Palaeography and Codicology III (P03046)

? Credit Points : 40 ? SCQF Level : 11 ? Acronym : LLC-P-P03046

An introduction to codicology using materials in Special Collections (EUL). Manuscripts of various dates and kinds will be examined. Topics to be covered: page preparation and layout; formation of quires; hierarchy of scripts and decorations; illumination and illustration; binding; evidence for provenancing (shelf and press marks, indications of ownership). An introduction to Latin palaeography. Early capitals and their descendants; carolingian minuscule and gothic /textualis/ scripts from continental (predominantly French) and Insular sources; systems of abbreviation. This part of the course will concentrate on reading material, mostly in facsimile, from the 9th to the 15th century, to familiarise students with a variety of scripts, in book and cursive hands, and to introduce them to concepts of the evolution of scripts during the period.

A detailed study of vernacular scripts (book and cursive hands). Further consideration of manuscript production. An introduction to the principles and practice of textual editing. Study of individual vernacular scripts will occupy weeks 1-7; weeks 8 & 9, dealing with textual editing, will be taken in common. Week 10 devoted to private study on semester 2 assessment exercises.

Entry Requirements

none

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Common Courses (School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures), (School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures, Schedule G)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : Postgraduate

? Delivery Period : Full Year (Blocks 1-4)

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) per week for 20 weeks

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

Students will develop an ability to identify, decipher and transcribe scripts used in manuscripts written in continental Europe and the British Isles in Latin and vernacular languages between ca. 600 CE and ca. 1500 CE; an ability to identify different scripts and assign an approximate date to them; an appreciation of the implications of various forms of page layout and decoration and an ability to describe and analyse such layouts and decorations. They will develop an understanding of approaches to different types of textual edition and of the relationship between modern published editions and the manuscripts on which they are based. They will develop an elementary ability to produce an edition from manuscript sources.

Assessment Information

2 transcription exercises from Latin manuscripts (50 marks each) including descriptions of the page(s) and notes on letter forms, abbreviation and the transcription; an estimate of date (by half-century). 1 transcription exercise in the chosen vernacular (50
marks) including descriptions of the page(s) and notes on the letter forms, abbreviations and the transcription; an estimate of date (by half
century) where appropriate; 1 exercise in editing a short passage from the chosen vernacular, including translation of a designated passage into modern English (100 marks). The overall mark for the course will count as one unit of assessment (100 marks) towards interim assessment of the MSc.