Ein sendbrieff D. M. Luthers Von Dolmetzschen[n] vnd Fürbit der heiligenn : MDXXX

Description

The "Letter on Translating" may be considered the most famous Lutheran text written in Coburg. The original was published in 1530 with Rhau-Grunenberg in Wittenberg bearing a title frame from the workshop of Lucas Cranachs the Elder (1472-1553). When the Luther Collection was transferred from the Coburg Fortress to the Landesbibliothek (regional library) in the early 1950s, this print remained at its original location. The collection of the Landesbibliothek contains two almost contemporaneous, non-identical reprints by Rottmaier in Nuremberg. There is a close relationship to Nuremberg. Wenzeslaus Linck (1483-1547), one of the key figures for the introduction of the Reformation in the Franconian imperial city, had the letter printed. The purpose was to protect Luther's translation of the Bible from accusations of lack of scientific rigour. In the "Letter", Luther gives vivid insights into the elementary initial situation of a German language that was for the most part only used orally. It sheds light on the linguistic problems to be solved. This description is done in a stirring linguistic style that makes the emphasis in the light of the own translation performance noticeable: "For one must not ask the Latin tongue how one ought to speak German as these asses do; but one must ask the mother in the house, the children on the streets, the common man at the markets, and watch carefully how they speak. And look at the moves of their mouths while they speak. After that one may translate. They understand you then and mark that you are speaking German with them." (fol. 12) Datum: 2016