6533b857fe1ef96bd12b4e27

RESEARCH PRODUCT

“Etymologia Est Origo Vocabulorum…”

subject

description

SUMMARYThe study wants to contribute to the explication of Isidore of Sevilla's conception of etymology starting with the definition "Etymologia est origo vocabulorum, cum vis verbi vel nominis per interpretationem colligitur" (Etym. I, xxix, 1). At first sight the problem of interpretation results from the contradiction between the static character of the principal clause (est origo) and the dynamic character of the subordinate clause (colligitur). This contradiction is resolved in favour of the dynamic aspect by changing origo into originatio on the basis of a teleological and historical interpretation. In a second step, an attempt has been made to arrive at a comprehensive assessment of the definition by interpreting the constituents of the subordinate clause and by defining its relation with the principal clause. The first question concerns the function of the conjunction cum (the hypothesis of a conditional nexus is rejected from the first); in the course of the examination of this problem the constituents of the subordinate clause are analyzed (in particular interpretatio and vis). As to interpretatio it is shown that it corresponds to the justification of the origo ("Stellae dictae a stando, quia fixae stant in caelo nec cadunt"); vis is then described as a relational notion that is defined by the relation between the semantic contents of the origo and an actual characteristic property of the thing. Finally an examination of Isidore's actual proceeding demonstrates that the knowledge of vis results immediately from the knowledge of the origo (originatio) and the interpretatio. Consequently, the conjunction cum can be defined as cum coincidens.RESUMEL'article veut contribuer a expliquer la conception de l'etymologie d'Isidore de Seville en partant de la definition "Etymologia est origo vocabu-lorum, cum vis verbi vel nominis per interpretationem colligitur" (Etym. I, xxix, 1). Les difficultes que pose l'interpretation resultent d'abord de la contradiction entre le caractere statique de la proposition principale (est origo) et le caractere dynamique de la proposition subordonnee (colligitur). Cette contradiction a ete resolue en faveur de l'aspect dynamique par la correction d'origo en originatio a base d'une interpretation teleologique et historique. Dans une seconde phase on a cherche a parvenir a une evaluation d'ensemble de la definition en interpretant les constituants de la proposition subordonnee et en definissant sa relation avec la proposition principale. On a commence par se demander quelle etait la fonction de la conjonction cum (l'hypothese d'un rapport conditionnel a ete rejetee tout d'abord); au cours du traitement de ce probleme, on a analyse les constituants de la proposition subordonnee (en particulier interpretatio et vis). Quant a l' interpretatio, on a montre qu'elle correspondait a la justification de l'origo ("Stellae dictae a stando, quia fixae stant in caelo nec cadunt"); la vis a ete decrite comme notion relationnelle qui est definie par la relation entre le contenu semantique de l' origo et un trait caracteristique actuel de la chose. L'examen du procede pratique d'Isidore a montre finalement que la connaissance de la vis resulte immediatement de la connaissance de l' origo (= originatio) et de l' interpretatio. Par consequent la conjonction cum a ete definie comme cum coincidens.