[DCRM-L] question about transcription of uncial font

[Matthew C. Haugen]

Hi Nina,

My vote would be to normalize capitalization of a single-case font like
this, providing caps in the expected positions, as I would for something
printed in all capitals in a roman typeface, or when romanizing a script
that doesn't indicate case, like Hebrew. DCRM(B) 0G2 doesn't cover this
situation exactly but seems close: Convert letters to uppercase or
lowercase according to the rules for capitalization in AACR2, Appendix A. I
think an explanatory note would be helpful but I don't think brackets are
necessary. It appears that this modern font differentiates I/J and U/V and
W letterforms so that usual wrinkle in case conversion shouldn't be an
issue.

Example from DCRM(B) 0G2:
LES OEVVRES MORALES DE PLVTARQVE, TRANSLATEES DE GREC EN FRANÇOIS, REVEVES
ET corrigees en plusieurs passages par le translateur

Transcription: Les oeuures morales de Plutarque / translatees de grec en
françois, reueues et corrigees en plusieurs passages par le translateur

Matthew

On Thu, Feb 11, 2021 at 2:57 PM Schneider, Nina <nschneider at humnet.ucla.edu>
wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> I’m working on a bibliography and would like to transcribe the title. It
> is printed in Samson uncial (as is all the text in the book), and has no
> upper- or lower-case letters (or font size changes that allow a best guess).
>
> Although it’s a modern font (designed by Victor Hammer, cut by Rudolf
> Koch’s son), this is the first time I’ve tried to transcribe uncial and I’m
> stumped. There’s no guidance in DCRM(B) or in McKerrow, etc. AMREM says to
> use the capitalization rules in AACR2R (app. A) for capitalization.
>
> I’m torn between three choices for transcription: all caps, all lowercase,
> or caps in the expected positions but enclosed in square brackets. An
> explanation of the font will be given, but any suggestions for actual
> transcription would be much appreciated.
>
>
> Thank you!
> Nina
>
>
>
> +---------------
> Nina M. Schneider
> Rare Books Librarian
> William Andrews Clark Memorial Library, UCLA
> 2520 Cimarron Street
> Los Angeles, CA  90018
> (310) 794-5780
>
> nschneider at humnet.ucla.edu
> http://www.clarklibrary.ucla.edu/
>
>
>
>


-- 
Matthew C. Haugen
Rare Book Cataloger | Columbia University Libraries
matthew.haugen at columbia.edu | 212-851-2451 | he/him/his
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