The vernacularization of science, medicine, and technology in late medieval Europe: broadening our perspectives. 2000

W Grossgrove
Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA.

The "vernacularization" of medieval texts dealing with scientific subjects was a more complicated process than earlier views would suggest. While popularizations were certainly important, some vernacular texts were written for specialists (especially in medicine). Certain texts describing practical knowledge had no Latin original to draw from or relied on models from Antiquity quite unrelated to contemporary practice. Their study is further complicated by the state of research, which in some cases is relatively good (e.g. treatises on hunting) but in others doesn't even allow for a preliminary overview (e.g. surgeries). Other complicating factors are distribution (the limited circulation, e.g., of 'encyclopedias" against the presence of the ps.-Aristotelian Secreta Secretorum in all languages) and the availabilty of inventories, Middle Dutch and Middle English texts being the best documented. The essay concludes on some speculations about the similarity between contemporary English and Medieval Latin as scientific languages, and possible future developments.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007802 Language A verbal or nonverbal means of communicating ideas or feelings. Dialect,Dialects,Languages
D008511 Medicine The art and science of studying, performing research on, preventing, diagnosing, and treating disease, as well as the maintenance of health. Insurance Medicine,Medical Specialities,Medical Specialties,Medical Specialty,Specialities, Medical,Specialties, Medical,Specialty, Medical,Insurance Medicines,Medical Speciality,Medicine, Insurance,Medicines, Insurance,Speciality, Medical
D008519 Medicine, Traditional Systems of medicine based on cultural beliefs and practices handed down from generation to generation. The concept includes mystical and magical rituals (SPIRITUAL THERAPIES); PHYTOTHERAPY; and other treatments which may not be explained by modern medicine. Ethnomedicine,Folk Medicine,Folk Remedies,Home Remedies,Medicine, Folk,Medicine, Indigenous,Medicine, Primitive,Indigenous Medicine,Primitive Medicine,Traditional Medicine,Folk Remedy,Home Remedy,Remedies, Folk,Remedies, Home,Remedy, Folk,Remedy, Home
D005060 Europe The continent north of AFRICA, west of ASIA and east of the ATLANTIC OCEAN. Northern Europe,Southern Europe,Western Europe
D012586 Science The study of natural phenomena by observation, measurement, and experimentation. Sciences
D013672 Technology The application of scientific knowledge to practical purposes in any field. It includes methods, techniques, and instrumentation. Industrial Arts,Arts, Industrial
D013782 Textbooks as Topic Works about books used in the study of a subject that contain a systematic presentation of the principles and vocabulary of a subject.
D049691 History, Medieval The period of history from the year 500 through 1450 of the common era. Medieval History,History of Medicine, Medieval,History of Medicine, Renaissance,Medicine, Medieval History,Medicine, Renaissance,Medieval History (Medicine),Renaissance Medicine,Histories, Medieval (Medicine),History Medicine, Medieval,History, Medieval (Medicine),Medieval Histories (Medicine),Medieval History Medicine

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