Re: V-, B-

--- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, John Cowan <cowan@...> wrote:

>
> tgpedersen scripsit:
>
> > What's the deal with B- for V- in Slavic (and neighbors') names
> > for
> > http://tinyurl.com/4ogsjh
> >
> > Venice:
> > Benátky (Czech, Slovak)
> > Benetke (Slovene)
> >
> > Vienna:
> > Bec^ (Bosnian,Croatian, Serbian)
> > Bech (Romani)
> > Bécs (Hungarian)
> >
> > Villach (Carinthia, S. Austria):
> > Be^lák (Czech)
> > Beljak (Slovene)
> > Bilachium (Latin)
>
> The mention of Latin here suggests that Vulgar Latin /
> Proto-Romance had something to do with it: the evidence of the
> Appendix Probi ("VAPULO NON BAPLO") and BALIAT for VALEAT at
> Pompeii suggests that B for V was commonplace, and all three were
> Roman towns at least for a time.
>

Orbis Latinus
http://www.columbia.edu/acis/ets/Graesse/orblatv.html
has

no names in B- for Venezia

one name in B- for Vienna
Vindobona, Vendobona, Vindomana, Vindomina, Juliobona, Flaviana
castra, Vienna, Vienna Austriae od. Fluviorum, Vienni (Wi.), Wiena,
-nna, Winna, Byenna (Winensis),
Wien, Stadt, Niederösterr.

no names in B- for Villach
Vaconium, Villas, -lacum, Viccacum (Villacensis),
Villach, Stadt, Österr. (Kärnten)

and the rest of names of these towns the Slavic and most other names
outside of this 'central Slavic' area are in V-. The Latin-speaking
part of the Roman empire was much bigger than that.

So, I'm not convinced it was the influence of Vulgar Latin.
Actually I'm fishing for something Venetic.


Torsten