New linguistic Horizons in the Medieval Europe

Author: Alexander Klestov (Independent Scholar, Bulgaria)
Speaker: Alexander Klestov
Topic: Anthropological Linguistics
The (SCOPUS / ISI) SOAS GLOCAL COMELA 2022 General Session

Abstract

“This research is based on the text: «Recherches critiques sur l’age et l’origine des traductions latines d’Aristote et sur les commentaires grecs ou arabe employés par des doctors scolastiques » par Amable Jourdain… Paris, MDCCCXLIII. We would like to underline the particular importance of this work of Jourdain for the study of medieval Aristotelism in linguistic history of sciences.

The period of XII-XIII centuries is the apogee of Middle Ages. We see a flowering of religious and intellectual life; the deepening of education in the schools and increasing their number; also emergence of the first universities, and next them, as a necessary part of the activity, the birth of medieval translated literature.

The author of article, following Jourdain, seeks to show that the translation become the epitome of the linguistic turnaround. In this time is born a new scholastic terminology in theology, spiritual literature etc. Still quite pagan Mediterranean civilization is slowly transformed into European civilization, where Christianity will be dominant. Accordingly, value orientations in the use of different languages are also changing and emerging new linguistic horizons. In this regard, the author focuses of all on translations.  The activity of such translators, as Robert from Lincoln (Robert Grossetestus), Guillaume from Merbec, Thomas Aquinas and Albert the Great respectively their Latin translations of Aristotle from Greek and Arabic reviewed. The author tries to give a description of medieval translator’s work, to define the essence of the translation itself, taking into account modern scientific historical, linguistic and philosophical-theological studies of the issue.  Of cause, author also relies on his own translation experience.

Summery

1. Amable Jourdain and his « Recherches critiques… ». 2. The rise of education and religiosity in the XII-XIII centuries (Aristotle and the Augustinian problem of faith and reason); 3. Translatio studiorum at the transition of the Mediterranean to European civilization; 4. Linguistic turnaround and birth of translation activity (“Toledo Breakthrough”, its essence and meaning for the science of Languages).”

Keywords: Amable Jourdain, Aristoteles, Translatio studiorum, Mediterranean civilization, European civilization, Linguistic turnaround, translation.