Latin Palaeography, Book hand (4th-15th c.)
(Fall, 2 credits)
Instructor: Anna Somfai (Room FT 508)
E-mail:
Office Hours: after each class or by appointment
The aim of the course is to provide tuition in the practical skill of Latin palaeography (book hand). The course focuses on the reading and transcription of various scripts with samples ranging from the 4th to the 15th centuries, covering the whole medieval period. Each class consists of sight reading (reading without preparation) of photocopied manuscript folios written in different scripts, discussion of the characteristics of the hand, script and abbreviations and a brief introduction to the relevant script through powerpoint presentation and white board illustration. The course also includes the discussion of the current palaeographical terminology, the various systems of abbreviation, the brief history of script systems and practical guidance to the dating and identifying of hands. Two text transcription assignments and a text transcription test, a terminology test and an abbreviation test serve as the feedback on progress. Knowledge of Latin is useful but not necessary.
Weekly outline:
Class 1 Carolingian minuscule, Capitalis quadrata, Capitalis Rustica.
Class 2 Old Roman cursive. Uncial.
Class 3 Uncial cont. Half-uncial. Abbreviation test.
Class 4 New Roman cursive. National scripts. Terminology test.
Class 5 National scripts cont.
Class 6 Carolingian minuscule.Transcription assignment.
Class 7 Transitional script (protogothic).
Class 8 Transitional script (protogothic).
Class 9 Gothic.Transcription assignment.
Class 10 Gothic.
Class 11 Gothic. Transcription test.
Class 12 Humanistic script.
Requirements
1/ Sight reading of photocopied manuscript folios in each class.
2/ Abbreviation test (class 3).
3/ Terminology test (class 4).
4/ Four text transcription assignments (classes 6 and 9).
5/ A text transcription test (class 11).
6/ Reading the textbook: Bischoff, Bernhard, Latin Palaeography. Antiquity & the Middle Ages, tr. D. Ó Cróinín, D. Ganz, 1990 (Paläographie des römischen Altertums und des abendländischen Mittelalters, Berlin 1979, 19862).
Assessment
1/ Ongoing assessment to inform students: oral feedback on class performance (reading) and written feedback on written assignment (correction of transcriptions and tests).
2/ Grade is based on class participation [50%] and on the written assignments and tests [50%].
Learning outcome
1/ Practice in the skill of reading Latin book hands ranging from the 4th to 15th centuries (measured in classroom participation, assignments and tests).
2/ Practice in dating and identifying medieval book hands (measured in classroom participation, assignments and tests).
3/ Knowledge in the history of medieval script systems, abbreviation systems and palaeographical terminology (measured in classroom participation, assignments and tests).
4/ Applying specific knowledge and skills in manuscript research.
Medieval palaeography: selected bibliography for optional background reading
Alexander, J. J. G., Insular Manuscripts, 6th to the 9th Century, London 1978.
Bischoff, Bernhard, Latin Palaeography. Antiquity & the Middle Ages, tr. D. Ó Cróinín, D. Ganz, 1990 (Paläographie des römischen Altertums und des abendländischen Mittelalters, Berlin 1979, 19862
Bishop, T. A. M., English Caroline Minuscule, Oxford 1971
Brown, Michelle P., A Guide to Western Historical Scripts from Antiquity to 1600, London 1990
Clemens, Raymond and Graham, Timothy, Introduction to Manuscript Studies, Ithaca and London 2007
Codices Latini Antiquiores: A Palaeographical Guide to Latin manuscripts prior to the Ninth Century, E. A. Lowe ed., 11 vols plus suppl., Oxford 1934-1972
Web pages
General palaeography
Cappelli, Dizionario di Abbreviature latine ed italiane, Milano 1912:
Catalogues de manuscrits datés:
Franz Steffens, Paléographie latine, Paris 1910:
Scripts
Images
Sacred texts exhibition in the British Library, London (for images and cultural/intellectual context of Jewish, Christian and Islamic texts):
Images (illuminated manuscripts), British Library, London:
Images, Bodleian Library, Oxford:
Images, St John’sCollege, Cambridge:
Images, Dombibliothek, Cologne:
Images, Koninkleijke Bibliothek, Netherlands:
General list of web pages (web pages can be accessed through these web pages):
Musical manuscripts
Terminology
Brown, Michelle P., Understanding Illuminated Manuscripts: A Guide to Technical Terms, Malibu, London 1994:
Glossary:
Leather-working: