Translating Events, Glossing Experience: European Texts and American Encounters
E. Michael Gerli
References to the romancero and other literary texts stemming from medieval tradition in early Spanish American historical documents have been interpreted two principal ways: one linguistic, socio-juridical.  On hand, they are seen as evidence that was firmly rooted popular language culture, specifically colloquial usage of sixteenth century. allusions ballads belletristic references these works, which belong primarily textual universe relaciones de meritos y servicios (often composed self-serving justifications for questionable actions), function a means self-engrandizement. In this way authors conformed discursive requirements compelled them portray themselves valiant, when not heroic, subjects Crown. The current article proposes third alternative; namely, sixteenth-century chronicles operate at another deeper epistemological level, constitute hermeneutical strategies reading writing practices. Specifically, glosses process organize knowledge allows assimilation new knowledge--especially unknown--into broader cultural context author reader. them, we able discover level rhetoric basic gestures colonialism: urge appropriate, inhabit territory of, dominate Other through Other’s transformation into familiar images self.
Medievalia|LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas)|RACO (Revistes Catalanes amb Accés Obert) (Consorci de Serveis Universitaris de Catalunya)