Contribution to Translation of Ottoman Documents and Their Interpretation

Abstract

The paper entitled Contribution to translation of Ottoman Documents and their Interpretation addresses the importance of precise and comprehensive translations of Ottoman documents used for studying of local Bosnian environment, with particular attention to Sharia court registers (sicills). It also deals with the general aspect of relationship with earlier practice in translations or with already translated Ottoman documents, as well as of problems faced by translators when translating Ottoman tax registers (defters) or sicills that encompass a variety of subjects. It points at the importance of equalization of terminology in order to achieve the closest possible description of numerous historical events and concepts of the Ottoman era. Some concrete examples are given to indicate the complexity of bringing terms and notions of the Ottoman period into our language. It is therefore highlighted that there exists a need to treat the translations of Ottoman documents with the use of any necessary scientific tools available.