During the Empire Latin became widely established in the western provinces and Africa. Observers went on noting regional features, but there is a difference of focus, in that, whereas republican commentators rarely looked far beyond Rome, the practice of Gauls, Spaniards and Africans now attracted interest. Provincials themselves were conscious of linguistic features that distinguished them from others. From the first century AD onwards for several centuries we have the views of outsiders looking to Rome or Italy from a distance, and assessing their Latin alongside that of the imperial centre. The imperial testimonia are probably less familiar than the republican, but there is an abundance of evidence. The material is arranged geographically here, with sections on Italy, Spain, Gaul and Africa. Where possible I assess the accuracy of metalinguistic comments using various criteria.

ITALY

A contrast was seen in the last chapter between the attitudes of Cicero and of Varro to variations within Italy. For Cicero Roman Latin was superior to other varieties. Varro was interested in identifying variations without asserting the superiority of a Roman accent. There are neutral observations from the Empire too, but rhetorical dismissals of regional Latin persisted. It must be asked whether as the Empire advanced ‘Romanness’ of Latin continued to be idealised in the same form, or whether there are new attitudes to be seen (see 1.2.3–4, 1.2.12, 3.1).

Romanness and related ideas

Rome maintained a linguistic centrality in the eyes of the provincial educated class.