Routledge Dictionary of Language and Linguistics
Balkan Romance branch of East Romance (
Romance languages) which is divided into four dialect groups: Daco-Rumanian, Arumanian, Megleno-Rumanian, and Istro-Rumanian. The standard language, based on DacoRumanian, contains both a large number of Slavic elements (
adstratum), and the replacement of the infinitive with the subjunctive, a typical feature of Balkan languages, as well as signs of strong French influence, dating from the beginning of the nineteenth century. There are approx. 25 million speakers of Rumanian.
Characteristics: Rumanian differs from the other Romance languages especially in the area of morphosyntax: remnants of Latin nominal morphology (including the vocative), preservation of the Latin neuter, enclitic definite article (studentul ‘the student’), the so-called prepositional accusative (văd pe mama ‘I see mama’).
References
Agard, F.B. 1958. Structural sketch of Rumanian. Baltimore, MD.
Deletant, D. 1983. Colloquial Romanian. London.
Dimitrescu, F. 1978. Istoria limbii Române, 2 vols. Bucharest.
Gramatica limbii române. 1966. 2 vols. Bucharest.
Holtus, G., M.Metzeltin, and C.Schmitt (eds) 1989. Lexikon der romanistischen Linguistik. Tübingen. Vol. 3, 1–52.
Iordan, I.
1978. Limba română contemporană. Bucharest.
Ivăonescu, G. 1980. Istoria limbii române. Iaşi.
Mallinson, G. 1986. Rumanian. London.
Rosetti, A. 1986. Istoria limbii române:
definitivâ, vol. I. Bucharest.
Dictionary
Academia Republicii Socialiste Romania 1913–83. Dictionarul limbii române, 12 vols. Bucharest.
Dialectology
Atlasul lingvistic roman. Serie nouă. 1956–.
Dahmen, W. and J.Kramer. 1985. Aromunischer Sprachatlas. Hamburg.
Wild, B. 1983. Meglenorumänischer Sprachatlas. Hamburg.
This is the complete article, containing 226 words
(approx. 1 page at 300 words per page).
View More Summaries on Romanian