Geminatio consonantium: evidence from a corpus of Latin inscriptions (up to the 1st century ce)

Abstract

Consonant doubling is one of the most important orthographic innovations of Republican Latin. However, the chronology of the spelling, as well as the reasons for its diffusion, are debated issues in the literature. This paper provides an overview of the diachronic evolution of the phenomenon through the analysis of Latin inscriptions from Rome and the Italian peninsula. Reference will be made to phonological factors, particularly to lexical stress. It will be shown how the analysis of such factors, as well as the examination of the linguistic and socio-historical context of the crafting of the inscriptions, can shed light on the reasons and timing of the diffusion of geminatio consonantium.