Kenneth Whistler wrote on 06/26/2003 08:54:08 PM: > Actually, in casting around for the solution to the problem of > introduction of format controls creating defective combining > character sequences, it finally occurred to me that: > > U+034F COMBINING GRAPHEME JOINER > > has the requisite properties.
This seems far less problematic than either RLM or WJ, since it was decided that it functions between bases, but has no defined function between combining marks. But John's objections to this whole approach have validity. > I don't understand this contention. There is no reason, in principle, > why this has to be surfaced to end users of Biblical Hebrew... Your arguments in this regard, Ken, assume that the needs of Biblical Hebrew users are going to be addressed by dedicated engineering of all the software tools that they use with BH text. This includes rendering systems and fonts, but also apps, input methods, various kinds of text services... I think that's a bit unrealistic. Is something like Word (say) likely to be written to provide correct processing of CGJ (or whatever control is used) for BH, and do so in a way that is completely transparent to the user? It might be theoretically possible, but it's not terribly likely. (Perhaps just slightly more than is the likelihood that UTC will just revise the combining classes? :-) > Nope, just insert CGJ in *all* the sequences. That blocks all reordering > of such sequences, and you're done. And I suppose this is considered elegant, right? > > and adds another level of complexity to using > > what are already some of the most complicated fonts in existence (how many > > fonts do you know that come with 18 page user manuals?). > > That, of course, I am in no position to be able to judge. Having reviewed the doc in question and being familiar with user manuals for other fonts, and can assure you it's quite unusual -- surreal, almost -- to see a user doc with the level of technical detail this one has, and by necessity, not choice. I just have a hard time believing that 50 years from now our grandchildren won't look back, "What were they thinking? So it took them a couple of years to figure out canonical ordering and normalization; why on earth didn't they work that out first before setting things in stone, rather than saddling us with this hodgepodge of ad hoc workarounds? How short sighted." As Rick said, I know this will get shot down; don't bother telling me so. - Peter --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Peter Constable Non-Roman Script Initiative, SIL International 7500 W. Camp Wisdom Rd., Dallas, TX 75236, USA Tel: +1 972 708 7485
