Studien zur Sprache der senes Micio und Demea in Terenz᾽ Adelphen

Abstract

This article aims to shed light on the question, whether Micio and Demea, brothers of quite different character and the main protagonists of Terentius᾽ comedy Adelphoe, speak a uniform Latin or are differentiated linguistically. In the first part of the article, it is shown by use of the traditional methods of classical philology that Demea has a penchant for absolute terms and for the word flagitium; furthermore he is prone to archaisms, irony and a certain use of imagery, while Micio is characterized by lacking any such distinct features. However, only certain words and phrases could be found to be distinctive, but nothing has been said about language and style in general. For this purpose, methods of stylometry are used in the second part by examination of syntax and vocabulary. It will be shown that the characters speak a different Latin, especially with regards to syntax, and this happens most clearly at parts being important for the audience.