computers and Indology

[Anshuman Pandey]

On Thu, 7 May 1998, N. Ganesan wrote:

> 5) Font translations: With the touch of a button, the tyranny of script
> can become a thing of the past. Translations from Sanskrit, Tamil etc.,
> can provide the original text in native script and roman with diacritics
> eg., Saivagamas from Pondichery French Inst. can be provided in grantha,
> diacritical roman, nagari, etc., It will be easier to switch from one
> script to another from font-neutral files. For eg., a famous hindi novel
> into gujarati script, a malayalam work into tamil etc., can be done
> easily. Bilingual editions are possible.

This is already possible using 7 and 8 bit transliterated texts and TeX
packages. The only hinderance to full complicity is the lack of a
standardized transliteration scheme. ISO/TC46/SC2/WG12 is discussing this
standardization, which hopefully will result in a standard based on
current practice.

> 6) Historical dictionary: By loading all the texts in a particular
> language & appr. date of the composition, a dictionary
> of words and when it started its life in that language.

An expanded CDIAL, eh?

> 7) Saw elegant fonts for about 400 symbols used in Indus writings
> developed by Prof. Parpola. If used widely, many can suggest;
> may speed up the cracking the script, language.

Aid in decipherment? How?

Regards,
Anshuman Pandey