De begin- en slotformules in Utrechtse oorkonden uit de dertiende en veertiende eeuw: een vergelijking van Middelnederlandse en Latijnse formuleringen.

Abstract

In this article, I compare Latin and Middle Dutch formulas in thirteenth- and fourteenth-century charters written in the city of Utrecht. My comparison shows that the vernacular formulas in the opening and closing parts of mediaeval charters have been based on those in Latin charters. The writers use the Latin documents as a model for their vernacular documents. A Middle Dutch norm is in the making. The writers select elements from the available Latin formulas, present creative translations, and develop new formulas. Although many Middle Dutch formulas depend on a Latin model, in some cases an emancipation diverging from the Latin formulas can be observed. Moreover, the variation in the thirteenth-century formulas sharply decreases during the fourteenth century, while the formulas are more and more standardised.