Sources and methods for detecting language change from above and below in Post-Classical Greek and Latin

Abstract A crucial challenge in documenting the histories of languages of the past is accessing sources of language change from ‘above’ as well as ‘below’. In this methodological paper, I critically discuss potential problems and solutions for investigating language change from above and below in Post-Classical Greek (III BCE – VI CE) and Post-Classical Latin (III – X CE). I detail and dissect the three main challenges to such investigations: (i) the representativity of the sources, (ii) tracing the motivations for change, and (iii) incorporating the social and societal processes involved in change from above and below. By means of a critical review of existing research, I argue that we can overcome these challenges if we arm ourselves with recent insights from the field of historical sociolinguistics. Finally, I discuss three cases of Post-Classical Greek innovations that, based on their later diffusion, can only partially be explained as change from above or below.