Latin abbreviations

By Anonymous on Mon, 10/01/2012 - 21:12

Forums

I am citing some Parish Registers from Ireland. The register title is in Latin and for the most part the childs names are in Latin and occasionally the a parents name and sponsors name are in Latin. The priest used the following abbreviations fa for fila meaning daughter and fus for filius meaning son. Is this a common abbreviation or should it be noted in my citation.

Thank you,

Ann  

Submitted byEEon Tue, 10/02/2012 - 12:05

Ann, in our working citations we can include anything we think would help us or a user of our work at a later date. At publication, an editor or press would likely eliminate that kind of explanation.

Meanwhile, let's consider the issue from a different standpoint: Why do you feel it is necessary for the citation to make this explanation? Typically, your citation would accompany one of five things:

  • An image of the record; but, given that the citation you place on that image would not translate the record, there would be no logical reason to add an explanation of one point in that record.
  • An exact transcription of the record, in which case the typical approach would be follow the abbreviation with square editorial brackets in which the word is written in full; thus no explanation would be needed in the note.
  • A full translation, in which the abbreviation f us would be translated as son; thus no explanation would be needed anywhere.
  • A translated abstract, in which the abbreviation would be rendered as son; thus, no explanation.
  • A narrative account, written in your native language, that discusses the event or the people—which means you would simply say that Patrick, son of Michael and Bridget, was baptized, etc.

Citations are already long enough and complicated enough. Why make them longer than we have to?