Linguistic variation and change: the emergence of definite article in Latin language

This paper presents a theoretical review on the emergence of definite article in Vulgar Latin, systematizing it as a new linguistic category, and showing its use widespread in Romance languages. The definite article appears in the Vulgar Latin after language change occurred in Latin pronominal system referred to the demonstrative pronoun ille. In this text, the perspective is that language is in constant flux through time, with stages of variation, and after some time a language change may become widely accepted (LABOV, 1972). From this approach, the main objective is to make clear the heterogeneity of natural languages. It is also fundamental to understand that every and any linguistic system has structured, functional, social and historical aspects (LABOV, 1982; FARACO, 2005).