Middle Dutch literary studies and translation studies

Abstract

ABSTRACTMiddle Dutch literature relies heavily on sources in other languages, the most important of which are Latin and French. From the nineteenth century onwards, scholars of Medieval Dutch literature have paid a great deal of attention to the foreign sources of the Middle Dutch texts. In the second half of the twentieth century, there was a renewed interest in translations, which continues to the present day. This renewal was mainly due to the research of Wim Gerritsen and Frits van Oostrom, who introduced new theoretical frameworks and new methods for translation analysis. This article investigates how these approaches to Middle Dutch translations relate to the theories and insights of contemporary translation studies. It also intends to show that cross-fertilization between medieval studies and translation studies can be enriching for both disciplines.