Is it Possible to Identify ‘Orality’?

Abstract

First, based on analysis of some—mostly late—Latin texts that positively reflect actual oral delivery, I present some remarks on structure and frequency of Verb-Phrases ‘auxiliary+infinitive’ as arguable markers of ‘orality’ in Latin. Second, I examine the occurrence of these Verb-Phrases in some works by Ambrose of Milan and show that, on the one hand, the investigation of Verb-Phrases might support the view that the De sacramentis and Explanatio symboli are unrevised catecheses, but, on the other hand, it is of no help in the conjecture of the degree of elaboration undergone by those works that, stemming from an oral homiletic delivery, were later revised in view of publication.