Rudolf Wachter | University of Lausanne (original) (raw)

Publication list and monographs by Rudolf Wachter

Research paper thumbnail of Publication list 7

Research paper thumbnail of Die Davoser Namenregel

Beiheft Nr. 18 zum Bündner Monatsblatt, 2023

Research paper thumbnail of Feedback to my Lausanne Festschrift

Research paper thumbnail of Pompejanische Wandinschriften

Berlin, de Gruyter, Tusculum series, 2019

Pompeian wall inscriptions give a unique insight into everyday life in the early Roman Empire. Th... more Pompeian wall inscriptions give a unique insight into everyday life in the early Roman Empire. Their subjects are quite up-to-date: business, politics (including fake propaganda), sport, entertainment, sex, crime, friendly greetings, most evil verbal abuse, delicate love poems, as well as reflections of school teaching and literary citations.
This is the first collection which not only addresses a larger public thanks to its translations and introductory texts, but is also useful for college and university teaching thanks to its precise transcriptions, short commentaries, countless cross-references and the most important bibliography.
The volume contains over 1500 numbers, much more than all earlier small editions. It takes into account the most recent research and its commentaries pay attention above all to poetic, epigraphic, linguistic and factual matters. Linguistic phenomena of the so-called Vulgar Latin, which often remind us of the Romance Languages (and this hardly more than a century after Virgil’s death!), are put forward systematically.

Research paper thumbnail of Der Maler Gerhard Ahnfeldt – dem Vergessen entrissen

Glarus/Chur, 2016

Gerhard Ahnfeldt was born in Rostock in 1916. At the age of 18 he fell ill with tuberculosis, imm... more Gerhard Ahnfeldt was born in Rostock in 1916. At the age of 18 he fell ill with tuberculosis, immediately after entering the Nazi army, was exempted from military service and sent to Davos (CH), where he lived from 1939 to 1956. He first was a highly gifted graphic artist, later he devoted himself to oil painting. The last eight years of his life he had to spend in Cairo for reasons of his illness, where he died in 1964. His graphic oeuvre, which he began with illustrations of literary works and continued throughout his life, is very delicate, and his small watercolours, gouaches and oil miniatures are amongst the «most delightful things he created». Although some items of his graphic art were reviewed very favourably in «Davoser Revue», hardly anything of it was ever shown in public.
As he could not make a living from his graphic art and was not satisfied by his early attempts at watercolour or oil painting, Ahnfeldt furthered his training 1953 with painter Albert Pfister in Erlenbach near Zürich. Back came an artist who painted marvellously colourful pictures but who still composed his motives in a masterly way. He became astonishingly productive and successful. His illness, a premature death far abroad, and his widow’s biography after his death, however precluded a well-deserved long-lasting success. His works have not been shown any more for several decades. On the occasion of his 100th birthday, this book and two exhibitions are meant to introduce Gerhard Ahnfeldt to a wider public.

Research paper thumbnail of Wer regieren will, muss viel hören, und nicht hören. Spruchweisheiten und Inschriften im Basler Rathaus (by Peter Litwan, Beat von Scarpatetti, Martin Carl, Markus Ritter, and R.W.)

Basel, 2014

A nicely illustrated book on the inscriptions in the historic Town Hall of Basel, with a short an... more A nicely illustrated book on the inscriptions in the historic Town Hall of Basel, with a short and easily readable essay on each one of the texts. For a larger public interested in the 16th century when humanism and reformation were the main motors of cultural development in central Europe.

Research paper thumbnail of Latein und die Sprachen der EU. Essay zur historischen Dimension im Sprachunterricht

Vortrags- und Schriftenreihe der Elisabeth J. Saal-Stiftung, München, Heft 13, 2004

An essay about the huge impact of Latin on every single one, and the community, of modern Europa... more An essay about the huge impact of Latin on every single one, and the community, of modern Europaean languages, and a passionate plea (with many good arguments) for the study of ancient languages. The essay is addressed to anyone who is interested in languages not only as an instrument to order a cup of coffee on a holiday trip, but also as a thesaurus of social and cultural history of the speakers’ communities in question. (Beware! This view on languages may turn you into an addict of the study of foreign languages!)

Research paper thumbnail of Non-Attic Greek Vase Inscriptions: A Philological Study

Oxford, 2001

Greek vases not only bear painted scenes, mainly of mythological themes, but also painted (or inc... more Greek vases not only bear painted scenes, mainly of mythological themes, but also painted (or incised) inscriptions, and this roughly between 650 and 400 B.C. These inscriptions help us to understand the painted scenes and, at the same time, are an important source for our knowledge of the dialects, spoken or literary, of the production centre in question. The book discusses all the vases except the Attic ones of the same period and the later ones from South Italy (4th century B.C.), the most important corpus discussed being that of Corinth.

Research paper thumbnail of Altlateinische Inschriften: Sprachliche und epigraphische Untersuchungen zu den Dokumenten bis etwa 150 v. Chr.

Bern, 1987

An edition of the (then) full corpus of Latin inscriptions prior to c. 150 B.C. with linguistic c... more An edition of the (then) full corpus of Latin inscriptions prior to c. 150 B.C. with linguistic commentary. Important issues are the so-called Fibula Praenestina (and the question if it is a fake or genuin), the mirrors and cistae from Praeneste, the sarcophagus of Lucius Cornelius Scipio Barbatus now in the Vatican, the invention of the Latin letter G by a certain Spurius Carvilius around 260 B.C., the Senatusconsultum de Bacchanalibus of 186 B.C., the development of the classical Latin spelling around 200 B.C. presumably by Greeks working as (mainly private) teachers in Rome, the development of the Latin alphabet and letter forms, etc. etc.

Latin by Rudolf Wachter

Research paper thumbnail of The making of Latin in the midst of the other languages of Italy in the Late Republic

EGeA (Études genevoises sur l’antiquité), 2020

A close look at Latin at the peak of its rise to an imperial language in the 2nd and 1st century ... more A close look at Latin at the peak of its rise to an imperial language in the 2nd and 1st century B.C. The focus is put on external influence from the languages and dialects of Central Italy on the language of Rome as a consequence of social development in the rural areas, which forced hundreds of thousands of inhabitants to migrate to the City. Marcus Terentius Varro, of Sabine origin, is used as a major source.

Research paper thumbnail of Eine unterschätzte Delikatesse in der Cena Trimalchionis

MH 75, 2018

It is argued that Petron. 31,2 «ad summam, statim scietis, ait, cui dederitis beneficium. vinum d... more It is argued that Petron. 31,2 «ad summam, statim scietis, ait, cui dederitis beneficium. vinum dominicum ministratoris gratia est» is a metrical passage.

Research paper thumbnail of Die Entstehung der lateinischen Orthographie im 3. bis 1. Jh. v. Chr.

Die geheimen Mächte hinter der Rechtschreibung, 2013

The spelling of our Latin texts is only slightly further developed than what it was in the ‘Class... more The spelling of our Latin texts is only slightly further developed than what it was in the ‘Classical’ period of Cicero, Caesar, Vergil etc. This, and how the spelling had originated in the 3rd/2nd c. B.C., is described on the basis of epigraphic, papyrus, and manuscript evidence.

Research paper thumbnail of La prononciation "correcte" des langues anciennes

Cahiers de l’ILSL (Lausanne), 2013

This contribution about how to pronounce Latin and Greek has a strong practical focus. It arose f... more This contribution about how to pronounce Latin and Greek has a strong practical focus. It arose from my conviction that even if we have no native speakers to ask and listen to, we can—not least with the help of historical linguistics—arrive at a plausible pronunciation of the classical texts, one that might please even the Romans and the Ancient Greeks. (They also had to put up with millions of non-native speakers of their languages and will have listened to some of them with pleasure, despite clearly distinguishable foreign accents.) And it is the least we can do to aim at the best-possible pronunciation we can regain. As a welcome side-effect, this makes the cumbersome scansion of ancient verses superfluous and thus reconciles the Latin and Greek of prose with that of poetry, which generations of students and scholars have been taught to distinguish fundamentally. What could have been more stupid? — For a few sound-files see https://performance.unibas.ch/tabelle.html. And for a more academic background to this contribution see ‘Accent, sentence intonation, and music in Lesbian dialect poetry’ and ‘Cicero, der Sprachkünstler, oder Plauderei über lateinische Wortstellung’ below.

Research paper thumbnail of Varro (Marcus Terentius Varro, Reatinus) De lingua Latina

Die Rezeption der antiken Literatur (Der Neue Pauly, Suppl. 7), 2010

Research paper thumbnail of Ein Tonmodel aus Kaiseraugst

Research paper thumbnail of Sprachwissenschaftlicher Cocktail zur Cistellaria

Studien zu Plautus’ Cistellaria (ScriptOralia 128), 2004

Research paper thumbnail of Cicero, der Sprachkünstler, oder Plauderei über lateinische Wortstellung

Festschrift für Eckhard Christmann, Wilfried Edelmaier und Rudolf Kettemann (= Studien zur klassischen Philologie, 144), 2004

See above, ‘La prononciation "correcte" des langues anciennes’.

Research paper thumbnail of “Hohe” und volkstümliche Dichtung in augusteischer Zeit

Latein und Griechisch in Baden-Württemberg. Deutscher Altphilologenverband, Landesverband Baden-Württemberg. Mitteilungen 30.2, 2002

Research paper thumbnail of Ter tricennalia? Zur Inschrift auf der Decennalien-Platte des Constans

TYCHE – Contributions to Ancient History, Papyrology and Epigraphy, 2001

Research paper thumbnail of Ter tricennalia

Research paper thumbnail of Publication list 7

Research paper thumbnail of Die Davoser Namenregel

Beiheft Nr. 18 zum Bündner Monatsblatt, 2023

Research paper thumbnail of Feedback to my Lausanne Festschrift

Research paper thumbnail of Pompejanische Wandinschriften

Berlin, de Gruyter, Tusculum series, 2019

Pompeian wall inscriptions give a unique insight into everyday life in the early Roman Empire. Th... more Pompeian wall inscriptions give a unique insight into everyday life in the early Roman Empire. Their subjects are quite up-to-date: business, politics (including fake propaganda), sport, entertainment, sex, crime, friendly greetings, most evil verbal abuse, delicate love poems, as well as reflections of school teaching and literary citations.
This is the first collection which not only addresses a larger public thanks to its translations and introductory texts, but is also useful for college and university teaching thanks to its precise transcriptions, short commentaries, countless cross-references and the most important bibliography.
The volume contains over 1500 numbers, much more than all earlier small editions. It takes into account the most recent research and its commentaries pay attention above all to poetic, epigraphic, linguistic and factual matters. Linguistic phenomena of the so-called Vulgar Latin, which often remind us of the Romance Languages (and this hardly more than a century after Virgil’s death!), are put forward systematically.

Research paper thumbnail of Der Maler Gerhard Ahnfeldt – dem Vergessen entrissen

Glarus/Chur, 2016

Gerhard Ahnfeldt was born in Rostock in 1916. At the age of 18 he fell ill with tuberculosis, imm... more Gerhard Ahnfeldt was born in Rostock in 1916. At the age of 18 he fell ill with tuberculosis, immediately after entering the Nazi army, was exempted from military service and sent to Davos (CH), where he lived from 1939 to 1956. He first was a highly gifted graphic artist, later he devoted himself to oil painting. The last eight years of his life he had to spend in Cairo for reasons of his illness, where he died in 1964. His graphic oeuvre, which he began with illustrations of literary works and continued throughout his life, is very delicate, and his small watercolours, gouaches and oil miniatures are amongst the «most delightful things he created». Although some items of his graphic art were reviewed very favourably in «Davoser Revue», hardly anything of it was ever shown in public.
As he could not make a living from his graphic art and was not satisfied by his early attempts at watercolour or oil painting, Ahnfeldt furthered his training 1953 with painter Albert Pfister in Erlenbach near Zürich. Back came an artist who painted marvellously colourful pictures but who still composed his motives in a masterly way. He became astonishingly productive and successful. His illness, a premature death far abroad, and his widow’s biography after his death, however precluded a well-deserved long-lasting success. His works have not been shown any more for several decades. On the occasion of his 100th birthday, this book and two exhibitions are meant to introduce Gerhard Ahnfeldt to a wider public.

Research paper thumbnail of Wer regieren will, muss viel hören, und nicht hören. Spruchweisheiten und Inschriften im Basler Rathaus (by Peter Litwan, Beat von Scarpatetti, Martin Carl, Markus Ritter, and R.W.)

Basel, 2014

A nicely illustrated book on the inscriptions in the historic Town Hall of Basel, with a short an... more A nicely illustrated book on the inscriptions in the historic Town Hall of Basel, with a short and easily readable essay on each one of the texts. For a larger public interested in the 16th century when humanism and reformation were the main motors of cultural development in central Europe.

Research paper thumbnail of Latein und die Sprachen der EU. Essay zur historischen Dimension im Sprachunterricht

Vortrags- und Schriftenreihe der Elisabeth J. Saal-Stiftung, München, Heft 13, 2004

An essay about the huge impact of Latin on every single one, and the community, of modern Europa... more An essay about the huge impact of Latin on every single one, and the community, of modern Europaean languages, and a passionate plea (with many good arguments) for the study of ancient languages. The essay is addressed to anyone who is interested in languages not only as an instrument to order a cup of coffee on a holiday trip, but also as a thesaurus of social and cultural history of the speakers’ communities in question. (Beware! This view on languages may turn you into an addict of the study of foreign languages!)

Research paper thumbnail of Non-Attic Greek Vase Inscriptions: A Philological Study

Oxford, 2001

Greek vases not only bear painted scenes, mainly of mythological themes, but also painted (or inc... more Greek vases not only bear painted scenes, mainly of mythological themes, but also painted (or incised) inscriptions, and this roughly between 650 and 400 B.C. These inscriptions help us to understand the painted scenes and, at the same time, are an important source for our knowledge of the dialects, spoken or literary, of the production centre in question. The book discusses all the vases except the Attic ones of the same period and the later ones from South Italy (4th century B.C.), the most important corpus discussed being that of Corinth.

Research paper thumbnail of Altlateinische Inschriften: Sprachliche und epigraphische Untersuchungen zu den Dokumenten bis etwa 150 v. Chr.

Bern, 1987

An edition of the (then) full corpus of Latin inscriptions prior to c. 150 B.C. with linguistic c... more An edition of the (then) full corpus of Latin inscriptions prior to c. 150 B.C. with linguistic commentary. Important issues are the so-called Fibula Praenestina (and the question if it is a fake or genuin), the mirrors and cistae from Praeneste, the sarcophagus of Lucius Cornelius Scipio Barbatus now in the Vatican, the invention of the Latin letter G by a certain Spurius Carvilius around 260 B.C., the Senatusconsultum de Bacchanalibus of 186 B.C., the development of the classical Latin spelling around 200 B.C. presumably by Greeks working as (mainly private) teachers in Rome, the development of the Latin alphabet and letter forms, etc. etc.

Research paper thumbnail of The making of Latin in the midst of the other languages of Italy in the Late Republic

EGeA (Études genevoises sur l’antiquité), 2020

A close look at Latin at the peak of its rise to an imperial language in the 2nd and 1st century ... more A close look at Latin at the peak of its rise to an imperial language in the 2nd and 1st century B.C. The focus is put on external influence from the languages and dialects of Central Italy on the language of Rome as a consequence of social development in the rural areas, which forced hundreds of thousands of inhabitants to migrate to the City. Marcus Terentius Varro, of Sabine origin, is used as a major source.

Research paper thumbnail of Eine unterschätzte Delikatesse in der Cena Trimalchionis

MH 75, 2018

It is argued that Petron. 31,2 «ad summam, statim scietis, ait, cui dederitis beneficium. vinum d... more It is argued that Petron. 31,2 «ad summam, statim scietis, ait, cui dederitis beneficium. vinum dominicum ministratoris gratia est» is a metrical passage.

Research paper thumbnail of Die Entstehung der lateinischen Orthographie im 3. bis 1. Jh. v. Chr.

Die geheimen Mächte hinter der Rechtschreibung, 2013

The spelling of our Latin texts is only slightly further developed than what it was in the ‘Class... more The spelling of our Latin texts is only slightly further developed than what it was in the ‘Classical’ period of Cicero, Caesar, Vergil etc. This, and how the spelling had originated in the 3rd/2nd c. B.C., is described on the basis of epigraphic, papyrus, and manuscript evidence.

Research paper thumbnail of La prononciation "correcte" des langues anciennes

Cahiers de l’ILSL (Lausanne), 2013

This contribution about how to pronounce Latin and Greek has a strong practical focus. It arose f... more This contribution about how to pronounce Latin and Greek has a strong practical focus. It arose from my conviction that even if we have no native speakers to ask and listen to, we can—not least with the help of historical linguistics—arrive at a plausible pronunciation of the classical texts, one that might please even the Romans and the Ancient Greeks. (They also had to put up with millions of non-native speakers of their languages and will have listened to some of them with pleasure, despite clearly distinguishable foreign accents.) And it is the least we can do to aim at the best-possible pronunciation we can regain. As a welcome side-effect, this makes the cumbersome scansion of ancient verses superfluous and thus reconciles the Latin and Greek of prose with that of poetry, which generations of students and scholars have been taught to distinguish fundamentally. What could have been more stupid? — For a few sound-files see https://performance.unibas.ch/tabelle.html. And for a more academic background to this contribution see ‘Accent, sentence intonation, and music in Lesbian dialect poetry’ and ‘Cicero, der Sprachkünstler, oder Plauderei über lateinische Wortstellung’ below.

Research paper thumbnail of Varro (Marcus Terentius Varro, Reatinus) De lingua Latina

Die Rezeption der antiken Literatur (Der Neue Pauly, Suppl. 7), 2010

Research paper thumbnail of Ein Tonmodel aus Kaiseraugst

Research paper thumbnail of Sprachwissenschaftlicher Cocktail zur Cistellaria

Studien zu Plautus’ Cistellaria (ScriptOralia 128), 2004

Research paper thumbnail of Cicero, der Sprachkünstler, oder Plauderei über lateinische Wortstellung

Festschrift für Eckhard Christmann, Wilfried Edelmaier und Rudolf Kettemann (= Studien zur klassischen Philologie, 144), 2004

See above, ‘La prononciation "correcte" des langues anciennes’.

Research paper thumbnail of “Hohe” und volkstümliche Dichtung in augusteischer Zeit

Latein und Griechisch in Baden-Württemberg. Deutscher Altphilologenverband, Landesverband Baden-Württemberg. Mitteilungen 30.2, 2002

Research paper thumbnail of Ter tricennalia? Zur Inschrift auf der Decennalien-Platte des Constans

TYCHE – Contributions to Ancient History, Papyrology and Epigraphy, 2001

Research paper thumbnail of Ter tricennalia

Research paper thumbnail of gratia und Verwandtes bei Plautus

Research paper thumbnail of Hinweise auf “Oral Poetry” im vulgärlateinischen Kontext der pompejanischen Wandinschriften

Latin vulgaire – latin tardif. Actes du Ve Colloque international sur le latin vulgaire et tardif, Heidelberg, 5–8 septembre 1997, 1999

Research paper thumbnail of “Oral poetry” in ungewohntem Kontext: Hinweise auf mündliche Dichtungstechnik in den pompejanischen Wandinschriften

Research paper thumbnail of Philotechinis rebus

Research paper thumbnail of Lateinisch “Steinbruch”: Bekanntes und Verkanntes

Research paper thumbnail of Wiedersehen mit CIL I² 43

Research paper thumbnail of Dialectology and the origin of Iliad and Odyssey

(in print)

In this contribution the argument of two previous papers (‘Greek dialects and epic poetry’ and ‘T... more In this contribution the argument of two previous papers (‘Greek dialects and epic poetry’ and ‘The other view’, see below!) is further developed. It aims at explaining the mixed dialect, Ionic with Aeolic, of the Homeric poems, using and discussing the most likely biography of Homer.

Research paper thumbnail of Colloquium Mycenaeum 1975 at Chaumont sur Neuchâtel (Switzerland)

I found three photos of the participants of the notable Colloquium Mycenaeum at Neuchâtel (Switze... more I found three photos of the participants of the notable Colloquium Mycenaeum at Neuchâtel (Switzerland) in 1975.

The document was newly uploaded with a small correction on 9 Nov. 2021.

Research paper thumbnail of Un distique érotique gravé sur des murs à Pully près de Lausanne et à Stabies près de Pompéi

Research paper thumbnail of Attische Vaseninschriften im Spannungsfeld zwischen Alphabet, Dialekt und Literatur

Töpfer – Maler – Schreiber, 2016

Research paper thumbnail of ‘Grammar of Homeric Greek’ and ‘Homeric–Mycenaean Word Index’

Homer’s Iliad: The Basel Commentary. Prolegomena, 2015

Research paper thumbnail of Prolegomena

Research paper thumbnail of The other view: Focus on linguistic innovations in the Homeric epics

Relative Chronology in Early Greek Epic Poetry, 2012

Research paper thumbnail of The origin of epigrams on speaking objects

Archaic and Classical Greek Epigram, 2010

Research paper thumbnail of Inscriptions

A Companion to the Greek Language, 2010

A chapter about Greek epigraphy mainly, but not only, from a language point of view (p. 47–61 in ... more A chapter about Greek epigraphy mainly, but not only, from a language point of view (p. 47–61 in the book).

Research paper thumbnail of Greek dialects and epic poetry: did Homer have to be an Ionian?

Actes du Ve congrès international de dialectologie grecque, 2007

Research paper thumbnail of Attische Vaseninschriften: Was ist von einer sinnvollen und realistischen Sammlung und Auswertung zu erwarten? (AVI 1)

Die Altgriechischen Dialekte. Wesen und Werden, 2007

Research paper thumbnail of Paideia's Children: Childhood Education on a Group of Late Antique Mosaics

Hesperia Supplements, 2007

... Photo Stefan Hagcn Figure 5.4. Mosaic panel with Kimbros and Philia. 288 x 74 cm. Private col... more ... Photo Stefan Hagcn Figure 5.4. Mosaic panel with Kimbros and Philia. 288 x 74 cm. Private collection, Rockville, Md. ... Page 5. CHILDHOOD EDUCATION ON LATE ANTIQUE MOSAICS IO5 Figure 5.8. Mosaic panel with Kimbros and Philia, detail of the upper left section. ...

Research paper thumbnail of Walking and talking among us: Personifications in a group of late antique mosaics

… de l'Ecole française de Rome, 2005

RefDoc Bienvenue - Welcome. Refdoc est un service / is powered by. ...

Research paper thumbnail of Accent, sentence intonation, and music in Lesbian dialect poetry

IL 29, 2006

See above (under ‘Latin’) the title, ‘La prononciation "correcte" des langues anciennes’.

Research paper thumbnail of Ψειλωτής (Psilotes). Ein neues griechisches Wort aus dem Eschmun-Heiligtum in Sidon (by Rolf A. Stucky, Hans-Peter Mathys, and R.W.)

Research paper thumbnail of Die griechischen Inschriften

Das Eschmun-Heiligtum von Sidon. Architektur und Inschriften, 2005

Research paper thumbnail of A new Greek word from the Sanctuary of Eshmun at Sidon

Archaeology History in Lebanon, 2004

Research paper thumbnail of Χαῖρε καὶ πίει εὖ

Indo-European Perspectives, Studies in Honour of Anna Morpurgo Davies, 2004

Research paper thumbnail of Drinking Inscriptions on Attic Little-Master Cups: A Catalogue

Research paper thumbnail of Ariston weihte drei Töchter

ZPE 142, 2003

[Important correction in (see below): ‘Inscriptions’, in: Egbert J. Bakker (Hg.), A Companion to ... more [Important correction in (see below): ‘Inscriptions’, in: Egbert J. Bakker (Hg.), A Companion to the Greek Language, Chichester (Wiley-Blackwell) 2010, p. 58!]

Research paper thumbnail of The Genesis of the Local Alphabets of Archaic Greece

Rober Parker and Philippa M. Steele (eds.), The Early Greek Alphabets: Origin, Diffusion, Uses, Oxford (OUP)., 2021

This chapter stresses the importance of the series of letters people actually learnt and taught i... more This chapter stresses the importance of the series of letters people actually learnt and taught in the different «local scripts», together with the series of letter names they learnt by heart. The physical manifestation of this tradition is in abecedaria. The differences between these local alphabets can be explained by three types of reform that took place while the alphabet spread, viz. the adding, reinterpreting, or abolishing of letters. Attention to chronology allows quite precise «predictions» about the otherwise hidden first years of the alphabet in Greece. Some common views will therefore have to be given up, for instance that the three islands, Thera, Melos, and Crete, which use a particularly archaic type of alphabet, are therefore plausible candidates for particularly early writing. The takeover of the alphabet was a single event, but we will very likely never be able to specify either where or when precisely it took place.
This is the first full text in English summarising my (almost lifelong) research in the early history of the Greek alphabet. It is more easily readable than the article ‘Alphabet’ (and ‘Italy: alphabetic scripts’) in The New Pauly, where the emphasis was on brevity and detailed argument.

Research paper thumbnail of Die Erfindung des Alphabets: ein realistisches Szenario

ThZ 74, Festschrift Ernst Jenni, 2018

Research paper thumbnail of Alphabet, Greek

The Encyclopedia of Ancient History, 2012

Research paper thumbnail of Das Alphabet – Zündung der westlichen Kultur

Zeit der Helden: Die ‘dunklen Jahrhunderte’ Griechenlands 1200–700 v.Chr., 2008

Research paper thumbnail of Ein Schwarzes Loch der Geschichte: die Erfindung des griechischen Alphabets

Die Geburt des Vokalalphabets aus dem Geist der Poesie. Schrift, Zahl und Ton im Medienverbund, 2006

Research paper thumbnail of Annex zu Fragment 3 der Graffiti von Eretria

Research paper thumbnail of ΒΑ-ΒΕ-ΒΗ-ΒΙ-ΒΟ-ΒΥ-ΒΩ ... Zur Geschichte des elementaren Schreibunterrichts bei den Griechen, Etruskern und Venetern

Research paper thumbnail of Die Übernahme des Alphabets durch die Griechen: wie, wann, wo, durch wen und wozu? Eine aktuelle Abwägung der Standpunkte, Argumente und methodischen Ansätze

Die Geschichte der hellenischen Sprache und Schrift, 2004

Research paper thumbnail of Die Troia-Geschichte wird schriftlich

Troia – Traum und Wirklichkeit, 2001

Research paper thumbnail of Der Informationsgehalt von Schreibfehlern in griechischen und lateinischen Inschriften

Research paper thumbnail of Abbreviated writing

Research paper thumbnail of Zur Vorgeschichte des griechischen Alphabets (mit Appendix: Wie alt ist das griechische Alphabet?)

Research paper thumbnail of Die etruskische und venetische Silbenpunktierung

Research paper thumbnail of María José Estarán Tolosa, Emmanuel Dupraz, Michel Aberson (ed.), Des mots pour les dieux. Dédicaces cultuelles dans les langues indigènes de la Méditerranée occidentale, Bern, etc., 2021. Open access : https://www.peterlang.com/document/1063305

Études genevoises sur l'Antiquité (EGeA), 2021

Open access : https://www.peterlang.com/document/1063305 Les dédicaces cultuelles sont un des... more Open access : https://www.peterlang.com/document/1063305

Les dédicaces cultuelles sont un des principaux genres épigraphiques dans la plupart des langues de l’ouest du bassin méditerranéen antique, y compris dans les langues d’attestation fragmentaire. Le présent volume, issu d’un colloque tenu à l’Academia Belgica à Rome les 18 et 19 mai 2017, est consacré à la visée pragmatique de ces textes, qui commémorent un acte de communication avec la divinité, tout en s’adressant à des êtres humains, en général membres de la même collectivité que l’auteur de l’acte cultuel commémoré. Nous souhaitons montrer la diversité des situations attestées dans l’ouest de l’aire méditerranéenne, à la fois ouverte aux échanges et extrêmement riche en cultures épigraphiques distinctes avant la généralisation des modèles latins.

Research paper thumbnail of Abschiedsvorlesung Basel Nr 1 2021

Our way to recite Latin and Greek texts lacks consistency. In order to improve the quality and au... more Our way to recite Latin and Greek texts lacks consistency. In order to improve the quality and authenticity we may look to the East, i.e. to the Brahmins, where there is an unbroken continuity of reciting ancient texts that has lasted for at least three thousand years. But things are not quite so simple...

Research paper thumbnail of M. Aberson, R. Andenmatten, S. Casini, A. E. Fossati, R. Wachter, Entre Celtes et Romains: la dédicace à Poeninos du Mur (dit) d’Hannibal, in: M. J. Estarán Tolosa, E. Dupraz, M. Aberson,  Des mots pour les dieux. Dédicaces cultuelles dans les langues indigènes de la Méditerranée occidentale.

Études genevoises sur l'Antiquité 8, 2021

Open access: https://www.peterlang.com/document/1063305 English text below / testo italiano qu... more Open access: https://www.peterlang.com/document/1063305

English text below / testo italiano qui sotto.

Une inscription en langue celtique, écrite dans l'alphabet dit "de Lugano", avec de probables influences romaines, découverte sur un site de la fin de l'Âge du Fer dans les Alpes Valaisannes. Une ouverture vers l'intégration du Valais et de la Vallée d'Aoste dans la zone d'hégémonie romaine au premier siècle avant notre ère ?

A Celtic inscription written in the "Lugano-Script", with a possible Roman influence, discovered in the Alps of the Valais, Switzerland. A new approach to the integration of the Western Alps into the area of Roman hegemony in the 1st century BCE ?

Un'iscrizione celtica in alfabeto "di Lugano", con possibili influenze romane, scoperta nelle Alpi del Vallese (Svizzera). Una chiave di lettura dell'integrazione delle Alpi occidentali nella zona di controllo romano nel I secolo a.C.?

Research paper thumbnail of M. Aberson, R. Wachter, « Ombriens, Sabins, Picéniens, peuples sabelliques des Abruzzes : une enquête historique, épigraphique et linguistique », in : Entre archéologie et Histoire : dialogues sur divers peuples de l’Italie préromaine, Bern, etc., 2014, p. 167-201.

M. Aberson, R. Wachter, « Ombriens, Sabins, Picéniens, peuples sabelliques des Abruzzes : une enquête historique, épigraphique et linguistique », in : Entre archéologie et Histoire : dialogues sur divers peuples de l’Italie préromaine, Bern, etc., 2014, p. 167-201.

Research paper thumbnail of L'origine du nom de Perséphone

Research paper thumbnail of Die Reise der Sonne um die Erde: Rigveda 1.115. Peter Lindegger zum Gedenken

1000 Jahre Asiatisch-Europäische Begegnung, 2011

Research paper thumbnail of Fouiller les mots

Research paper thumbnail of Persephone, the Threshing Maiden

Research paper thumbnail of Lexikon des frühgriechischen Epos (LfgrE). 19. Lieferung (Πασιδίκη–πλεύμων), 20. Lieferung (πλευραί–πῶυ); Göttingen (Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht), 1999/2000. Review/Rezension.

Kratylos, 2006

Review, with the first proper publication of the new etymology of «Persephone», p. 139–144..

Research paper thumbnail of Wortschatzrekonstruktion auf der Basis von Ersatzbildungen

Sprache und Kultur der Indogermanen. Akten der X. Fachtagung der Indogermanischen Gesellschaft, 1998

Research paper thumbnail of Griechisch χαῖρε: Vorgeschichte eines Grusswortes

Research paper thumbnail of Das indogermanische Wort für 'Sonne' und die angebliche Gruppe der l/n-Heteroclitica

Research paper thumbnail of Das Wort jedesmal im (inneren) Exil

Unsere Sprache. Beiträge zur Geschichte und Gegenwart der deutschen Sprache. Schriftenreihe der Neuen Fruchtbringenden Gesellschaft zu Köthen/Anhalt., 2024

The spelling reform imposed on the German language in 1996 abolished a temporal adverb that had b... more The spelling reform imposed on the German language in 1996 abolished a temporal adverb that had been happily in use for at least 450 years, «jedesmal» (every time). Since then, only the split spelling «jedes Mal» has been correct and allowed in teaching and official texts. However, twenty-eight years after the reform the «old» spelling is as popular as ever, which illustrates the improvidence and lack of linguistic coherence of the reform. The short article also looks for the motives of the reformers to suppress the traditional compound spelling of this particular word.

Research paper thumbnail of Rechtschreibfrieden? Leider nein!

Schweizer Monat, 2020

Do you know why the German word «jedesmal» (meaning «every time») – which is more than 500 years ... more Do you know why the German word «jedesmal» (meaning «every time») – which is more than 500 years old – (officially) seized to exist in 1996? It is a long and sad story. This article tells you why – in a few words.

Research paper thumbnail of Die Mär vom Rechtschreibfrieden

Mitteilungen des «Sprachkreis Deutsch», 2019

The German spelling reform of 1996 was partly and half-heartedly undone in 2006. Since then the s... more The German spelling reform of 1996 was partly and half-heartedly undone in 2006. Since then the situation has been very confusing, but neither the authorities nor the former reformers admit. An analysis of the status quo.

Research paper thumbnail of Affaräid

Bulletin pro Monstein, 2018

The Walsers in the Canton of Grisons, Switzerland, emigrated from Valais in the 12th/13th c. A.D.... more The Walsers in the Canton of Grisons, Switzerland, emigrated from Valais in the 12th/13th c. A.D. and have kept many features of the dialect in their region of origin up to this day. Those who settled at Davos took over a surprisingly small number of toponyms from a supposed earlier Rhaeto-Romance population. This led to the theory that this latter population must have been very small and confined to the main valley. Affaräid, a place-name very high up in the side-valley of Monstein, is here confirmed as being a borrowing from Rhaeto-Romance and makes a slight revision of the picture we have of those early days of Walser settlement necessary. – Original version with an addendum 2024.

Research paper thumbnail of Lebendige Sprachgeschichte: sprengen, bringen, fragen in den Deutschschweizer Dialekten

Cahiers de l'ILSL (Lausanne), 2018

Research paper thumbnail of Rückblick und Ausblick. Die Aktivitäten der Schweizer Orthographischen Konferenz 2009–2014

Research paper thumbnail of Gibt es eine Verantwortung für die Sprache, und bei wem liegt sie

Verantwortung – Freiheit und Grenzen (Aeneas-Silvius-Stiftung Bd. L), 2016

Research paper thumbnail of English likes Latin! Vom Unsinn, diese beiden Sprachen zu Konkurrenten zu machen

Research paper thumbnail of SPRACHE UND RELIGION Die Angst der Menschen vor der Zukunft

Reflexion on the Cantata, Wahrlich, wahrlich, ich sage euch (BWV 86), 23 May 2014, The Parish Chu... more Reflexion on the Cantata, Wahrlich, wahrlich, ich sage euch (BWV 86), 23 May 2014, The Parish Church, Trogen AR, Switzerland, in the context of the cycle of Bach cantatas organised by J.B. Bach-Stiftung, St. Gallen. – The reflexion is about the development of Human language and religious belief.

Research paper thumbnail of Recitationes: combining effective assessment with pleasurable listening

Meeting the Challenge: bringing classical texts to life in the classroom, RDDSLL 4, 2008

Research paper thumbnail of Universitas

Die Universität der Zukunft. Eine Idee im Umbruch?, 2007

Research paper thumbnail of Fouiller les mots

Études de lettres (Lausanne), 2010

Research paper thumbnail of Ein Ausweg zurück nach vorn. Die Empfehlungen der Schweizer Orthographischen Konferenz (SOK) für eine einheitliche und sprachrichtige deutsche Rechtschreibung

Research paper thumbnail of Latein real reell: Wer glaubt, Latein sei am Verschwinden, lebt in einer virtuellen Realität

Research paper thumbnail of Latin and European language history

Meeting the Challenge: International Perspectives on the Teaching of Latin, 2008

Research paper thumbnail of Allgemeine und vergleichende Sprachwissenschaft

Die Universität Heidelberg im Nationalsozialismus, 2006

Research paper thumbnail of Hey, wussup? Orthographiereformen und die Zukunft des Englischen

Im Wundergarten der Sprache, 2004

Research paper thumbnail of Jahwe, Pharao und Nomothetes: Gedanken zu einigen antiken Sprachschöpfungsmythen

Research paper thumbnail of Vergleichende Sprachwissenschaft in Basel

Sprachwissenschaft in Basel 1874–1999, 2002

Research paper thumbnail of Indogermanisch oder Indoeuropäisch

Internet publication, 1997

Research paper thumbnail of Vom Alphabet über Gemäldeausstellungen zur Davoser Bevölkerung im 16. Jahrhundert: die Bedeutung von Reihenfolgen in einem Forscherleben

This is the first part of my farewell lecture at Basel University, held on 23 May 2022.

Research paper thumbnail of Die Davoser Namenregel -The Davos Naming Rule (*DNR)

This paper is about a strict naming rule used at Davos (Switzerland) between 1559 and c.1650. It ... more This paper is about a strict naming rule used at Davos (Switzerland) between 1559 and c.1650. It sheads new light on «naming conventions» or «naming patterns» in use in southern Europe, the British Iles, and several other regions, which however have never been considered as rules, due to a methodological error in genealogy.