The language and copying practices of three early medieval cartulary scribes at Worcester
This thesis investigates the factors that influence the ways in which scribes copied Old English in charter texts. These factors include: the training scribes received in learning to write Old English and to copy texts; the role of the Anglo-Saxon scriptorium and the environment in which scribes worked; and the role of training and scriptorial influence in the development of a scribeâs written system. This investigation has highlighted, in particular, the lack of information about how scribes were trained in Old English compared to what is known of their training in Latin and in script acquisition. To investigate these factors, this thesis uses a comparative study of the work of the scribe of the eleventh-century Worcester Nero Middleton cartulary, copying the texts S 1280 and S 1556 from the early eleventh-century cartulary Liber Wigorniensis. The data is taken directly from the manuscripts and from original transcriptions of each charter copy, which provides evidence not available in editions. This study demonstrates the worth of studying later copies of texts, in particular of charters. It also shows the wealth of information to be found in the work of copying scribes. The study of the Nero Middleton
Wiles, Katherine
The language and copying practices of three early medieval cartulary scribes at Worcester. This thesis investigates the factors that influence the ways in which scribes copied Old English in charter texts. These factors include: the training scribes received in learning to write Old English and to copy texts; the role of the Anglo-Saxon scriptorium and the environment in which scribes worked; and the role of training and scriptorial influence in the development of a scribeâs written system. This investigation has highlighted, in particular, the lack of information about how scribes were trained in Old English compared to what is known of their training in Latin and in script acquisition. To investigate these factors, this thesis uses a comparative study of the work of the scribe of the eleventh-century Worcester Nero Middleton cartulary, copying the texts S 1280 and S 1556 from the early eleventh-century cartulary Liber Wigorniensis. The data is taken directly from the manuscripts and from original transcriptions of each charter copy, which provides evidence not available in editions. This study demonstrates the worth of studying later copies of texts, in particular of charters. It also shows the wealth of information to be found in the work of copying scribes. The study of the Nero Middleton
language copying practice early_medieval scribe worcester investigates factor_influence way scribe copy old_english charter text factor_include training scribe receive learn write old_english copy text role anglo_saxon environment scribe work role training influence_development scribe write_system investigation highlight particular lack information scribe train old_english compare known training latin script acquisition investigate factor use comparative_study work scribe eleventh_century worcester copy text early eleventh_century data_take directly manuscripts original transcription charter copy provide_evidence available edition study_demonstrate worth study late copy texts particular charter also_show wealth information find work copying scribe study