Polyptiques Layer I Weissenburg

Introduction

This page captures the first layer of representation, according to the Multi-Layer Model of Interpretation Representation that drives the hermeneutical process espoused in this research project, for the contents of the Polyptichon of Weissenburg.

The purpose of the Layer I representation, in this particular instance, is to model the key distinctions that the document wishes to make:

  • the enumerations and categories of obligations
  • the locations which have to deliver these
  • the frequency at which these obligations are to be delivered

Structure of Layer Representation

Overview

The document itself is organized by the different locations of the villas, villages and settlements that form the possessions of the Benedictine abbey of Weissenburg (Wizenburg in the Latin sources). The numbers in the text refer back to the online parallel translation of the University of Leicester.

Wizenburg (Weissenburg)

1.1 Summary

1.1 Ad villam que dicitur Wizenburg inventi sunt iurnales .CCCC., de pratis ad carrada .CC., hobe vestite .LVIII..

Constant: Hube.

genls: FarmStead.
Constant: Wizenburg.

isa: Villa-FeudalManor.

belongsTo: (NumOfFn 400 Iurnalis)).        ;; singular of iurnales is what?
belongsTo: (NumOfFn 200 Meadow)).
belongsTo: (NumOfFn 58 Hube)).

1.2 Paragraph 2

1.2 Paragraph 2

1.2 Sentence 1

In mense iulio et augusto in unaquaque ebdomada .I. diem facere debent.

constant: OwingWizenburg-Para1_2_1.
isa: Owing.
owedBy: (EachOfFn Hube Wizenburg).
owingTimeFrame: (EachWeekFn (MonthFn July)).
owingTimeFrame: (EachWeekFn (MonthFn August)).
owingType: (ServiceOfAmountFn (AmountFn 1 Weekday)).

1.2 Sentence 2

Post istos duos menses in unaquaque ebdomada .I. diem facere debent et ad vindemiam .I. hominem mittere; arare in partes iurnales .II..

constant: Owing-Wizenburg-P1p2S2_1.
isa: Owing.
owedBy: (EachOfFn Hube Wizenburg).
owingTimeFrame: (EachWeekFn (YearExcludingMonthsFn (TheSet (MonthFn July) (MonthFn August)))).
owingAmount: (AmountFn 1 Weekday).
owingType: Service.
constant: Owing-Wizenburg-P1p2S2_2.
isa: Owing.
owedBy: (EachOfFn Hube Wizenburg).
owingTimeFrame: (EachWeekFn (YearExcludingMonthsFn (TheSet (MonthFn July) (MonthFn August)))).
owingAmount: (AmountFn 1 Weekday).
owingType: (SendingAgentForServiceFn
                  (WorkingInSettingFn Vineyards)
                  (NumberOfAgentsFn 1 AdultMalePerson)).
constant: Owing-Wizenburg-P1p2S23.
isa: Owing.
owedBy: (EachOfFn Hube Wizenburg).
owingTimeFrame: (EachWeekFn (YearExcludingMonthsFn (TheSet (MonthFn July) (MonthFn August)))).
owingAmount: (AmountFn 1 Weekday).
owingType: (SendingAgentForServiceFn
                  (PerformingWorkOnFn Plowing Iurnales)  
                  (NumberOfAgentsFn 2 AdultMalePerson)).

1.2 Sentence 3

Unusquisque axilia .C. ….

constant: Owing-Wizenburg-P1p2S3_1.
isa: Owing.
owedBy: (EachOfFn Hube Wizenburg).
;; estimated owingTimeFrame is anually
owingAmount: (AmountFn 100 Poles-WoodenArtefact).

… et mensuram .I. de ligno; ….

constant: Owing-Wizenburg-P1p2S3_2.
isa: Owing.
owedBy: (EachOfFn Hube Wizenburg).
;; estimated owingTimeFrame is anually
owingAmount: (AmountFn 1 (MeasureOfFn Wood)).

… pullos .X. et .VII., ova .XV.

constant: Owing-Wizenburg-P1p2S3_3.
isa: Owing.
owedBy: (EachOfFn Hube Wizenburg).
;; estimated owingTimeFrame is anually
owingAmount: (AmountFn (PlusFn 10 7) Chicken).
constant: Owing-Wizenburg-P1p2S3_3.
isa: Owing.
owedBy: (EachOfFn Hube Wizenburg).
;; estimated owingTimeFrame is anually
owingAmount: (AmountFn 15 (EggFn Chicken)).

1.2 Sentence 4

Et preter predictum servitium semel in anno .XIIII. noctes facere debent.

constant: Owing-Wizenburg-P1p2S4_1.
isa: Owing.
owedBy: (EachOfFn Hube Wizenburg).
owingTimeFrame: Annually.
owingAmount: (AmountFn 14 Nights).
owingType: Service.
Discussion

What is nice about this representation is that it reflects the ambiguity of the Latin original; linguistically there is no way to tell — in spite of the translation as fortnight's on the Leicester website — whether this is intended to be a service that spans 14 nights or a service that consists of fourteen nights (e.g. guard duty or shifts, for example).
Eqully, the representation does not decide whether this is a service that is discharged cummulative, or en bloc.

What is less acceptable about this representation is that it loses the notion of (preter predictum, "above and beyond") that is crucial because it strongly argues for a cummulative discharge of services, IMHO.

Notice that is the kind of issue that a good translation will not expose, because a good translation will pass the ambiguity of the sentence right through (so this is possible in the target language).

1.2 Sentence 5

Et semel in anno proficisci debent pro vino in Unkenstein.

1.2 Sentence 6

Caballos .II. in hostem, barefrida ad regis servitium dare et ad abbatis servitium de monasterio ad proximam mansionem similiter debent.

1.3 Paragraph 3

Veteri Villa (Altenburg)

/add more here/

Summary of Representational Terminology

Note: The Latin Glossary of the University of Leicester translation is helpful in understanding some of the underlying conceptualizations.

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