Layers of reading in the Old English Bede
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Christine Wallis
Abstract
The Old English translation of Bede’s Ecclesiastical History (the “Old English Bede”) has been studied for what it can tell us about translation practices and the state of learning in Anglo-Saxon England. However, although some Old English Bede manuscripts have been comparatively well-studied, very little attention has been paid to Oxford, Corpus Christi College, MS. 279B. This article examines the different layers of scribal activity discernible in that manuscript, reviewing in turn the performances of the main scribe, the corrector, the scribe responsible for chapter initials, and a later writer who provided “scratched glosses” (glosses incised in vellum with a pointed instrument, rather than ink) to parts of the text. It demonstrates that in each layer of production, the scribes were hampered by a difficulty in accessing some aspects of the language of the text they were interacting with, and shows the different strategies employed to overcome these difficulties.
Abstract
The Old English translation of Bede’s Ecclesiastical History (the “Old English Bede”) has been studied for what it can tell us about translation practices and the state of learning in Anglo-Saxon England. However, although some Old English Bede manuscripts have been comparatively well-studied, very little attention has been paid to Oxford, Corpus Christi College, MS. 279B. This article examines the different layers of scribal activity discernible in that manuscript, reviewing in turn the performances of the main scribe, the corrector, the scribe responsible for chapter initials, and a later writer who provided “scratched glosses” (glosses incised in vellum with a pointed instrument, rather than ink) to parts of the text. It demonstrates that in each layer of production, the scribes were hampered by a difficulty in accessing some aspects of the language of the text they were interacting with, and shows the different strategies employed to overcome these difficulties.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface vii
- Uncovering layers of meaning in the history of the English language 1
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Part I. Graphemics and phonology
- Layers of reading in the Old English Bede 19
- Unlikely-looking Old English verb forms 39
- On the importance of noting uncertainty in etymological research 63
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Part II. Lexicology and semantics
- “A Wiltshire word, according to Kennett” 81
- Enforcing or effacing useful distinctions? 99
- The role of context in the meaning specification of cant and slang words in eighteenth-century English 129
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Part III. Syntax
- Let’s talk about uton 157
- Exploring part-of-speech profiles and authorship attribution in Early Modern medical texts 185
- The positioning of adverbial clauses in the Paston letters 211
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Part IV. Genres
- Complexity and genre conventions 233
- Formulaic discourse across Early Modern English medical genres 257
- “Treasure of pore men”, “countrymans friend” or “gentlewomans companion”? 301
- “I saw ye Child burning in ye fire” 319
- Name index 343
- Subject index 345
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface vii
- Uncovering layers of meaning in the history of the English language 1
-
Part I. Graphemics and phonology
- Layers of reading in the Old English Bede 19
- Unlikely-looking Old English verb forms 39
- On the importance of noting uncertainty in etymological research 63
-
Part II. Lexicology and semantics
- “A Wiltshire word, according to Kennett” 81
- Enforcing or effacing useful distinctions? 99
- The role of context in the meaning specification of cant and slang words in eighteenth-century English 129
-
Part III. Syntax
- Let’s talk about uton 157
- Exploring part-of-speech profiles and authorship attribution in Early Modern medical texts 185
- The positioning of adverbial clauses in the Paston letters 211
-
Part IV. Genres
- Complexity and genre conventions 233
- Formulaic discourse across Early Modern English medical genres 257
- “Treasure of pore men”, “countrymans friend” or “gentlewomans companion”? 301
- “I saw ye Child burning in ye fire” 319
- Name index 343
- Subject index 345
