On 26/05/2004 13:25, Rick McGowan wrote:
Personally speaking, at this juncture, I usually yawn and hit the delete button when I see the word "Phoenician" on this list. The discussion has gone way past any sane argument.
However, Peter Kirk asked a question to which I have a response.
... we need to ask a more general question: should the
UTC encode scripts for which there is a (small, in this case)
demand but no technical justification?
Do you even have to ask this question? If so, I have to think you haven't been listening at all. There are technical justifications for the encoding, but you are either failing to listen to them, or are refusing to believe that some of the justifications are technical. I will not repeat any arguments here, I've really had enough Phoenician.
Rick, or anyone, maybe I have simply forgotten some of the issues because there has been so much noise. But I can honestly remember only one *technical* justification which has been put forward for separate encoding, which is the argument from legibility. And several people have agreed that this argument is insufficient on its own, although I accept that it does have some weight.
So I have an honest question. Can anyone, please, remind me of any technical arguments other than legibility for the separate encoding of Phoenician?
It's my personal opinion that yes, UTC *should* encode Phoenician precisely because there is a group of scholars and others who have indicated they desire its encoding and would use it, and there *are* technical justifications which appeal to those Phoenician proponents, ...
That is not an answer to my question. Let's rephrase it: If, for a hypothetical proposed script, there is no technical justification but only a user demand, should the UTC encode that script?
... even if you won't acknowledge them as such. It's apparent that one reason you won't acknowledge any technical issues is that you disagree on first principles and refuse to acknowledge any other needs or viewpoints than your own.
Rick, I think you must be confusing me with someone else, perhaps on another list as no one on this list, at least on my side of the argument, has shown this attitude. Perhaps you just haven't read many of my postings. I have clearly set forth *both sides* of the argument several times, and have looked for mediating positions. See for example my response to Ken Whistler sent about 22 hours ago, from which I quote:
Well, perhaps this is a way of finding an acceptable mediating position to put an end to the endless arguments in this thread. It may be a bit messy, like most compromises, but as it is feasible it is worthy of serious consideration. It should overcome the most serious objections of Semitic scholars etc to separate encoding of Phoenician...
-- Peter Kirk [EMAIL PROTECTED] (personal) [EMAIL PROTECTED] (work) http://www.qaya.org/
