Lepontic

Facts

  • Language: Lepontic
  • Alternate names:
  • Language code: xlp
  • Language family: Indo-European, Classical Indo-European, Celtic, Nuclear Celtic, Cisalpine Celtic
  • Number of speakers: Extinct
  • Script: Northern Italic

More information:

    Introduction

    Lepontic is an extinct Celtic language that was spoken in parts of Cisalpine Gaul between 700 BC and 400 BC. Sometimes called Cisalpine Celtic, it is considered a dialect of the Gaulish language and thus a Continental Celtic language.

    The language is only known from a few inscriptions discovered that were written in the alphabet of Lugano, one of five main varieties of Northern Italic alphabets, derived from the Etruscan alphabet. These inscriptions were found in an area centered on 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 Verb

    Sample

     pelkui pruiam teu karite iลกos kalite palam

    Translation: "Teu constructed a funeral monument for Pelgus. The same one made the tombstone."

    Verb:

    Verblist

    References