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The study of older stages of a language’s history can basically be described as either historical linguistics or philology. Historical linguists focus on language as such, i.e. phonology, grammar, lexicon etc., in ancient times, while philologists study ancient texts and manuscripts from various angles, which actually demands a good deal of linguistic knowledge as well. Also, it sometimes turns out that the linguist must delve deeply into philological issues, as the dating or localization of texts and manuscripts may be vague or disputed, not least because the language in preserved manuscripts may be the result of a complex creation process. The author of this paper has encountered a number of problematic cases when working within a project on the development of definite and indefinite articles in the Scandinavian languages.

First, the provincial law of Uppland in Sweden was given royal assent in 1296, but the conclusion must be that this version was a compilation of old, partly revised, and new paragraphs. This is in accordance with the preface of the law and clearly reflected in the varying use of the post-nominal definite article. As for the law of Jutland in Denmark, on the other hand, a more extensive use of the definite article in the very last part than in the main bulk of the text could be given a different explanation. Legal history scholars have argued that the latter chapters were not part of the original version of the law from 1241 but added later. Further, the Norwegian and Icelandic homily books are both dated to about 1200. However, this year can only be a terminus ante quem. Both books are collections of texts produced at very different points of time, which is noticeable in the language, e.g., the use of articles. Finally, the Old Swedish Speculum Regale, Konungastyrelsen, is a special case as it is only known, apart from a small fragment from the 15th century, from a printed version from 1634. Interestingly, the language nevertheless points to an original from the 14th century, according to some linguists the early 1300s. However, the content rather speaks for the middle of the century, and the use of the indefinite and definite articles does not contradict this dating.