From c8333c9876287410c63668a56e4994da6a199802 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Sebastian Bauer <75776786+yax-lakam-tuun@users.noreply.github.com> Date: Fri, 19 May 2023 13:39:32 +0000 Subject: [PATCH] [#29] Writing about catalogs --- terminology/terminology.tex | 38 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++-------- 1 file changed, 30 insertions(+), 8 deletions(-) diff --git a/terminology/terminology.tex b/terminology/terminology.tex index 71dc147..3d96424 100644 --- a/terminology/terminology.tex +++ b/terminology/terminology.tex @@ -71,9 +71,35 @@ \section{Glyph block and collocation} the arrangement of texts into rows and columns}. \todo{Image/drawing which shows rows and columns of glyphs} -\section{Analysis of an unknown writing system} -Without linguistic decipherment, one of the first steps to analyze an unknown writing system, is -to distinguish distinctive graphemes and their allographs. +\section{Cataloging of signs} +One of the first steps to analyze an unknown writing system, is to identify distinctive graphemes +and their allographs. +In the past, several sign catalogs have been proposed. +Yuri Knorozov created a sign catalog in his work (\cite[109\psq]{knorozov1967}). +William E. Gates' and G\"unter Zimmermann's catalogs (\cite{gates1931}, \cite{zimmermann1956}) are +based on the Maya codices but did not include the signs from the inscriptions +(\cite[4]{thompson1962catalog}). +Eric Thompson extended G\"unter Zimmermann's idea and categorized all signs into affixes, main signs +(including animal heads) and portrait signs (\cite[4]{thompson1962catalog}). +His catalog covers the Maya codices, the monumental inscriptions and other writings +(e.g.\ ceramics, vessels, bones). +All catalogs assigned a number to each sign/grapheme. +To distinguish between the different catalog systems, it is common to use a prefix in +conjunction with the number. +So, for example, all Thompson numbers are labeled with ``T'', e.g. \thompson{510}. + +In 2003, Martha J. Macri and Matthew G. Looper proposed a new system which assigns all grapheme +a code consisting of three digits (\cite[21,25]{macrilooper2003}). +The first two digits specifies the category of the sign +(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) + + +\subsection{Problems and limitations} + + researchers 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 @@ -82,12 +108,8 @@ \section{Analysis of an unknown writing system} One way to do this is the segmentation of texts into distinct graphemes. Further distribution analyzes confirms the connection and identification. -\subsection{Catalogs} -Thompson (T-numbers) -Macri/Looper -Mayawoerterbuch (classicmayan.org) -\section{Problems and limitations} + However, if there is no control in terms linguistics and content, identifying graphemes in an unknown writing system can be challenging.