Textlinguistische Analyse von Breslauer mittelalterlichen Bürgertestamenten

Abstract

Scientists often criticize there are not enough diachronical empirical investigations about sorts of texts. The analysis I did, is trying to close this gap. The choose was falling on the beginning of testaments when they wrote down. I’m geared at the dictum of linguists, that the history of language is at the same time the history of sort of texts. The corpus of my investigation includes material I found by my own. I also transliterated it. Already in further time I analyzed the linguistic structure of testaments of citizens in Krakow. These investigations were very successful. Therefore, I wanted to use the same method for testaments of citizens in Breslau. I started with the historical background and the registration of testamentery texts in the so called “Stadtbuch” (registry of town). I explained four levels of description. The same method I used for the investigation of the last will of the citizens of Breslau. In this present paper I give attention on text-linguistical aspects. But there is one difference between two levels: the axiological-ontological and the stylistic level – compared to the contemporary conception of a testament. My contribution can also understand as an invitation for forthcoming investigations of the diachronic of such sorts of texts. The benefit for the subject linguistic shouldn’t underestimate.

Keywords

• testament
• middle ages
• type of text
• historical text-linguistics
• wroclaw