Textual_criticism

When comparing different documents, or "witnesses", of a single, original text, the observed differences are called variant readings, or simply variants or readings. It is not always apparent which single variant represents the author's original work. The process of textual criticism seeks to explain how each variant may have entered the text, either by accident (duplication or omission) or intention (harmonization or censorship), as scribes or supervisors transmitted the original author's text by copying it. The textual critic's task, therefore, is to sort through the variants, eliminating those most likely to be un-original, hence establishing a "critical text", or critical edition, that is intended to best approximate the original. At the same time, the critical text should document variant readings, so the relation of extant witnesses to the reconstructed original is apparent to a reader of the critical edition. In establishing the critical text, the textual critic considers both "external" evidence (the age, provenance, and affiliation of each witness) and "internal" or "physical" considerations (what the author and scribes, or printers, were likely to have done).

Question: Who is in charge of sifting through intentional or accidental variants?
Answer: textual critic

Question: What are variant readings?
Answer: When comparing different documents, or "witnesses", of a single, original text, the observed differences are called variant readings

Question: What does a critical text do for a piece of writing?
Answer: intended to best approximate the original

Question: What is a variant reading?
Answer: When comparing different documents, or "witnesses", of a single, original text, the observed differences

Question: What is a variant or reading?
Answer: When comparing different documents, or "witnesses", of a single, original text, the observed differences are called variant readings

Question: What is a variant reading?
Answer: comparing different documents, or "witnesses", of a single, original text

Question: What is the relation of a critical edition to an original text?
Answer: is intended to best approximate the original

Question: What two things are crucial to the critical text when it is being written?
Answer: relation of extant witnesses to the reconstructed original is apparent to a reader

Question: What documents are necessary in criticizing text?
Answer: variant readings

Question: Text can either be included by intention or what?
Answer: by accident

Question: What should a critical text accomplish?
Answer: best approximate the original. At the same time, the critical text should document variant readings

Question: What does a textual critic make after going through a piece of writing?
Answer: "critical text"

Question: What should a critic accomplish with the text?
Answer: eliminating those most likely to be un-original

Question: What evidence is used as a rubric for critics?
Answer: both "external" evidence (the age, provenance, and affiliation of each witness) and "internal" or "physical" considerations

Question: How would a critical edition be determined?
Answer: sort through the variants, eliminating those most likely to be un-original