Re: [tied] Vocative case in Romance

From: P&G
Message: 16675
Date: 2002-11-10

Deus / meus etc
 
It is fairly common in Latin for the nominative to appear where we expect a vocative, especially in elevated language  e.g.  audi tu, populus Albanus!  or from Horace: almae filius Maiae ("O son of dear Maia").
 
Deus shows no vocative other than "deus" before Tertullian's dee, but meus has the vocative mi, which is fairly regular, but not consistent - the vocative meus also occurs.
 
Puer has the expected vocative puere in early Latin.
 
Peter