Catchword: between Codicology and Paleography

Abstract

The catchword, defined as a group of letters or words written at the lower margin of the folio, and repeated at the beginning of the next folio, in order to indicate the sequence of the quires or manuscript folios themselves, has been studied by Codicology, as an element with informative value on the reconstitution of the codex or the manuscript to dating documents. However, as configuring a written resource, studies about the catchword are intertwined with the methods of Paleography. In this study, we aim the analysis of its shape and frequency in 17th century documents of the captaincy of Minas Gerais, to classify the catchwords from categories established according to the shapes as they are shown up in the text. The analysis’ result identifies the choice by the scribe for the use of the type "word" at the end of the folio, comparing to the use of syllables and abbreviations, for instance, transferring to the catchword a concern with the agility on reading. We propose that the data obtained from the results of this study be inserted in a database that gathers information about manuscript practices in documents from several types and centuries, in Portuguese language, created in Brazil, to be analyzed by the methodologies of Codicology and Paleography to the identification, quantification and analysis of trends of uses and means in the production of codices or single manuscripts, in order to compose a view on these historical-cultural phenomena.