Difference in spelling

Latin Learning Latin
1

I have just received a recently published Oxford Latin Grammar handbook as a gift. After glancing through the handbook I realized that in all Latin words the letter -v- has been substituted with the letter -u-. This change is with all instances: Uerbum, the perfect stem: paraUi, etc . . . . In fact, -v- isn’t used at all except in the English explanations and instructions.

Prior to picking up this Oxford Grammar text I was using -v-, as told to by older texts. What should I make of Oxford’s change? Is it a change of convenience to fit more appropriately with the pronunciation of the Latin -v-? What is your opinion of this?

2

Ultimately it doesn’t matter. The Romans only had one letter corresponding to our w (or v) and u. Inscriptions all have V, but scribbles tend to round the bottom a bit. Older manuscripts use V, newer ones use u.

One practice was to put the capitals in V and the lower case in u. Some I’ve seen do V and v, and some, I guess as you point out, U and u.

Lately, for consistency’s sake, I’ve been doing V and u. But the standard is still V and v for the consonant and U and u for the vowels.