OK, let's use this as a tentative working definition. But first we need to clarify: how vast is a vast majority? As a hypothetical (I think) example, suppose that a community of 100 Chinese-speaking Jews is found which writes Chinese in Hebrew script, mainly for liturgical and religious purposes. Quite a tiny majority of the users of Chinese. Is this using Hebrew script as a cipher (obviously not one-to-one!) for Chinese? Or is it a recognised use of a different script? Then, how is the use of Theban script different?
I think there is a difference between adapting an existing script to write a language normally written in another script, and inventing a script specifically for that purpose. That is, there is a difference between using a writing system as a cipher and a cipher per se. So the Hebrew script is going to be encoded because it is used for the Hebrew language and others that have developed distinct identities in that script (e.g, Ladino, Yiddish). So your hypothetical Chinese Jewish community is in the same situation as your Masons: they are using an existing script to write a language more commonly written in another script. Since both scripts are legitimately encoded, it is a matter of implementation whether this community uses one or the other to encode their texts. Presumably, they will use whichever is easier.
John Hudson
Tiro Typeworks www.tiro.com Vancouver, BC [EMAIL PROTECTED]
I sometimes think that good readers are as singular,
and as awesome, as great authors themselves.
- JL Borges
