Interpreters and confessionaries as expressions of linguistic policy of the Church related to confession

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyse the linguistic policy of the Church with regard to confession in a multilingual context between the 16th and 18th Centuries. The documents used in the analysis included theological discussions in Europe about the legitimacy (or not) of the interpreter in this religious context, as well as confessionaries in indian languages during the evangelisation period carried out by the Spanish and the Portuguese. The confessions in indian languages were examined through their use of orientation signals used to guide the missionary in the dialogue with the penitent. The form of organization of the confessionaries in the Indian languages was a textual genre appropriate for learning a foreign language. In particular, we have compared the position of the Jesuits concerning the interpreter in two settings: before and after the establishment of a confessionary in Tupi. In conclusion, we examine the adaptations in the European discussion on the role of the interpreter brought about by the evangelisation of the Indians.