Contents of Faith in Transfer (Paperback)

Elena Parina

ISBN 10: 3662725371 / ISBN 13: 9783662725375

Published by Springer-Verlag Berlin and Heidelberg GmbH & Co. KG, 2026

About this Item

Paperback. This open-access volume explores translations of catechisms produced during the Early Modern period (14501800), a type of text now increasingly recognized as pivotal for understanding cultural translation. Bringing together case studies from across Europes peripheries (with a particular focus on the Celtic fringe and the Baltic-speaking regions) and from areas affected by European colonial ex-pansion (such as Greenland, Central America, and India), the volume reveals how Christian de-nominationsCatholic as well as Protestantadapted catechisms for diverse audiences. Translation in this genre often entailed far more than linguistic transfer: translators became redactors and authors, reshaping texts to suit new cultural and theological contexts. The audiences of the catechism translations presented include members of the same or a different Christian denomination as well as non-Christian mono- or polytheistic communities with or without elaborate literacy: the multiform strategies of translation or adaptation therefore chosen provide not only important linguistic data, but also fascinating insights into complex processes of accommodation. The creativity of the translators contributed to the shaping of written registers, language standardization, lexical innovations, and even the introduction of literacy. This item is printed on demand. Shipping may be from our Sydney, NSW warehouse or from our UK or US warehouse, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9783662725375

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Contents of Faith in Transfer (Paperback)
• Publisher: Springer-Verlag Berlin and Heidelberg GmbH & Co. KG
• Publication Date: 2026
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 3662725371
• ISBN 13: 9783662725375
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

This open-access volume explores translations of catechisms produced during the Early Modern period (1450–1800), a type of text now increasingly recognized as pivotal for understanding cultural translation. Bringing together case studies from across Europe’s ‘peripheries’ (with a particular focus on the ‘Celtic fringe’ and the Baltic-speaking regions) and from areas affected by European colonial ex-pansion (such as Greenland, Central America, and India), the volume reveals how Christian de-nominations—Catholic as well as Protestant—adapted catechisms for diverse audiences. Translation in this genre often entailed far more than linguistic transfer: ‘translators’ became ‘redactors’ and ‘authors’, reshaping texts to suit new cultural and theological contexts. The audiences of the catechism translations presented include members of the same or a different Christian denomination as well as non-Christian mono- or polytheistic communities with or without elaborate literacy: the multiform strategies of translation or adaptation therefore chosen provide not only important linguistic data, but also fascinating insights into complex processes of accommodation. The creativity of the translators contributed to the shaping of written registers, language standardization, lexical innovations, and even the introduction of literacy.

About the Author

Elena Parina is Professor for Celtic Studies at the Institute of English, American and Celtic Studies at the University of Bonn.
Dagmar Bronner was research fellow at the Department of Celtic Studies at the Institute of English, American and Celtic Studies at the University of Bonn.