21.07.25: topic; the fruits of the earth [4] [2]; Tacuinum Sānitātis (3): reading Mediaeval Manuscripts [2]: superscript letters; u/v; long s

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[i] Abbreviation by superscript letters can simply indicate the ending of the word; we use superscript in ordinal numbers e.g. 1^st 2^nd but is used far more widely in the manuscripts:

ī p^o│ in p[rim]o

iuua^tū  │ iuua[men]tum

nocu^tū │ nocu[men]tum

nocu^ti _│ nocu[men]ti

ſtoⁱ•│sto[machi]; in another section of the manuscript he writes the same superscript i alone for nocumenti i.e. nocⁱ• with identical formation of i

[ii] superscript i: above q, it denotes the superscript letter itself and the vowel u. 

Qⁱd │ quid

[iii] superscript bȝ: [ȝ] this sign is very often used to represent the dative and ablative plural endings of the third, fourth and fifth declension i.e. bus

ī regio^bȝ │ in regio[ni]bus

As mentioned above, scribes do not always adhere to the rules; the same /bȝ/ is also found in the manuscript but not as superscript, and, elsewhere, it can have different meanings.

ſeībȝ │ se[n]ibus

[iv] As we still do today, a dot (period) can be placed after the word to indicate truncation. In this manuscript, the writer places most of these below the superscript letters. 

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[v] Classical Latin had no /v/ sound as in very; in inscriptions V = u (CIRCVS MAXIMVS [kirkoos maksimoos]

The sound can be:

[1] as a separate vowel either short or long (the latter in edited texts marked by a macron: ū): sum, tū

[2] as a semi-vocalic sound similar to English w before another vowel: uideō [wideo], amāuī [amawi]

Ecclesiastical Latin distinguishes these two both in writing and in pronunciation, the semi-vocalic of [2] being pronounced as Modern English v  i.e. [1] sum [soom]; [2] videō [video]

In most edited texts (including textbooks) for Classical Latin that distinction is maintained in writing i.e. sum / videō, but the original pronunciation of [2] as w is retained. Some textbooks, however, e.g. Jones and Sidwell’s Reading Latin, retain u for both.

In the manuscript there is no distinction in:

Iuua^tū • │ Iuua-; cōuēiūt │ conueniunt

Using our most common means of distinguishing between these two iuvamentum and conveniunt would appear in a dictionary or textbook, but the scribe did not distinguish them and the transcription should reflect what he wrote. He does, however, write v at the beginning of vere.

This variation of /v/ and /u/ is evident in the first folio of Shakespeare’s works (1623), the initial letter of the word regardless written as /v/, in all other instances written as /u/ regardless of pronunciation.

From Macbeth (Act I, scenes 1 and 2):

[i] Valours; Victorie; Villainies: reflect the pronunciation of /v/, but:

the Victorie felt on vs [us]

Vpon the Heath; vpon the Foe [upon]

to our generall vse [use]

[ii] Below are examples where /u/ represents both sounds:

thunder / houer through the fog and filthy air [hover]

I must report / ouer-charg’d [over]

braue [brave]; deſerues [deserves]; lauiſ [lavish]; leaue [leave]; Reuolt [revolt];

A bit of “gentle” Shakespeare shows both these letters in action:

“Till he vnseam’d [unseamed] him from the Naue [Nave] toth’ Chops, And fix’d his head vpon [upon] our Battlements” │ Until he split him from belly to jaw and stuck his head upon our castle walls.

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Look out for the long s: ſ, not to be confused with f:

ſic │ sic[cis]

ſunt │ sunt

ſeībȝ │ se[n]ib[u]s

Both the long s and the ‘round’ s we have now are used in the manuscripts. You can learn the “rules” from a vegetable. Long s is not used:

[i] for upper case letters: Sparagus (but small case ſunt)

[ii] at the end of the word: Sparagus, ſūmitates │ su[m]mitates

It needs to be emphasised that, despite there being common abbreviations which can be identified by “a few simple rules”, there are some very peculiar forms with meanings that are not always consistent. Below is my attempt to transcribe this text using the abbreviations as they are used in the manuscript; I can’t vouch 100% for its accuracy but the group is entitled “Latin for Learners” – and I’m learning about this too! Any comments or amendments are welcome.

Sparagus Complc̄ cal + hm¯ ī p^o• Elec̄ recentes cuiꝰ  ſūmitates declināt ad terrā  Iuua^tū • addūt in coitu, et aperiūt opilatioēs¯ Nocu^tū • nocēt uillis ſtoⁱ•  Remō nocu^ti • poſtꝗ̃ eliſati ſunt comedātur cū muri aut aceto Quⁱd gnant nutrimentū bonū Cōuēiūt frīs et ſic ſeībȝ + decrepitis in vere et ī regio^bȝ • in quibus reꝑiūtur.