06-22-2006, 12:02 PM
Ave to all,
The evolution of "castra" from neutrum plural to feminine singular during the late Roman period is an example of (mis)use by external speakers, whose Latin was just basic.
They saw the ending "a" as being simply feminine singular, as in "ancilla".
Other examples of similar evolutions are the use of "caballus" instead of "equus".
From 275 A.D. onwards, many newcomers, mainly Germans, were serving in the Roman armies, as laeti or comitatenses.
Their use of Latin terms can be compared to non-English speakers using a term like "dancing" to refer to a dance-hall.
Valete!
Cepheus aka Bernard Roobaert
The evolution of "castra" from neutrum plural to feminine singular during the late Roman period is an example of (mis)use by external speakers, whose Latin was just basic.
They saw the ending "a" as being simply feminine singular, as in "ancilla".
Other examples of similar evolutions are the use of "caballus" instead of "equus".
From 275 A.D. onwards, many newcomers, mainly Germans, were serving in the Roman armies, as laeti or comitatenses.
Their use of Latin terms can be compared to non-English speakers using a term like "dancing" to refer to a dance-hall.
Valete!
Cepheus aka Bernard Roobaert
