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Venetic language

Venetic is an extinct Indo-European languages|Indo-European language that was spoken in ancient times in the North-Italy|Italian Veneto and modern Slovenia, between the Po River river delta|delta and the southern fringe of the Alps. Wallace, Rex (2004). ''Venetic'' in Roger D. Woodard (ed.), The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the World’s Ancient Languages, University of Cambridge, pp. 840-856. ISBN 0-521-56256-2 Online version The Illyrians by J. J. Wilkes Page 77 ISBN 0631198075 The language is attested by over 300 short inscriptions dating between the 6th century BC and the 1st century. Its speakers are identified with the ancient people called ''Adriatic Veneti|Veneti'' by the Ancient Rome|Romans and ''Enetoi'' by the Ancient Greece|Greeks. It became extinct around the 1st century when the local inhabitants were assimilated into the Roman sphere. Venetic should not be confused with Venetian language|Venetian, a Romance language presently spoken in the same general region.

Linguistic classification

Venetic is a centum language. The inscriptions use a variety of the Northern Italic alphabet, similar to the Etruscan alphabet. The exact relationship of Venetic to other Indo-European languages is still being investigated, but the majority of scholars agree that Venetic, aside from Liburnian language|Liburnian, was closest to the Italic languages (a group that includes Latin, Oscan and Umbrian language|Umbrian). Venetic may also have been related to the Illyrian languages once spoken in the western Balkans, though the theory that Illyrian and Venetic were closely related is debated by current scholarship. The the position of Venetic within Indo-European has been studied in detail by Lejeune. Michel Lejeune (1974), ''Manuel de la langue vénète.'' Heidelberg: Indogermanische Bibliothek, Lehr- und Handbücher. Some important parallels with the Germanic languages have also been noted, especially in pronominal forms: Julius Pokorny (1959), ''Indogermanisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch''. Bern.
- Venetic: ''ego'' = I, accusative ''mego'' = me
- Gothic: ''ik'', accusative ''mik''
- (Latin: ''ego'', accusative ''me'')
- Venetic: ''sselboisselboi'' = to oneself
- Old High German: ''selb selbo''
- (Latin: ''sibi ipsi'')

Features

Venetic had about six or even seven noun cases and four conjugations (similar to Latin). About 60 words are known, but some were borrowed from Latin (''liber.tos.'' < ''libertus'') or Etruscan language|Etruscan. Many of them show a clear Indo-European origin, such as ''vhraterei'' < PIE ''*bhraterei'' = to the brother.

Phonology

In Venetic, Proto-Indo-European language|PIE stops ''*bh'', ''*dh'' and ''*gh'' developed to /f/, /f/ and /h/, respectively, in word-initial position (as in Latin and Osco-Umbrian), but to /b/, /d/ and /g/, respectively, in word-internal intervowel position (as in Latin). For Venetic, at least the developments of ''*bh'' and ''*dh'' are clearly attested. Faliscan and Osco-Umbrian have /f/, /f/ and /h/ internally as well. There are also indications of the developments of PIE ''*gw-'' > ''w-'', PIE ''*kw'' > ''*kv'' and PIE ''*gwh-'' > ''f-'' in Venetic, all of which are parallel to Latin, as well as the regressive assimilation of PIE sequence ''*p...kw...'' > ''*kw...kw...'', a feature also found in Italic and Celtic

Language sample

A sample inscription in Venetic, found on a bronze nail (engineering)|nail at Este, Italy|Este (Es 45):
- Venetic: ''mego donasto śainatei reitiiai porai egeotora aimoi ke louderobos''
- Latin (literal): ''me donavit sanatrici Reitiae bonae Egetora pro Aemo liberis-que''
- English: Egetora gave me to Good Reitia the Healer on behalf of Aemus and the children Another inscription, found on a ''situla(vessel)|situla'' (vessel such as an urn or bucket) at Cadore (Ca 4 Valle):
- Venetic: ''eik goltanos doto louderai kanei''
- Latin (literal): ''hic Goltanus dedit Liberae Cani''
- English: Goltanus sacrificed this for the virgin Kanis

Scholarship

The most prominent scholars who have deciphered Venetic inscriptions or otherwise contributed to the knowledge of the Venetic language are Carl Eugen Pauli , Hans Krahe , Giovanni Battista Pellegrini , Aldo Luigi Prosdocimi Aldo Luigi Prosdocimi (2002), ''Veneti, Eneti, Euganei, Este, Italy|Ateste''. Aldo Luigi Prosdocimi (2002). ''Trasmissioni alfabetiche e insegnamento della scrittura'', in ''AKEO. I tempi della scrittura. Veneti antichi: alfabeti e documenti'', (Catalogue of an exposition at Montebelluna, 12/2001-05/2002). Montebelluna, pp.25-38. and Michel Lejeune. Recent contributors include Loredana Calzavara Capuis Selected bibliography of Loredana Calzavara Capuis: http://www.istitutoveneto.it/iv/presentazione/soci/biografia_socio.php?id=252 and Anna Maria Chieco Bianchi .