BYU Family History Library Webinar Notes

Introduction

• Host: Olivia Tuller
• Technical difficulties can be addressed through chat.
• Next webinar on June 30: "German Reference and Research Tools" by Larry Jensen.
• Access previous webinars on the website or YouTube channel.
• Today's presenter: Jacob A. Bedal

About Jacob A. Bedal

• Background: From Chino, California; speaks Spanish fluently due to Uruguayan heritage.
• Mission Service: Served in Lima Central, Peru.
• Education: Associate's in English and Global Studies from Mount San Antonio College; studying Linguistics and History at BYU.
• Experience: Paleographist at Family History Center, oversees romance language tutorials, transcribes and translates documents, recent trip to Spain for research.

Presentation Overview

• Topic: Introduction to Spanish Paleography
• Goals:
  • Introduce the Spanish language and its history.
  • Discuss writing styles and common issues in registers.
• Emphasis on practice for gaining fluency in reading documents.

The Spanish Language

• Global language with over 5 million native speakers.
• Official language in over 20 countries.
• Commonly referred to as "castellano" (Castilian).

Origins

• Latin Influence: Spanish is a Romance language, derived primarily from Latin (75% of modern Spanish).
• Visigoth Influence: Minimal, primarily surnames (e.g., López: son of López).
• Arabic Influence: From 711 to 1492, over 4,000 words of Arabic origin (8% of the language).
• Reconquista Period: Language emerges, first written example in "El Cantar de Mío Cid" (12th century).
• Language Evolution: Designation of Castellano as court language.
• Expansion of Spanish with the Spanish Empire.

Handwriting Changes

• English vs. Spanish language reading: Spanish retains more historical forms.

Basic Paleography Techniques

1. Study Handwriting: Each scribe has unique styles.
2. Identify Familiar Portions: Recognize common words or phrases to aid understanding.
3. Use Similar Letters: Compare letters in the document for clarification.
4. Know Handwriting Variety: Different styles can exist within records.
5. Consult Alphabet Charts: Helpful for deciphering letters.
6. Name and Location Lists: Useful for identifying unfamiliar names.
7. Avoid Obsessing on Single Words: View the text holistically, mark unknowns, and move on.
8. Read Calmly and Carefully: Every detail is important, read multiple times for clarity.

Specific Spanish Paleography Tips

• Writing Styles: Redonda, Alamana, Cortesana, Procesal, Italica.
• Tricky Letters: Interchangeable letters (e.g., I and Y, B and V).
• Recognize Abbreviations: Common in historical documents due to paper scarcity.
• Latin Influence: Scribes often inserted Latin structures into Spanish writing.
• Conventionalisms: Specific abbreviations to learn (e.g., X for Christ).

Example Analysis

• Baptismal Record (1914-1915): Systematic layout, extracting names and parental details.
• Death Record (1558): Interpretation of entries, noting common phrases and names.

Conclusion

• Importance of practice in paleography for genealogical research.
• Resources available at BYU script site for additional learning.

Next Steps

• Join next webinar on June 30 for further learning.
• Recordings of webinars available for review on YouTube and the website.