<P> Further interwoven into the plays of Plautus and just as common as the use of proverbs is the use of Greek within the texts of the plays . J.N. Hough suggests that Plautus's use of Greek is for artistic purposes and not simply because a Latin phrase will not fit the meter . Greek words are used when describing foods, oils, perfumes, etc . This is similar to the use of French terms in the English language such as garçon or rendezvous . These words give the language a French flair just as Greek did to the Latin - speaking Romans . Slaves or characters of low standing speak much of the Greek . One possible explanation for this is that many Roman slaves were foreigners of Greek origin . </P> <P> Plautus would sometimes incorporate passages in other languages as well in places where it would suit his characters . A noteworthy example is the use of two prayers in Punic in Poenulus, spoken by the Carthaginian elder Hanno, which are significant to Semitic linguistics because they preserve the Carthaginian pronunciation of the vowels . Unlike Greek, Plautus most probably did not speak Punic himself, nor was the audience likely to understand it . The text of the prayers themselves was probably provided by a Carthaginian informant, and Plautus incorporated it to emphasize the authenticity and foreignness of Hanno's character . </P> <P> Plautus also used more technical means of expression in his plays . One tool that Plautus used for the expression of his servus callidus stock character was alliteration . Alliteration is the repetition of sounds in a sentence or clause; those sounds usually come at the beginning of words . In the Miles Gloriosus, the servus callidus is Palaestrio . As he speaks with the character, Periplectomenus, he uses a significant amount of alliteration in order to assert his cleverness and, therefore, his authority . Plautus uses phrases such as "falsiloquom, falsicum, falsiiurium" (MG l . 191). These words express the deep and respectable knowledge that Palaestrio has of the Latin language . Alliteration can also happen at the endings of words as well . For example, Palaestrio says, "linguam, perfidiam, malitiam atque audaciam, confidentiam, confirmitatem, fraudulentiam" (MG ll. 188 - 9). Also used, as seen above, is the technique of assonance, which is the repetition of similar - sounding syllables . </P> <P> Plautus' comedies abound in puns and word play, which is an important component of his poetry . One well known instance in the Miles Gloriosus is Sceledre, scelus . Some examples stand in the text in order to accentuate and emphasize whatever is being said, and others to elevate the artistry of the language . But a great number are made for jokes, especially riddle jokes, which feature a "knock knock - who's there?" pattern . Plautus is especially fond of making up and changing the meaning of words, as Shakespeare does later . </P>

Who has been modelled on braggarts of plautine