The «Formula confessionale salentina»: revised text and linguistic notes

Abstract

In this paper a new edition of the so-called “Formula confessionale salentina” is presented. The text, firstly published by Oronzo Parlangèli in 1965, is the only surviving part of a previously broader Southern Italian vernacular formula of confession written in Greek alphabet. The text fragment is preserved in one folio today sewn into the manuscript Milan, Biblioteca Ambrosiana, F 122 sup., a Greek manuscript copied in Salento during the 14^th century. According to Parlangeli, the text should be an Old Salentino document, maybe dating to the 14^th century. His 1965 edition shows several errors, probably since the scholar based his work on two low-quality photographs of the manuscript. In addition to the new corrected edition of the text, a chapter of linguistic analysis is provided here, leading to the conclusion that the Formula has been written in Southern Italy, possibly in Salento, not before the 15^th century.