Re: VMs: Latin abbreviations

[Gabriel Landini <G.Landini@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Gordon et al,
On Thursday 10 July 2003 14:48, Gordon Rugg wrote:
> I think the key issue here is whether the shorthand method is unambiguous
> or not. 

Maybe the existence of Cappelli's dictionary has something to do with it? :-)

> If the same symbol is only used in places where there's no possible
> ambiguity

They are obviously not, and that is the poin I am trying to make.
<n> means different things depending where it is and whether it is preceded by 
<i> or by <ii>, etc. However, when you estimate entropy, this does not count 
at all, as it is the same character. Therefore, either:
you know the position rule and you read them differently, or
you don't and think that they are all the same (hence apparent redundancy).

> more characters. In English, for instance, it would be possible to use the
> same character (say, "9") to represent both the sound we transcribe as "h"
[...]

Yes, sure, but that seems to be not the rule with latin abbreviations. They 
are *not* a single type of abbreviation (Cappelli uses classification of 6 
types).
I think that there is a case to suspect some position-dependent coding given 
that there are so easily detectable suffixes and prefixes.

> A study by Susan Kelliher
> found that shorthand secretaries were unable to read most of their own
> shorthand records a few months after writing them - the shorthand was being
> read partly as script, but also partly as aide-memoire, and after a few
> months much of the secretary's memory of what had been said was gone.

Are current shorthand method comparable to what we are talking about?

> Gordon (who does not believe that VMS "9" is really likely to represent "h"
> and "ng", just in case anyone's wondering...)

:-) That's fine. I do not know whether seemingly redundant abbreviated 
language is what the vms is about, but having bought Cappelli some time ago, 
I think it is a shame not to bring the subject up.

Just don't take my word, try to get a copy from a library and see for yourself 
how arbitrary these can be. There was one something like iiii  (call me 
redundant!) for "in integrum". Would you be able to guess it?

Cheers,

Gabriel




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