ON THE LANGUAGE OF THE PARIS MISCELLANY (CODE SLAVE 73) (BASED ON THE TEXT OF THE PSALTER AND THE CANTICLES)

Abstract

In this paper we analyze the graphic and the linguistic characteristics of the 1375 Paris Miscellany (Slave 73) by examining the Psalter and the canticles. Since the author of this oldest Croato-Glagolitic miscellany, Grgur Borislavić, was from Modruš, we have studied to what extent the language of the manuscript was influenced by the Modruš vernacular. Furthermore, considering that, according to the colophons, the target audience of the manuscript were the Šibenik nuns of St Julian’s Church we have also examined to what extent the linguistic concept was affected by the intended readership of the text. Linguistic research has proven that the text was written in the Croatian Old Slavonic language with some features of the Modruš vernacular, i.e. Čakavian. It is possible that some of these linguistic features were common to both the author and the inhabitants of Šibenik. The only linguistic characteristics that indicate that the text was adapted to the readership (Šibenik nuns) are the occasional Ikavisms. The Paris Miscellany is without a peer among the Croato-Glagolitic manuscripts. Not only is it the oldest complete miscellany, but it is also the only Glagolitic codex associated with Šibenik and one of the rare miscellanies that contain Biblical texts. Both the liturgical and the textological elements confirm the uniqueness of this manuscript. Special attention should be paid to the liturgical order and the Canon which both belong to the original redaction of the Croatian Glagolitic sacramentary. Since the Paris Miscellany is the most Croaticized 14th century Croato-Glagolitic manuscript, its language is particularly distinctive. It is reasonable to assume that the intended readership affected the concept on which it was based, i.e. its modernisation, as the nuns (as opposed to priests) were not educated or taught the Church Slavonic language. In other words, this manuscript (unlike other Croato-Glagolitic psalters in breviaries) was fairly Croaticized since it needed to be adapted to its readership.