LaLaLexiT
Late Latin Lexicon in Transition

Methodology

As a scientific resource, LaLaLexiT will be built on the basis of lexicographic work carried out on a selection of Latin texts in prose and poetry from the period between the 3rd and 7th centuries AD. These texts hold significant literary value as they encapsulate the essence of the Late Antique transition, interpreting its complexities, and introducing or redefining expressions and imagery that have since permeated our lexicon and cultural ethos. Authors chosen for inclusion are deemed exemplary witnesses of this transformative epoch, selected for their impact on contemporary and subsequent cultural landscapes.

The analysis of these selected texts will be structured around specific thematic macro-categories, delineating the major historical and social shifts of the era. These categories include:

• ‘pluralisms and nationalisms’
• ‘migrations and exiles’
• ‘war and pacification’
• ‘power management and political reforms’
• ‘cultural and social trends’
• ‘conservation and religious conversion’
• 'resilience and palingenesis'.

Within each thematic category, keywords and pertinent passages will be identified, showcasing the diverse manifestations of these overarching themes within the texts.

From this comprehensive analysis, glossary headwords will be distilled, under which occurrences of the identified keywords and associated vocabulary will be cataloged. This approach will yield a structured and accessible resource, facilitating in-depth exploration and scholarly inquiry into the context of Late Antiquity.