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How did Latin reduce the number of noun cases inherited from Indo-European?
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Italic languages
Map showing the approximate extent of the Italic and neighboring languages about 250 bce.
Latin reduced the number of noun cases inherited from Proto-Indo-European from eight to six by merging specific functions into the ablative case.
Specifically, the sociative-instrumental case—which indicated means or agency—and the locative case—which indicated place or place where—were incorporated into the ablative case, which originally signified relations of separation and source. While some isolated forms of the locative persisted, this consolidation was a primary mechanism for the reduction. Additionally, the dual number was lost entirely during this transition.1