Abstract
The article aims to answer the question of what evidence we have for the assertion repeated in modern textbooks concerned with Latin phonetics, namely that the Latin r was the so called alveolar trill or vibrant [r], such as e.g. the Italian r. The testimony of Latin authors is ambiguous: there is the evidence in support of this explanation, but also that testifying rather to the contrary.
The sound changes related to the sound r in Latin afford evidence of the Latin r having indeed been alveolar, but more likely alveolar tap/flap than trill.