diff --git a/terminology/terminology.tex b/terminology/terminology.tex index 5bcff53..c4d70f6 100644 --- a/terminology/terminology.tex +++ b/terminology/terminology.tex @@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ \section{Grapheme} The term \emph{sign} and \emph{grapheme} are considered to be equivalent and interchangeable throughout this work. -\section{Allograph} +\section{Graph and allograph} \textcquote[204]{crystal2010}{Graphemes are abstract units which may adopt a variety of forms \elide Each of these possible forms is known as \emph{graphs}\elide There is a vast amount of physical variation in the shapes of graphs that does not affect the @@ -94,38 +94,56 @@ \section{Cataloging of signs} (e.g. A for animals, M for signs with hands etc.) whereas the third digit is an arbitrary number sequencing the different graphemes. -Mayawoerterbuch (classicmayan.org) +TODO Mayawoerterbuch (classicmayan.org) \subsection{Problems and limitations} -Having all these sign catalogs are huge help to systematically analyze the Maya writing system. -Identifying graphemes are crucial to decipher the meaning of the signs. -One way to do this, is by segmentation of the texts into distinct graphemes. +Having all these sign catalogs are a huge help to systematically analyze any writing system. +It is especially important when the writing system cannot be read. +As one could see above, researchers assign codes or numbers to address individual or +even groups of signs. +Therefore, identifying graphemes are crucial to systematically build up a sign catalog. +Yet, determine them in an unknown writing system is challenging. +One way to approach this, is by segmenting the texts into distinct \emph{graphs} . Researchers hereby followed the assumption that graphemes of a script are considered the same if they resemble each other in more features than either resembles any other. \textcquote[34]{knorozov1967}{Two [signs] are identical when they are both composed of the same graphic elements\elide, whose drawing and disposition is sufficiently similar to allow them to -be identified.} +be identified}. However, if there is no control in terms of linguistics and content, -identifying graphemes can be challenging and even be problematic. +this approach can be problematic. +Three major issues can occur when segmenting signs from an unknown writing system: +\begin{itemize} + \item Allographs are interpreted as separate graphemes. + \item Graphemes with distinct phonemes and meanings are interpreted as allographs. + \item Complex graphemes are split into its sub-graphemic components. +\end{itemize} Especially in writing systems with many allographs like the Maya hieroglyphs, allographs are sometimes not recognized and, instead, are interpreted as separate graphemes. -Another problem is that some signs are considered to be separate graphemes, -but, as later progress in decipherment has shown, were actually allographs. -Eric Thompson (\cite[12\psq]{thompson1962catalog}) also recognized the method of segmentation as +Another problem is that some signs are considered to be allographs because of their similarities, +but, as later progress in decipherment has shown, were actually distinct graphemes. +Eric Thompson (\cite[12\psq]{thompson1962catalog}) recognized the method of segmentation as a potential source of false conclusions. David H. Kelley (\cite{kelley1962}) showed in his review of Thompson's sign catalog that some T-numbers represent more than one grapheme (e.g. TODO) and some T-numbers are allographs of another (e.g. TODO). - - - - - - -PAS example for over-splitting (Tikal Temple IV, Lintel 2 A7) - +Despite merging unrelated graphs or separating allographs which actually belong to each other, +the Maya writing system also utilized graphemes which consist of two or more subgraphemic +components. +Those complex graphemes might not be recognized and therefore only its components are registered +as graphemes. +One of those complex graphemes, is the grapheme \grapheme{pas} ``dawn'' +(\ref{fig:terminology-glyphs-pas}) which is built from +grapheme \grapheme{chan} ``sky'' (\ref{fig:terminology-glyphs-chan}), +grapheme \grapheme{k\glottalstop} ``k\glottalstop{}in'' (\ref{fig:terminology-glyphs-kin}) and +grapheme \grapheme{kab} ``earth'' (\ref{fig:terminology-glyphs-kab}). +It can be found, for example, on Tikal Temple IV, Lintel 2 A7. +All three components are graphemes themselves, but in combination they form the complex +grapheme \grapheme{pas} with its phoneme and meaning. +This grapheme doesn't show up in Thompson's sign catalog. +Later revisions and new catalogs like Macri and Looper (\cite{macrilooper2003}) added it as +separate grapheme and assigned it the code ZX2. \begin{figure} \centering \begin{subfigure}[b]{0.24\textwidth} @@ -158,8 +176,4 @@ \subsection{Problems and limitations} (\cite[139]{prager2018}).} \end{figure} - -\section{Characteristics in Maya writing} - - \end{document}