Is it a translation? - Identification of Old English translation texts from Latin and their characteristics
Abstract
The lecture presented part of a study on the linguistic influence of non-finite Latin verb forms on Old English. It sought to answer two questions.
First, it attempted to identify whether non-finite Latin verb forms (infinitive, gerundium, gerundive, supinum) significantly influenced Old English translation texts, i.e. whether the translators of these Latin texts into Old English had a need to translate non-finite Latin forms with non-finite Old English forms. Then, it attempted to analyse whether the knowledge gained could be capitalised upon in identifying texts of uncertain status (i.e. those texts for which it is not known whether they are translations from Latin or the original Old English productions).
The paper intended to possibly open a discussion on whether similar types of linguistic influence occur in the Slavic languages.