Language, law and loanwords in early medieval Gaul: language contact and studies in Gallo-Romance phonology

Author(s):
Kerkhof, A.E.
Published
2018
Publication type
Doctoral Thesis

Abstract

This dissertation consistsof an investigation of the historical and sociolinguistic implications of someof the linguistic data that have been preserved from Merovingian Gaul. The datathat was investigated here mainly consisted of Romance and Germanic lexis,which is the outcome of earlier lexical exchange (borrowing) between Germanic,Romance and Celtic. The central aim of this dissertation was to provide anoverview of the linguistic and extra-linguistic factors that were involved inthis lexical exchange, and thereby contribute to our knowledge of theMerovingian vernaculars in particular and Merovingian society in general. On amore general level, this study provides an overview of how linguistic datamight complement the archaeological and historical frameworks, that are used tounderstand the transition from Roman to Merovingian Gaul. Special attention ispaid to the Merovingian redactions of the Salic Law, both as a uniquehistorical witness to everyday life in post-Roman Gaul as well as being aunique linguistic witness in its preservation of the Old Frankish Malbergglosses. Additionally, this dissertation provides an overview of Pre-Frenchsound change and its relation to Merovingian Latin.

Historical LinguisticsEtymologyRomance philologyGermanic philologyMerovingian historyProto-RomanceOld Dutch
Defense date
2018-10-09
Language
English
Supervisor(s)
Lubotsky, A.M.
Advisor(s)
Vaan, M. de
Committee member(s)
Rooryck, J.E.C.V.; Quak, A.; Sijs, N. van der; Versloot, A.P.
Qualification
Ph.D.
Degree granting institution
Leiden university centre for linguistics (LUCL), Faculty of Humanities, Leiden University, Leiden
hdl
1887/66116
doi
10.60602/1887-66116