Abstract
The study of textual reuse is of fundamental importance in reconstructing lost or partially lost texts, passages of which can be partly recovered through other texts in which they have been embedded. Furthermore, the study of textual reuse also provides one with a deeper understanding of the modalities of the production of texts out of previous textual materials. Finally, it constitutes a unique chance to reconsider the historicity of concepts such as “author”, “originality” and “plagiarism”, which do not denote really existing universals, but have rather evolved—and still evolve—in different ways in different cultural milieus. After a general introduction and an analysis of the historical background of textual reuse in India and Europe, the essay attempts some general conclusions regarding the formulas introducing instances of textual reuse in Classical South Asian texts.
Highlights
The shrewds like imitating the others and pretend that the new and the modern things are their inventions
Suthren Hirst), one has to gather references to this topic in different journals and books, mostly within articles or volumes dedicated to different themes
Writing may interfere with the literality of quotations, though only indirectly, insofar as: (1) cursive kinds of writing and print allow a wider circulation of the text to non-insiders, and, a control by the audience; (2) writing allows only a limited space to glosses, interpolations and addenda; (3) writing means reflecting on what belongs to the text and what does not, and may have influenced the processes of fixation of “Canons”
Summary
(1) Textual-critical reasons: – In order to restore lost or partially lost texts.1 – In order to achieve better text editions (e.g., one needs to know whether a quotation embedded in a later text is a reliable witness—this depends on the general attitude towards the kind of text quoted).. (2) Historical-critical reasons: – In order to gain a better understanding of Indian texts and/within their history (e.g., does the lack of reuse of passages by a certain author in later texts mean that s/he was not influential?).3 – In order to better evaluate the relation of Indian authors to other authors – In order to better understand Indian habits of reading and writing/ composing texts (3) In order to re-frame our historically conditioned notions of “text”, “author”, “originality”, “copyright” and so on
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