Is punctuation comparable?The case of London, Westminster School MS 3 and Paris, Bibliothèque Sainte Geneviève MS 3390

Abstract

The aim of the present article is to discuss the scribal punctuation practice in one of Richard Rolle’s epistles, Ego Dormio, found in two manuscripts that are genetically related: London, Westminster School MS 3 and Paris, Bibliothèque Sainte Geneviève MS 3390. The analysis of samples seeks both to reveal regular patterns of use concerning punctuation symbols in each text and to test the extent to which there is a correlation between one scribe’s use of punctuation marks when compared to the use employed by the other scribe. Although there is a quantitative exploration of the data, the method of analysis also considers contextual information in the description of each punctuation symbol to identify their functions. In addition, earlier works on medieval punctuation in the identification and categorization of symbols along with their already attested functions (following mainly Lucas 1971; Parkes 1992 and Zeeman 1956) have been employed. The results of the study will be compared with these functions in order to contextualize each scribal use of punctuation symbols within the tradition of Middle English manuscripts.