“For there is nothing lost, that may be found, if sought”. Manuscript terminology across languages and scientific disciplines

The complex terminology used for the description of medieval books in manuscript catalogues and other scientific contributions gives rise to a wide range of potential ambiguities and losses across languages and disciplines. Such losses become all the more evident when different resource paths intersect or overlap on the Internet. Sadly, true long-term collaborations between countries and disciplines are more the exception than the rule, a reality which also explains why the important question of terminology and its adequate translation is frequently neglected. The authors of the present contribution, an Italian codicologist and a German art historian – both of whom have contributed lexicographical work tools which have seen several translations – propose a thorough overview of the work tools currently available (theoretical reflections, dictionaries, multilingual glossaries), followed by a small but significant selection of examples of omissions, ambiguities and other problems associated with the building of a shared multilingual language in the sphere of manuscript studies.