Wednesday, May 02, 2007

Another question

Another Vocab Question


For some reason, I've always translated dos as 'dowry'. But Stengl and Suzanne Fonay Wemple translate it as Morgengabe and 'Bridegift', respectively. Does anyone have a reference or two to whether the same word is used interchangeable for both dowry and bridegift, or when, if ever, that shift is made and dos is more normally used to mean 'dowry'??


Update: If anyone has electronic access to Diane Owen Hughes, "From Brideprice to Dowry in Mediterranean Europe," Journal of Family History 3 (1978): 262-96, and would be willing to send it to me, I would happily buy you a drink at Kazoo!

Update Again: Squadratomagico has kindly sent it to me!

5 comments:

squadratomagico said...

Try: Diane Owen Hughes, "From Brideprice to Dowry in Mediterranean Europe," Journal of Family History 3 (1978): 262-96.

Another Damned Medievalist said...

Thanks! New Kid also recommended it -- now, to just get my hands on a copy!

squadratomagico said...

It should now be in your hotmail account.

Profane said...

True to form, when I was discussing dowries a couple weeks ago I had a soon to be married student make the standard comment: "Oh, so this is why the woman's family traditionally pays for the marriage. . ."

Another Damned Medievalist said...

Thanks, Squadratomagico!
Profane, LOL!