Unpublished autographed fables of Đuro Ferić (1739–1820) in relation to the Ragusan written tradition

Abstract

The paper deals with Ferić’s unpublished manuscripts of his Croatian fables which were probably written after 1813. Three of Ferić’s autographed manuscripts have been submitted to analysis on several linguistic levels. In spelling and orthography Ferić obviously relies on lexicographic and linguistic manuals written in 17th and 18th centuries (trilingual dictionaries of Mikalja and Della Bella, as well as Della Bella’s Grammar of the Croatian language). His Croatian texts show no sign of orthographic changes which have been present in the Ragusan written tradition from the beginning of the 19th century (for example in Stulli’s Dictionary 1806). Furthermore, the phonological and morphological features of Ferić’s Croatian texts show all features of the literary register as compared to the language of the most esteemed author in older Ragusan literature – Ivan Gundulić.

Keywords

• Đuro Ferić
• autograph manuscripts
• Ragusan written tradition