Erromatar mendebaldea: ingurapen linguistiko bat

Abstract

During its process of expansion, especially over the last two centuries of the republican era, Rome contacted with various languages. The Roman position reference to them was, in most cases, quite open, using them, paradoxically, as a means of romanisation. In this manner, latinisation took place in a natural manner, induced by pragmatic reasons. As it became the lingua franca of the occidental portion of the Empire, the other languages became weaker, and in most cases actually disappeared. The latinising role in the Empire was carried out by the Catholic Church.