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[#29] Working on transcription theory of Maya signs
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3 changes: 2 additions & 1 deletion maya/linguistics.sty
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Expand Up @@ -2,7 +2,8 @@
\ProvidesPackage{maya/linguistics}[Package for all kinds of linguistics]
\RequirePackage{xspace}

\newcommand{\syllable}[1]{\textbf{\expandafter\MakeLowercase\expandafter{#1}}}
\newcommand{\transliteration}[1]{\textbf{#1}}
\newcommand{\syllabogram}[1]{\textbf{\expandafter\MakeLowercase\expandafter{#1}}}
\newcommand{\logogram}[1]{\textbf{\expandafter\MakeUppercase\expandafter{#1}}}
\newcommand{\grapheme}[1]{$\langle\textrm{\expandafter{#1}}\rangle$}
\newcommand{\glottalstop}{’}
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8 changes: 8 additions & 0 deletions references.bib
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Expand Up @@ -214,6 +214,14 @@ @article{houstoncoe2003
year = {2003}
}

@book{macrivail2009,
author = {Macri, Martha J. and Vail, Gabrielle},
title = {The New Catalog of Maya Hieroglyphs: Volume 2: The Codical Texts},
publisher = {University of Oklahoma Press},
year = {2009},
}


@book{crystal2010,
author = {Crystal, David},
title = {The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Language},
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95 changes: 73 additions & 22 deletions terminology/terminology.tex
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\begin{document}
\chapter{Terminology}
TODO intro?

\section{Grapheme}
\textcquote[204]{crystal2010}{Graphemes are the smallest units in a writing system capable of
causing a contrast in meaning.}
Expand All @@ -18,7 +19,7 @@ \section{Graph and allograph}
underlying identity of the grapheme\elide
When graphs are analyzed as variants of a grapheme, they are known as \emph{allographs}.}
The Maya script uses a lot of allographs.
For example, the syllable \syllable{u} can be written in many ways all having the same meaning
For example, the syllable \syllabogram{u} can be written in many ways all having the same meaning
(\Cref{fig:terminology-grapheme-u-allographs}).
\begin{center}
\includegraphics[width=\textwidth,keepaspectratio]{img/grapheme-u-allographs}
Expand All @@ -37,28 +38,28 @@ \section{Hieroglyph and glyph}
\emph{Glyphs} can represent a syllable, a single word or even a whole phrase
(\cite[23]{macrilooper2003}).

For example, the glyph (\Cref{fig:terminology-glyphs-utzapaw}) consists of the
For example, the glyph (\Cref{fig:terminology-glyph-utzapaw}) consists of the
graphemes \grapheme{u}, \grapheme{tz\glottalstop{}a} and \grapheme{wa} representing the phrase
\mayan{u tz\glottalstop{}apaw}, ``she/he erects it''.
% LTeX: enabled=false
The glyph (\Cref{fig:terminology-glyphs-ixwinikhaabajaw}) consisting of the
The glyph (\Cref{fig:terminology-glyph-ixwinikhaabajaw}) consisting of the
graphemes \grapheme{ix}, \grapheme{winikhaab} and \grapheme{ajaw}
and represents the noble title \mayan{ix winikhaab ajaw}, ``Ruler Lady Winikhaab''.
\begin{figure}
\centering
\subfloat[][]{
\centering
\includegraphics[height=\glyphblockheight]{img/glyphs-utzapaw}
\label{fig:terminology-glyphs-utzapaw}
\label{fig:terminology-glyph-utzapaw}
}
\subfloat[][]{
\centering
\includegraphics[height=\glyphblockheight]{img/glyphs-ixwinikhaabajaw}
\label{fig:terminology-glyphs-ixwinikhaabajaw}
\label{fig:terminology-glyph-ixwinikhaabajaw}
}
\caption[Sample glyphs]{Sample glyphs: graphemes are distinguished by different colors.\\
\subref{fig:terminology-glyphs-utzapaw} \mayan{u tz\glottalstop{}apaw};
\subref{fig:terminology-glyphs-ixwinikhaabajaw} \mayan{ix winikhaab ajaw}
\subref{fig:terminology-glyph-utzapaw} \mayan{u tz\glottalstop{}apaw};
\subref{fig:terminology-glyph-ixwinikhaabajaw} \mayan{ix winikhaab ajaw}
(\authordrawings).}
\end{figure}
% LTeX: enabled=true
Expand All @@ -73,6 +74,10 @@ \section{Glyph block and collocation}
the arrangement of texts into rows and columns}.
\todo{Image/drawing which shows rows and columns of glyphs}

\section{Logogram and syllabogram}
A logogram is a sign which represents a word whereas a syllabogram is a sign which
represents a syllable.

\section{Theory in decipherment}
\textcquote[2]{zender2017}{The type of writing system must be known}.
As Johannes Friedrich already stated:
Expand All @@ -81,7 +86,6 @@ \section{Theory in decipherment}
In those cases where one has absolutely no possibility available to link the unknown to
something known, \elide no real or lasting result can be accomplished}


\subsection{Script typology}
For successful decipherment process, it is crucial to know the fundamental structure of the signs.
The type of the script can either be alphabetic, syllabic, logographic or a combination of them.
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -393,10 +397,10 @@ \subsection{Problems and limitations}
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''
(\Cref{fig:terminology-glyphs-pas}) which is built from
grapheme \grapheme{chan} ``sky'' (\Cref{fig:terminology-glyphs-chan}),
grapheme \grapheme{k\glottalstop} ``k\glottalstop{}in'' (\Cref{fig:terminology-glyphs-kin}) and
grapheme \grapheme{kab} ``earth'' (\Cref{fig:terminology-glyphs-kab}).
(\Cref{fig:terminology-glyph-pas}) which is built from
grapheme \grapheme{chan} ``sky'' (\Cref{fig:terminology-glyph-chan}),
grapheme \grapheme{k\glottalstop} ``k\glottalstop{}in'' (\Cref{fig:terminology-glyph-kin}) and
grapheme \grapheme{kab} ``earth'' (\Cref{fig:terminology-glyph-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 own phonetic value and meaning.
Expand All @@ -409,33 +413,80 @@ \subsection{Problems and limitations}
\subfloat[][]{
\centering
\includegraphics[height=\glyphblockheight]{img/grapheme-PAS}
\label{fig:terminology-glyphs-pas}
\label{fig:terminology-glyph-pas}
}
\subfloat[][]{
\centering
\includegraphics[height=\glyphblockheight]{img/grapheme-CHAN}
\label{fig:terminology-glyphs-chan}
\label{fig:terminology-glyph-chan}
}
\subfloat[][]{
\centering
\includegraphics[height=\glyphblockheight]{img/grapheme-KIN}
\label{fig:terminology-glyphs-kin}
\label{fig:terminology-glyph-kin}
}
\subfloat[]{
\centering
\includegraphics[height=\glyphblockheight]{img/grapheme-KAB}
\label{fig:terminology-glyphs-kab}
\label{fig:terminology-glyph-kab}
}
\caption[Grapheme \grapheme{pas}]{Grapheme \grapheme{pas}. Even though it consists of three
other graphemes, it represents a self-contained grapheme with separate phonetic and
meaning (\cite[139]{prager2018}).
\subref{fig:terminology-glyphs-pas} \grapheme{pas} ``dawn'';
\subref{fig:terminology-glyphs-chan} \grapheme{chan} ``sky'';
\subref{fig:terminology-glyphs-kin} \grapheme{k\glottalstop{}in} ``sun'';
\subref{fig:terminology-glyphs-kab} \grapheme{kab} ``earth'' (\authordrawings).}
\subref{fig:terminology-glyph-pas} \grapheme{pas} ``dawn'';
\subref{fig:terminology-glyph-chan} \grapheme{chan} ``sky'';
\subref{fig:terminology-glyph-kin} \grapheme{k\glottalstop{}in} ``sun'';
\subref{fig:terminology-glyph-kab} \grapheme{kab} ``earth'' (\authordrawings).}
\end{figure}
% LTeX: enabled=true

\section{Notation of logograms and syllables}
\cite{jamesjusteson1984}
\section{Transcription of Maya signs}
This work uses the long-standing convention for transcribing Maya signs (\cite{jamesjusteson1984}).

\begin{itemize}
\item Transcriptions of logograms are written in uppercase, bold letters.
For example, \thompson{561} (\cref{fig:terminology-glyph-chan}) would be written as \logogram{CHAN}.
\item Graphemes which represent syllables aka syllabograms are represented in
lowercase, bold letters.
For example, \thompson{589} (\cref{fig:terminology-t589-t607}) would be written as \syllabogram{ho}.
\item Roman parenthesis enclose parts of a sign's transliteration which are not pronounced.
For example, the name \emph{Pakal} when written with syllabograms only would be transliterated
% LTeX: enabled=false
\syllabogram{pa}-\syllabogram{ka}-\syllabogram{l(a)}.
% LTeX: enabled=true
\item Question marks are placed after a transliterated syllabogram or a
logogram when the reading is questionable or uncertain.
\item Signs which do not appear in the text, but are reconstructed
(e.g.\ contextually or by comparison of parallel texts), are preceded by an asterisk.
\item Fused signs are written in their-order of reading.
\item Signs with infixed graphemes are written in their-order of reading and the infix is placed
in square brackets.
\item Signs of unknown value are either represented by
\begin{itemize}
\item Thomson code or
\item Codes of the revised version of Macri and Looper (\cite{macrilooper2003}) and
Macri and Vail (\cite{macrivail2009})
\item Catalog codes from ``Text Database and Dictionary of Classic Mayan'' (TWKM).
\end{itemize}
\end{itemize}

Examples:
% LTeX: enabled=false
\begin{itemize}
\item Logograms and syllabograms:
\transliteration{\logogram{CHAK}-\logogram{BALAM}-\syllabogram{ma}} (puma)
\item Syllabograms only:
\transliteration{\syllabogram{pa}-\syllabogram{ka}-\syllabogram{l(a)}} (Maya ruler ``Pakal'')
\item Unknown sign with Thompson number:
\transliteration{\syllabogram{u}-\thompson{283}-\syllabogram{ba}}
\item Uncertain reading of signs:
\item Reconstructed not existing:
\transliteration{\syllabogram{ta}-\logogram{IX}?-*\logogram{AJAW}}
\end{itemize}
% LTeX: enabled=true

\subsection{Complex vowels}

\subsection{Narrow versus broad transcription}

\end{document}

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