Lepontic language
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Lepontic is an extinct Celtic language, the language of the Lepontii, that was spoken in the area of Gallia Cisalpina between 700 BC and 400 BC. It is considered a dialect of the Gaulish language.
The language is only known from a few inscriptions discovered that were written in a variety of the Northern Italic alphabet, which was related to the Old Italic alphabet. These inscriptions were found in an area centered around Lugano, including Lago di Como and Lago Maggiore. Similar scripts were used for writing the Rhaetic and Venetic languages, and the Germanic runic alphabets probably derive from a script belonging to this group.
The classification of this dialect as Gaulish and even Celtic has been disputed, and a relation to the Ligurian language was proposed.
Lepontic was eventually assimilated by Latin, after the Roman Empire gained control over Gallia Cisalpina.
Inscriptions
- E-1 stela of Briona
- E-2 bilingua of Verceil
- E-3 eripoxios grafitto of Grapello Cairoli
- E-4 esopnos kepi grafitto of Garlasco
- E-5 bilingua of Todi
- E-6 setupk grafitto of Milano
References
- Receuil des Inscriptions Gauloises (R.I.G) Vol. 2.1, items E-1 – E-6, edited by Michel Lejeunede:Lepontische Sprache