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Glite Dictionary
Oscan language

Oscan language

1 9.9
An old language from southern Italy spoken long ago by tribes like the Samnites that people no longer speak
  • noun
  • Specialized
: idioma osco
  • The Oscan language was spoken by several tribes in southern Italy before the rise of Rome.

Examples

  • Many ancient inscriptions in the Oscan language have been discovered by archaeologists.

  • Linguists study the Oscan language to understand the development of Italic dialects.

  • The Oscan language was used by the Samnites.

  • Did you know that the Oscan languages are now extinct?

  • Linguists study the Oscan language to understand the development of Italic dialects.

  • Many ancient inscriptions in the Oscan language have been discovered by archaeologists.

  • The Oscan language was spoken by several tribes in southern Italy before the rise of Rome.

Synonyms

Oscan
vsOscan language
  • Specialized
1 9.9

An old language no longer spoken that people once spoke in southern Italy

means the same but is the fuller phrase including the word language

Surface Forms

Oscan language singular
Oscan languages plural

Morphology

Oscan + language

This is a straightforward compositional noun phrase: 'Oscan' names a people/thing and 'language' denotes a speech system, so the meaning is literally the language called Oscan. The construction matches common patterns (e.g. 'Spanish language') and would be immediately understood by a B1 learner who knows both constituents.

Etymology

Oscan language is the name for the old speech of a people called the Osci, who lived in southern Italy long ago. Because the Osci used that speech, the phrase now refers to the 'extinct' language they once spoke.