Thesaurus Linguae Latinae
The Thesaurus Linguae Latinae (TLL) is regarded as the most extensive and comprehensive dictionary of the Latin language ever compiled. Initiated in 1894 under the direction of linguist Eduard von Wölfflin, the project was aimed at cataloging every Latin word found in ancient texts up to 600 Common Era (CE). Conducted by the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities in Munich, it has evolved into an international collaboration involving scholars from around thirty countries. Researchers meticulously analyze ancient literature and artifacts, recording the usage of Latin words on slips of paper that are organized in an archive for future reference and entry into the dictionary.
Since its inception, the TLL has generated over ten million slips, with ongoing efforts to add new words and update existing entries based on new findings. The project has incorporated digital advancements, offering a CD-ROM version in 2002 and making the online database available in 2006. As of 2019, select entries were made accessible in Open Access PDF format. While the TLL is primarily available in print, an online database offers searchable content through subscription, with some materials available for free. The project continues to progress, with updates regularly appended to its published volumes.
Thesaurus Linguae Latinae
The Thesaurus Linguae Latinae is the largest and most comprehensive dictionary of the Latin language ever compiled. Its entries cover ancient texts from the earliest recorded times to 600 Common Era (CE) and trace the development of each word into the modern era. The research and writing of the dictionary are part of an ongoing project that began in 1894 and is conducted by international teams of scholars.
Development
The compilation of the Thesaurus Linguae Latinae began in 1894 when historic linguist Eduard von Wölfflin organized a group of five academic societies to study ancient texts and compile extensive notes on the Latin words used within them. The group aimed to identify and study every word in every existing Latin source and publish its findings as a monumental Latin dictionary. The group was based at the Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften (Bavarian Academy) in Munich, Germany, and staffed primarily by Germans. Later, the group opened its membership to people of all lands, and, in the twenty-first century, it is operated by an international body called the Internationale Thesaurus-Kommission. Individuals from participating organizations and scholars in thirty countries participated in the project.
The process of research and writing was, and remains, meticulous. The first step is searching through ancient literature and other sources of linguistic information, including engraved stones and coins with wordage. Researchers note the use of words in these sources, including their tense, meaning, and role within sentences. Then researchers create a "slip," a postcard-sized paper that notes the word, its uses, and the source in which it was originally found. These slips are then filed alphabetically in boxes in the Zettelarchiv (slips archive). Eventually, researchers revisit the slips for each word and combine their information into comprehensive dictionary entries explaining word origins, uses, meanings, and development. Since the project began in the 1890s, researchers have written and filed more than ten million slips and still have extensive work ahead, both in adding new words and updating existing entries with newly found information. The Thesaurus Linguae Latinae established a digital version in 2002, first available on a CD-ROM and online in 2006. In 2019, entries became available in Open Access PDF (Portable Document Format) form on the website.
Availability and Updates
The Thesaurus Linguae Latinae is available in print editions and an online database. Although many institutions favor the print version, it is costly and physically large. The online database, available through subscription, is accessible from an Internet connection and can be easily searched. Some online content is available for free through Open Access PDFs. In the mid-2020s, the listings of documented words extended from "A" to "M" words, "O," and some "P" with some missing intervals. Work was ongoing on volumes “N” and “R.” Updates and additions are appended on a regular basis. Related publications, such as an introductory passage, an index of the words, and a library of all the original Latin texts consulted, are also available and updated as needed.
Bibliography
Flow, Christian. "Once and for All? A Philological Project On (and Off) the Clock." International Journal of the Classical Tradition, vol. 30, no. 4, Dec. 2023, pp. 395–416. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lkh&AN=173761336&site=ehost-live. Accessed 24 Oct. 2024.
Fressenden, Maris. "This Latin Thesaurus Has Been in Progress Since 1894." Smithsonian Magazine, 17 May 2016, www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/latin-thesaurus-has-been-progress-1894-180959137/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2024.
"International Commission for the TLL: Thesaurus Linguae Latinae." Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften, thesaurus.badw.de/en/organisation/international-commission-for-the-tll.html. Accessed 24 Oct. 2024.
"Project: Thesaurus Linguae Latinae." Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften, thesaurus.badw.de/en/project.html. Accessed 24 October 2024.
"TLL Open Access: Thesaurus Linguae Latinae." Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften, thesaurus.badw.de/en/tll-digital/tll-open-access.html. Accessed 24 Oct. 2024.
"Thesaurus Linguae Latinae." Society for Classical Studies, classicalstudies.org/publications-and-research/thesaurus-linguae-latinae. Accessed 24 Oct. 2024.
"Thesaurus Linguae Latinae - About." Walter de Gruyter GmbH, tll.degruyter.com/about. Accessed 24 Oct. 2024.