, the substantial amount of surviving literature, administrative documents, and the language's continued influence in various fields make Latin one of the most studied and well-understood historical languages.