Studier i svensk språkhistoria 14

In this paper I present a case study as a part of a project in which I study the influence of Latin and Roman literature on selected Swedish texts from different centuries. Latin and Roman literature had a prominent role in all education in Sweden in the late 18th century. In this paper, I discuss the influence of Latin and Roman literature on selected texts byChydenius, Oxenstjerna and Leopold from the late 18th century. The texts represent different genres but are from the same period. Latin influence on literary Swedish and code-switching between Swedish and Latin are typical of the texts I have selected. I first discuss the role of Latin in Sweden in general. Then I present examples of morphological, syntactic, stylistic and rhetorical Latinisms. I also discuss how Roman literature is referred to and why. Finally, I compare the texts from the 18th century with medieval texts. I show that both continuity and discontinuity occur. There are also differences that depend on individual preferences or different genres. The use of Latinisms relates to the identity of the author and also to the identity of the reader. To exhibit one’s learning is a crucial function of Latinisms.