[DCRM-L] question about transcription of uncial font

[Schneider, Nina]

Thanks, Matthew. This makes sense and very similar to Jessie’s suggestion too . I appreciate the advice!

Have a good one!

Nina

From: DCRM-L [mailto:dcrm-l-bounces at lib.byu.edu] On Behalf Of Matthew C. Haugen
Sent: Thursday, February 11, 2021 12:15 PM
To: DCRM Users' Group
Subject: Re: [DCRM-L] question about transcription of uncial font

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<mailto: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<mailto:nschneider at humnet.ucla.edu>
http://www.clarklibrary.ucla.edu/





--
Matthew C. Haugen
Rare Book Cataloger | Columbia University Libraries
matthew.haugen at columbia.edu<mailto:matthew.haugen at columbia.edu> | 212-851-2451 | he/him/his
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://listserver.lib.byu.edu/pipermail/dcrm-l/attachments/20210211/91b04e54/attachment-0001.htm>