Why is it difficult to determine the exact pronunciation of Classical Latin?

Determining the exact pronunciation of Classical Latin is challenging because the available evidence is often difficult to interpret. Several factors contribute to this uncertainty:1

• Conventionalized Orthography: The standard writing system of the time did not distinguish between long and short vowels, and it remained largely fixed even as the spoken language evolved.1
• Ambiguous Grammarians' Comments: While ancient grammarians wrote about the language, their observations often lack clarity. Furthermore, some scholars argue that Latin grammarians may have been merely imitating their Greek counterparts, leading to potential inaccuracies in their descriptions of features like accentuation.1
• Reliance on Extrapolation: Because direct evidence is limited, linguists must often extrapolate the pronunciation of Classical Latin by analyzing later developments in the Romance languages, which evolved from spoken Latin.1

These limitations make it difficult to definitively reconstruct the phonetic reality of the language, particularly regarding the nature of its accent and the precise quality of its vowels.1