[sword-devel] Re: OSIS 2.0.1 modules updated

Fri, 19 Mar 2004 09:02:22 +1000

I would not. I would consider the choice of how Jesus' words are 
rendered a rendering issue. I would consider the inclusion or omission 
of quotation marks a translational issue not to be mucked with by the 
encoding.

> AND if you use the "n"
>attribute suggestion I would suggest that the following be encoded.
>
><q who="Jesus" n='"' sID="abcd"/>body of the quote<q eID="abdc" 
>n='"'/>
>
>It would be up to the rendering process to determine if the quotes
>should be used or not in conjunction with the decision to render red
>letters.

I disagree. The rendering process should never add any punctuation due 
to the q element when the n="" parameter is specified. The rendering 
process should be free to decide how to render Jesus words , i. e. the 
same as normal text, red letters, bold, dark purple, or anything 
reasonable. It would not bother me in the slightest to have people 
ignore the q elements as given above entirely upon rendition, but if 
they do use them, it would be incorrect to generate any punctuation 
from those markers when n="" is specified.

>Michael, from your post, I suspect that you are working on a Rainbow
>Bible.  For that case I would suggest that you encode a second 
>document
>that contains a number of grain level range references that indicate 
>the
>logical concept that results in the coloring.  This document would 
>most
>likely look a lot like a commentary and make use of the annotateRef
>attribute with translation/version specific references.

I am not working on a rainbow Bible, but if I were, I would not encode 
it in OSIS. I agree that coloring should be left to an external 
document, just like user notes and highlights. If done well, such an 
external document could be used with multiple translations, at least 
in the same language. In the mean time, I am quite busy enough without 
even thinking of a rainbow Bible.

I am working on several projects that give me greater than usual 
interest in OSIS.

I am the president of Rainbow Missions, Inc., translation sponsors of 
the World English Bible and World English Bible: Messianic Edition 
(also known as the Hebrew Names Version). See http://eBible.org/web/ 
and http://eBible.org/hnv/ for two of the five Bibles we distribute in 
OSIS format.

I am a member of Evangel Bible Translators (http://EvangelBible.org), 
and the one who sets the lead in terms of Bible translation technology 
and standards that are used within this organization. See 
http://ebt.cx/translation/gbf.htm for some open source software to 
generate OSIS texts.

I am seconded to SIL Papua New Guinea branch, and I am currently 
working on developing some Bible typesetting solutions for use with 
many minority languages, among other things, like consulting with 
Bible translators. See http://eBible.org/mpj/.

In times past, I have worked as a senior software developer in 
industry.

I say all of that not to brag or try to exalt myself, but to let you 
know where I'm coming from. I live, work, and breathe Bible 
translation. I live among people for whom we are currently translating 
the Holy Bible. I am passionate about it.

I like the idea of a idea of a standard XML Bible text interchange 
format that fully and accurately encodes all aspects of the content of 
Bible texts. (It need not encode all of the "extras" of a "study 
Bible," but it must accurately represent all of the text, including 
punctuation). I think that is necessary for the work I do on several 
fronts. OSIS not elegant at all, but it is almost usable to meet this 
great need. If it fails as a standard, it will at least provide 
inspiration for something better. I am watching with great interest to 
see if you are willing and able to work with those who need such a 
standard the most.

Quotation punctuation is part of the translated text. Don't render the 
translator's work away.

Rev. Michael Paul Johnson
Servant of Jesus Christ
http://eBible.org/mpj/   mpj@eBible.org
Phone: 011+675 7374161
SIL BOX 421
UKARUMPA 444
EASTERN HIGHLANDS PROVINCE
PAPUA NEW GUINEA

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