TEXT AND TRANSMISSION

Wednesday 14 to Friday 16 September 2005
Australian National University, Canberra

CALL FOR PAPERS

Scholars of the early medieval are familiar with the notion of Text as an inscribed document, whether that inscription occurs upon stone, metal, vellum or textile - but the concept of inscription and, therefore, of Text, can be extended to cover a range of evidence. Thus, one might speak of archaeological remains, land use patterns, traditional stories, remnant practices and revenant beliefs as constituting Texts in their own right. Broadly defined then, Text is the means by which we engage with the early medieval subject.

The early medievalist, however, faces particular constraints in interpreting these Texts through the agencies of their Transmission. Questions such as who authored these Texts, when and why, intersect with problems of transcription, translation and redaction to inform a complex discourse.

Following on from issues that arose during the 2004 Conference of the Australian Early Medieval Association, the Second Annual Conference will focus on the theme of Text and Transmission. Although we welcome papers addressed to this theme, the Association will also be pleased to accept submissions on any area of early medieval research.