The Jireček Line is a conceptual boundary through the ancient Balkans that divides the influence of the Latin (in the north) and Greek (in the south) languages in the Roman Empire from antiquity until the 4th century. The border has been repeatedly corrected by the discovery of new inscriptions.[1] A possible rough outline of it goes from near Lissus (near Lezhë and Laç in modern Albania) to Serdica (now Sofia, in Bulgaria) and then follows the Balkan Mountains to Odessus (Varna) on the Black Sea or continuing along the coastline northwards to the Danube Delta.
The language border between Latin- and Greek-influenced regions of the Roman Empire according to various linguists.
The placement of the line is based on archaeological findings. Most of the inscriptions found to the north of it are written in Latin, and most of the inscriptions found to the south of it are in Greek.
Purposeedit
The proposed line, in its various forms, is a theoretical tool. Already in antiquity there were significant exceptions: there were Hellenized groups north of the line (e.g. the Greek colonies along the western coastline of the Black Sea) and Latinized groups may have lived south of the line. Even so, it is a useful—although approximate—instrument for determining which influence a certain area was predominantly exposed to.
More recent scholars have revised it somewhat: Kaimio (1979) places Dalmatia and Moesia Superior in the Latin area and Moesia Inferior in the Greek sphere. MacLeod (1982) suggests that there may not have been "an official language policy for each and every aspect of life", but that "individual Roman officials [made] common sense ad hoc decisions". He also points out that while the area was under pre-Byzantine Roman rule, "even in Greek areas... Latin was the dominant language in inscriptions recording public works, on milestones, and in the army".
^Matzinger, Joachim (2016). Die Altbalkanischen Sprachen(PDF) (Thesis). Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München - Fakultät Albanologie. p. 9.
Jireček, Konstantin, Geschichte der Serben ' The history of the Serbs ', Gotha, 1911.
Kaimio, Jorma, The Romans and the Greek Language, Commentationes Humanarum Litterarum64. Helsinki: Societas Scientiarum Fennica, 1979. (not seen)
MacLeod, M.D., review of Kaimio, 1979 in The Classical Review, New Ser., 32:2:216-218, 1982. JSTOR
January 01, 1970
jireček, line, this, article, includes, list, references, related, reading, external, links, sources, remain, unclear, because, lacks, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, june, 2020, learn, when, remo. This article includes a list of references related reading or external links but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations Please help improve this article by introducing more precise citations June 2020 Learn how and when to remove this message The Jirecek Line is a conceptual boundary through the ancient Balkans that divides the influence of the Latin in the north and Greek in the south languages in the Roman Empire from antiquity until the 4th century The border has been repeatedly corrected by the discovery of new inscriptions 1 A possible rough outline of it goes from near Lissus near Lezhe and Lac in modern Albania to Serdica now Sofia in Bulgaria and then follows the Balkan Mountains to Odessus Varna on the Black Sea or continuing along the coastline northwards to the Danube Delta The language border between Latin and Greek influenced regions of the Roman Empire according to various linguists Contents 1 History 2 Purpose 3 See also 4 ReferencesHistory editThis line is important in establishing the area where the Romanian Aromanian Megleno Romanian and Albanian people formed see Origin of the Romanians and Origin of the Albanians It was originally used by Czech historian Konstantin Jirecek in 1911 in a history of the Slavic people The placement of the line is based on archaeological findings Most of the inscriptions found to the north of it are written in Latin and most of the inscriptions found to the south of it are in Greek Purpose editThe proposed line in its various forms is a theoretical tool Already in antiquity there were significant exceptions there were Hellenized groups north of the line e g the Greek colonies along the western coastline of the Black Sea and Latinized groups may have lived south of the line Even so it is a useful although approximate instrument for determining which influence a certain area was predominantly exposed to More recent scholars have revised it somewhat Kaimio 1979 places Dalmatia and Moesia Superior in the Latin area and Moesia Inferior in the Greek sphere MacLeod 1982 suggests that there may not have been an official language policy for each and every aspect of life but that individual Roman officials made common sense ad hoc decisions He also points out that while the area was under pre Byzantine Roman rule even in Greek areas Latin was the dominant language in inscriptions recording public works on milestones and in the army See also editGreek East and Latin West Daco Roman Thraco Roman History of Romanian Romanian language Albanian Romanian linguistic relationshipReferences edit Matzinger Joachim 2016 Die Altbalkanischen Sprachen PDF Thesis Ludwig Maximilians Universitat Munchen Fakultat Albanologie p 9 Jirecek Konstantin Geschichte der Serben The history of the Serbs Gotha 1911 Kaimio Jorma The Romans and the Greek Language Commentationes Humanarum Litterarum 64 Helsinki Societas Scientiarum Fennica 1979 not seen MacLeod M D review of Kaimio 1979 in The Classical Review New Ser 32 2 216 218 1982 JSTOR Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jirecek Line amp oldid 1181979901, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
