What question did this study set out to answer?

The research examines the historical use of long 'i' in Latin terminations to trace linguistic evolution.

April 24, 2026

On Long i in Latin Terminations

Key Points

The research examines the historical use of long 'i' in Latin terminations to trace linguistic evolution.
Analysis of Latin texts before 170-150 B.C.
Comparison of terminations and their origins
Evaluation of dative and locative endings in Latin
Identified regular use of I and EI in specific terminations.
Confirmed dative endings in -ī originated from older forms like -EI.
Defended the interpretation of active infinitive forms as -s-stems with locative -i.

Abstract

Latin before 170-150 B.C. shows regularly I in some terminations and EI in others; ī (except where of perspicuous origin) comes from pre-Latin ei, while ei is from earlier ai or oi. Notably the gen. sg. in - ī is (with Ehrlich) an original locative in -ei; the passive infinitive in -ī had prim. IE -ei, being a dative of a consonant-stem or a locative of an - o -stem. The Latin dative in -ī, older -EI, is not identical in ending with the Oscan dative in -ei. Older ie contracts to Latin ī . Defense of the older view that the active infinitive in -re is an -s-stem with locative -i, not (as Hirt thinks) with locative -ai .

KI fragen

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