Martin Maiden is Professor of the Romance Languages and Director of the Research Centre for Romance Linguistics at the University of Oxford, a Fellow of Trinity College, Oxford and a Fellow of the British Academy. John Charles Smith is Faculty Lecturer in French Linguistics and Deputy Director of the Research Centre for Romance Linguistics at the University of Oxford and a Fellow of St Catherine's College, Oxford. Adam Ledgeway is Senior Lecturer in Romance Philology at the University of Cambridge and a Fellow of Downing College, Cambridge.

'A brilliant account of the social and historical context of the Romance languages from the earliest stages of Latin through to modern creoles … an indispensable point of reference for both the specialist and those new to the field of Romance linguistics.' Nigel Vincent, Professor Emeritus of General and Romance Linguistics, University of Manchester

• 1. Latin and the making of the Romance languages Alberto Varvaro; 2. The transition from Latin to the Romance languages Michel Banniard; 3. Periodization Roger Wright; 4. Evidence and sources Roger Wright; 5. Koinés and scriptae Johannes Kabatek; 6. Contact and borrowing Marius Sala; 7. The Romance languages in the Renaissance and after Helena L. Sanson; 8. Geography and distribution of the Romance languages in Europe Lorenzo Renzi and Alvise Andreose; 9. The sociology of the Romance languages Alberto Varvaro; 10. Romance outside the Romània Mari C. Jones and Christopher J. Pountain; 11. Creoles Iris Bachmann.

Martin Maiden is Professor of the Romance Languages and Director of the Research Centre for Romance Linguistics at the University of Oxford, a Fellow of Trinity College, Oxford and a Fellow of the British Academy. John Charles Smith is Faculty Lecturer in French Linguistics and Deputy Director of the Research Centre for Romance Linguistics at the University of Oxford and a Fellow of St Catherine's College, Oxford. Adam Ledgeway is Senior Lecturer in Romance Philology at the University of Cambridge and a Fellow of Downing College, Cambridge.

'A brilliant account of the social and historical context of the Romance languages from the earliest stages of Latin through to modern creoles … an indispensable point of reference for both the specialist and those new to the field of Romance linguistics.' Nigel Vincent, Professor Emeritus of General and Romance Linguistics, University of Manchester

• 1. Latin and the making of the Romance languages Alberto Varvaro; 2. The transition from Latin to the Romance languages Michel Banniard; 3. Periodization Roger Wright; 4. Evidence and sources Roger Wright; 5. Koinés and scriptae Johannes Kabatek; 6. Contact and borrowing Marius Sala; 7. The Romance languages in the Renaissance and after Helena L. Sanson; 8. Geography and distribution of the Romance languages in Europe Lorenzo Renzi and Alvise Andreose; 9. The sociology of the Romance languages Alberto Varvaro; 10. Romance outside the Romània Mari C. Jones and Christopher J. Pountain; 11. Creoles Iris Bachmann.

Martin Maiden is Professor of the Romance Languages and Director of the Research Centre for Romance Linguistics at the University of Oxford, a Fellow of Trinity College, Oxford and a Fellow of the British Academy. John Charles Smith is Faculty Lecturer in French Linguistics and Deputy Director of the Research Centre for Romance Linguistics at the University of Oxford and a Fellow of St Catherine's College, Oxford. Adam Ledgeway is Senior Lecturer in Romance Philology at the University of Cambridge and a Fellow of Downing College, Cambridge.

'A brilliant account of the social and historical context of the Romance languages from the earliest stages of Latin through to modern creoles … an indispensable point of reference for both the specialist and those new to the field of Romance linguistics.' Nigel Vincent, Professor Emeritus of General and Romance Linguistics, University of Manchester

• 1. Latin and the making of the Romance languages Alberto Varvaro; 2. The transition from Latin to the Romance languages Michel Banniard; 3. Periodization Roger Wright; 4. Evidence and sources Roger Wright; 5. Koinés and scriptae Johannes Kabatek; 6. Contact and borrowing Marius Sala; 7. The Romance languages in the Renaissance and after Helena L. Sanson; 8. Geography and distribution of the Romance languages in Europe Lorenzo Renzi and Alvise Andreose; 9. The sociology of the Romance languages Alberto Varvaro; 10. Romance outside the Romània Mari C. Jones and Christopher J. Pountain; 11. Creoles Iris Bachmann.