OLD OCCITAN Meaning and
Definition
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Old Occitan, also referred to as Old Provençal, is a medieval language that emerged in the region of Occitania, an area covering southern France, Monaco, Andorra, and parts of northeastern Spain and northwestern Italy. It was primarily spoken from the late 9th century to the mid-14th century. Old Occitan is considered the earliest known Romance language, being derived from Vulgar Latin.
Old Occitan was primarily used in poetic and literary contexts, with its most famous literary work being the troubadour poetry composed by skilled poets often addressing themes of love, chivalry, and courtly life. These songs and poems, known as cansos, tensos, sirventes, and pastorelas, played a significant role in shaping medieval literature and the troubadour movement.
The language featured a rich vocabulary and an intricate grammar structure, with a strong emphasis on rhyme and meter. It possessed a notable phonetic system, with unique sounds like the palatal lateral approximant /ʎ/ and the postalveolar fricative /ʃ/.
As the language evolved, it gradually split into distinct vernacular variations that became distinct Occitan dialects, such as Gascon, Limousin, Provençal, and Languedocian.
Old Occitan declined in usage after the annexation of Occitania by the Kingdom of France in the 13th century. Nevertheless, traces of its influence can be found in the modern Occitan language and the cultural heritage of the Occitan-speaking regions. Today, Old Occitan remains an object of study for linguists, historians, and scholars interested in the development of Romance languages and medieval literature.
Etymology of OLD OCCITAN
The word "Old Occitan" refers to the medieval variety of the Occitan language spoken from the 8th century until the 14th century in the region of Occitania, which corresponds to modern-day southern France, Catalonia, and parts of Italy and Spain.
The term "Old Occitan" is a combination of two words: "old" and "Occitan".
1. Old: The word "old" comes from the Old English word "eald", meaning "aged" or "ancient". It is derived from the Proto-Germanic word "aldaz".
2. Occitan: The word "Occitan" is derived from the Latin word "Occitania", which was the name given to the region where the Occitan language was spoken. The Latin term itself might have been borrowed from the earlier Aquitanian language spoken in the same region.
