20th Annual Student Research Conference
Language & Literature
Neither a Borrower Nor a Lender Be: But If You Have To, Please Save the Documents for Posterity
Kayce M. Swigelson
Dr. Patrick Lecaque, Faculty Mentor
As a French Capstone Experience for French and French Translation in-progress, this is a presentation of the process of transcription, translation, and interpretation of various handwritten legal documents including contracts, marriage publications, and IOUs from original documents in the original French. Dating from the mid-eighteenth century to the late nineteenth century, these documents found untranslated in Truman's Pickler Memorial Library's Special Collections are a revelation of the "stuff of life" of the period from which they come. This is a discussion of the historical, linguistic, geographical and personal implications of documents that represent milestones of lives long past along with the trials and rewards of working with original artifacts.
Keywords: French translation, legal documents, 1760-1900, original artifacts, Special Collections
Topic(s):French
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 40-5
Location: OP 2113
Time: 2:15 pm