contaminatio

Contaminatio is a term from Latin meaning a mixing or pollution. In literary and rhetorical contexts it refers to the practice of combining elements from multiple sources—such as ideas, passages, or stylistic features—into a single discourse or text. The result is a hybrid that borrows authority or prestige from the referenced authorities, sometimes transparently and sometimes without explicit attribution.

In rhetoric and stylistics, contaminatio describes a technique where a writer or speaker blends material from different authors to create a unified voice or to exhibit breadth of learning. The device can serve various aims: to strengthen an argument by citing diverse authorities, to imitate or parody different styles, or to produce a composite effect that surpasses the reach of a single source. In some cases, the blending is explicit and deliberate; in others, it may arise unintentionally through synthesis or editorial practice.

In textual criticism and manuscript culture, contaminatio can also refer to the unintentional or intentional blending of quotations or passages from different sources within a single work. This can complicate questions of authorship, attribution, and authenticity. Scholarly discussions generally treat contaminatio as a phenomenon of intertextuality and poetics rather than a single fixed technique, noting both its rhetorical utility and its potential to obscure original voice or mislead readers about source origins.

See also: intertextuality, quotation, authorship attribution.