Vtrum priscis Romanis Latina lingua, by Poggio Bracciolini

Abstract

In this article, we present our proposed translation of the epistle Vtrum priscis Romanis Latina lingua omnibvs commvnis fverit, an alia qvaedam doctorvm virorvm, alia plebis et vvlgi, tertiae convivalis historiae disceptatio (Whether the Latin language was common to all ancient Romans, or whether there was one for learned men, another for the plebeians and the common people: discussion of a third convivial history), by Poggio Bracciolini. This work is considered the last written testimony of a direct participant in the questione della lingua, which took place in the papal antechamber in 1435 regarding the true language spoken daily by the ancient Romans. In addition to the translation, we offer some initial considerations on the context, content, and terminology of the work in question, relying primarily on Tavoni (1984), Mazzocco (1993), Celenza (2009), among other authors. Our main objective with this article is to provide readers with access to one of the most important texts of the Italian Quattrocento, not only concerning Latinitas and usus antiquorum, but also the main grammatical ideas circulating at the time.