Брахиграфия в латинице Литвы : влияние латинской традиции на польскую и литовскую письменность

Abstract

The article focuses on one of the areas of palaeography ñ the tradition of the Latin brachygraphy and its influence on Polish and Lithuanian writings in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Multilingual manuscript micro-texts and local printings are analysed. The system of abbreviations, most apparent in various inscriptions, was formed in Ancient Rome. Three major groups of abbreviations are distinguished: suspension, contraction, and abbreviations achieved by using a special sign with a strictly defined meaning instead of the omitted part of the word. Suspension ñ Abbreviatio per suspensionem is an abbreviation when a part of the word is removed and only the beginning remains. Contraction ñ Abbreviatio per contractionem is an abbreviation when the middle part of the word is omitted, i.e. the word is contracted leaving only the beginning and the ending. In addition to these abbreviations, suprascript ñ abbreviatio per litteram suprascriptam is also distinguished when the ending of the abbreviation (sometimes the middle syllable) is written at the top of a title letter or a number (most often in a smaller print). The tradition of abbreviation and shorthand reached the Grand Duchy of Lithuania together with the Latin language. The whole Lithuanian culture experienced the impact of the Latin culture, the developing national writings being no exception. The Polish written language underwent a stronger influence of the brachygraphy tradition. Abbreviations were used not only in copying Latin examples, but also when signs of writing were directly transferred from Latin texts to Polish. The Lithuanian written language experienced a weaker impact of the Latin brachygraphy tradition due to objective circumstances related to its development in the early period. Still, the results of this impact can be found in all the written language areas. [...]