Mulieribus apta sunt blandimenta – umiljavanja u govoru ženskih likova u Plautovim komedijama Amfitrion, Bahide i Menehmi
Mulieribus apta sunt blandimenta. Blandishing speech of female stock-types in Plautus’ Amphitruo, Bacchides and Menaechmi

Summary/Abstract: Already ancient Roman scholars were able to distinguish the different language registers of what they called the “female” and the “male” speech, mostly restricting the former to the blandishing sweet talk and constant self-pity. This gender specific language we find in the most mimetic art of all – the dramatic literature and, hence, in the operas of its most eminient representative. The aim of this paper will be to identify and analyze characteristics of the female blandishing speech in instances that are found in three Plautine comedies, as well as to understand whether these features are proper of all female characters or if there is an even more subtle discrimination between the different stock-types, that is if there is a certain social language discrimination within the wider gender-based group.

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