Linguistic Issues In Encoding Sanskrit

by Peter M. Scharf and Malcolm D. Hyman

In Linguistic Issues in Encoding Sanskrit, Scharf and Hyman examine foundamental issues in the coding the natural language texts. The over-arching issue concerns the relation information selected for encoding bears to natural language structure. Should segments or features be encoded? What criteria should be used to contrast item selected for encoding ? The book stems from the recognition that current uses of information technology demand higher standards of encoding than the inherited systems in current use. Guided by visual factors, current encoding systems reproduce deficiencies inherent in traditional writing systems. Scharf and Hyman consider more relevant information-processing principles suitable for the contemporary use of computers for the manipulation of linguistic and textual data. The book focuses on Sanskrit, which is characterized by an extensive oral tradition, a highly phonetic orthography, and a copious literature.

About The Author:

Peter Scharf is an expert in Indian Linguistic traditions. After earning his doctorate in Sanskrit at the University of Pennsylvania and studying vyakarana in Varanasi, he taught Sanskrit at Brown University.
Malcom Hyman was an expert in classics and digital humanities. After earning his doctorate in classical philology at Brown University, he served as research fellow in digital projects in the history.