Property:script

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Property
Description: Defines the writing system of the inscription.
Type: Text
Allows value: Greek script, Etruscan script, Latin script, North Italic script, Camunic script, unknown, none

Definition

In TIR, variants of epigraphic systems are distinguished on two levels: "scripts" and "alphabets". Note that the distinction and terminology are not necessarily grammatologically sound, but introduced here merely for convenience. The scripts are fairly straightforwardly discriminable variants, usually associated with different languages, i.e. the Greek script as used in mainland Greece and its Mediterranean colonies, the Etruscan script as used by the Etruscan-speaking people of Central Italy, the Latin script as it emerged in Latium and later spread over all of Italy, the North Italic script as used by various peoples north of the Po, and the graphically peculiar Camunic script as used by the ancient Camunni. The fact that all these scripts are related to and derived from each other entails certain similarities and, consequently, difficulties in differentiation. This applies even more to the second level of distinction: The North Italic script, derived from Etruscan, appears in a number of varieties or "alphabets". These alphabets can to some extent be described, distinguished and even derived from each other, but are still so similar that the absence of certain schibboleth characters precludes the ascription of any single document of writing to a specific variety. This is so much the case that the inscriptions collected in the TIR, where they are not written in another script altogether, are considered to be written in the North Italic script; only where possible is the ascription to an alphabet added in brackets.

The list below details the grounds upon which inscriptions are ascribed to a script, including the schibboleth characters and additional factors (geographical, linguistical, chronological/archaeological) specially pertaining to the appraisal of the Raetic corpus. For the definitions of the different North Italic alphabets as distinguished in the TIR and corresponding data, see Property:alphabet. For further information see Script.

Greek

Greek writing or its influence might be expected to be found in the catchment area of the early Greek settlements of Adria and Spina in the Po delta or in the very West of Transpadania through influx from the area of Marseille (from approx. the 3rd c. onwards). The Greek script was used to write Continental Celtic in France; one of the earliest Lepontic inscriptions can be argued to be written in Greek – linguistically Raetic (or Venetic) inscriptions written in Greek cannot be excluded. The main identifying epigraphical feature would be the presence of one or more characters for mediae. For a collection of Gallo-Greek letter forms see RIG (vol. I) p. 428 ff.

Etruscan

None of the Etruscan settlements in the very North (Liguria, the Reggio Emilia and the area around Mantova, Adria and Spina) are situated near the Raetic area, but Etruscan writing is not unlikely to pop up anywhere in Transpadania. Indeed, seeing as, essentially, all of North Italic writing may be argued to be the Etruscan script applied to other languages, the identification of linguistically Etruscan elements in a document must remain a major reason for also defining its script as Etruscan. Epigraphically, the identifying features are prevalently negative, i.e. the absence of any North Italic characteristics. Consequently, uncertainness of ascription is an issue mainly in the scope of the Lugano alphabet, which deviates least from its Etruscan source.

Latin

The Latin script, eventually obliterating all earlier writing systems in Northern Italy, or Latinoid features must be anticipated in every part of Transpadania. The chronological factor substitutes the geographical one: The younger the document, the more likely the appearance of Latin forms. Equally, inscriptions with peregrine characteristics might tend to be found on imported objects (this also goes for Greek and Etruscan). It can be pointed out that, unlike Venetic, where the shift from North Italic to Latin script can be retraced by means of a great number of late Latinoid inscriptions, such clear testimonies are so far absent from Raetic context. Compellingly Latin epigraphical features are the presence of undubitably Latin letter forms, i.e. the characters for mediae addB2d s, addD2d s, addG5d s in their Latin form, addR3d s with a downstroke, and addM3 s with two hastae (if not San). Indicatory features are a full-size angle in addN1d s, presence of addC3d s, addO5 s and addQ3d s, and a general ductus with straight bars rather than inclined ones (e.g. addE1d s, addA2 s) and curves rather than angles (e.g. addS1d s). The above applies to (influence of) monumental Latin; the Latin cursive has particular characteristics (most notably addE2 s /e/) which appear in Latinoid Venetic inscriptions and must be looked out for as well.

North Italic

No shared features can be said to distinguish the North Italic alphabets as a group from the scripts of Old Italy. See Property:alphabet.

Camunic

Generally weird. Quite unmistakable, really.

Unknown

Unknown is chosen when an inscription can't at all be ascribed to a certain script, though usually some commitment is made and qualified with a question mark in brackets. Unknown is also chosen – and this is the prevalent case – when it is not sure that the characters represent script in the linguistical sense at all, but are thought to transport some kind of meaning or information. For more information on these cases, see Non-script notational systems. None indicates that the marks in question are, with a high degree of probability, ornamental or unintentional.

Map

Distribution of inscriptions per script:

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Marker 0000C0.png Greek script (0);Marker FF8080.png Etruscan script (0); Marker 800000.png Latin script (3);Marker 80C000.png North Italic script (184); Marker 8080C0.png Camunic script (1); Marker FFFFFF.png none (11); Marker C0C0C0.png unknown (177)

Statistics

Number of pages in the Category:Inscription (389) per "script":

script occurrence  
Greek script
0 0.00 % show list
Etruscan script
0 0.00 % show list
Latin script
3 0.77 % show list
North Italic script
190 48.84 % show list
Camunic script
1 0.25 % [[AV-1|show page]]
unknown
182 46.78 % show list
none
13 3.34 % show list


Number of pages in the Category:File (281) per "script":

script occurrence  
Greek script
30 10.67 % show list
Etruscan script
61 21.70 % show list
Latin script
31 11.03 % show list
North Italic script
193 68.68 % show list
Camunic script
63 22.41 % show list
unknown
0 0.00 % show list
none
0 0.00 % show list
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{
    "type": "PROPERTY_CONSTRAINT_SCHEMA",
    "constraints": {
        "type_constraint": "_txt",
        "allowed_values": [
            "Greek script",
            "Etruscan script",
            "Latin script",
            "North Italic script",
            "Camunic script",
            "unknown",
            "none"
        ]
    }
}
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