LaLaLexiT
Late Latin Lexicon in Transition

Project

Nationalisms and emerging ideologies, migration of peoples, major cultural and political upheavals: Late Antiquity is undoubtedly an age of great change, which shaped European culture in the following centuries. Supported by the NextGenerationEU program, LaLaLexiT will be the first digital "Latin lexicon of the historical transition in Late Antiquity", built on the basis of a selection of Latin texts, in prose and poetry, dating back from the 3rd to the 7th century AD.

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.

Digital archives

The LaLaLexiT project represents a convergence of expertise from research groups with extensive experience in the development of digital archives dedicated to the study of Latin texts. Specifically, our team in Venice (Ca' Foscari University) has been committed in the creation and improvement of MQDQ Galaxy, while our partners in Vercelli (UPO - University of Eastern Piedmont) have built the DigiLibLT library. These initiatives stand as testament to our commitment to fostering digital resources that facilitate comprehensive and nuanced exploration of Latin literature.

Events

Team

Martina Venuti

Principal Investigator

Alice Borgna

Associated Investigator

Luca Mondin

Scientific Advisor

Maurizio Lana [ITA]

Scientific Advisor

Luigi Tessarolo
Luigi Tessarolo

ICT Project Manager

Scientific International Advisory Board