In Search of the Regional Diversification of Latin : Some Methodological Considerations in Employing the Inscriptional Evidence.

The aim of the project entitled “Computerized Historical Linguistic Database of Latin Inscriptions of the Imperial Age” (http://lldb.elte.hu) is to develop and digitally publish a fundamental computerized historical linguistic database that incorporates and manages the Vulgar Latin material of the Latin inscriptions from the European provinces of the Roman Empire. In my paper, however, I do not present the Database (as this has already been done, in Adamik 2009), but instead I consider only the methodology of extracting regional variations from inscriptions, with reference to Adams 2007. In connection with this I will show that the methodology recommended by Adams 2007 does not really work whereas that established by Herman (meaning the last version, in Herman 2000a) is the most efficient, and yields a solid basis for building up the new Database.