Book section : Chapter
Transposition
- Abstract:
- Transposition is a change (perpetrated either by scribes or by editors) in the order of letters, words, lines, or longer passages; all are frequent occurrences, and in each case subsequent attempts at correction can create further disorder. This chapter reviews examples of each, and considers possible causes, mechanical and psychological. Omission of lines is especially common where there are verbal similarities. Disorder on a larger scale may be the result of a scribe’s failure to copy a page or an opening, or the binding of a quire in the wrong place. A related phenomenon is the repetition of the same lines in different parts of the text, where an editor has to choose whether to keep both or to choose one.
- Publication status:
- Published
- Peer review status:
- Peer reviewed
Actions
Access Document
- Publisher copy:
- 10.1093/9780191841392.003.0033
Authors
Contributors
+ de Melo, WDC
- Institution:
- University of Oxford
- Division:
- HUMS
- Department:
- Classics
- Sub department:
- Classical Languages & Lit
- Role:
- Editor
+ Scullion, S
- Institution:
- University of Oxford
- Division:
- HUMS
- Department:
- Classics
- Sub department:
- Classical Languages & Lit
- Oxford college:
- Worcester College
- Role:
- Editor
- ORCID:
- 0000-0002-0143-3516
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- Host title:
- The Oxford Handbook of Greek and Latin Textual Criticism
- Pages:
- 386–395
- Chapter number:
- 32
- Publication date:
- 2026-04-03
- DOI:
- EISBN:
- 9780191841392
- ISBN-10:
- 0198738129
- ISBN-13:
- 9780198738121
- Language:
-
English
- Keywords:
- Subtype:
-
Chapter
- Pubs id:
-
2410850
- Local pid:
-
pubs:2410850
- Source identifiers:
-
W7151969087
- Deposit date:
-
2026-08-26
- ARK identifier:
Terms of use
- Copyright holder:
- Oxford University Press
- Copyright date:
- 2026
- Rights statement:
- © Oxford University Press 2026.
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