[KS] Re: romanization '99

[Frank Hoffmann]

Robert and others, just a short comment to your first point (copy below).
If the problem is computers and the fact that none of the standard fonts
include the brèves, and that we won't be able to convince the big movers in
the game to include such characters (*technically* seen we need 6 more
characters, not just one diacritical mark), then why not going easy here:
Let's continue to use McCune-Reischauer, but allow the use of a substitute
diacritical mark. To me this seems much better than an add-on letter,
because we do not need to make any changes (just think of all the library
catalogues, etc.).

These characters are included in all standard Macintosh and IBM/Windows fonts:

                       (Mac/U.S. keyboard*)    (IBM/U.S.-Intern. k.)

ô (o-circumflex)         --> Alt+I, then O        --> Alt+0244
ó (o-acute)              --> Alt+E, then O        --> Ctrl+Alt+O
ò (o-grave)              --> Alt+`, then O        --> Alt+0242
ö (o-umlaut)             --> Alt+U, then O        --> Ctrl+Alt+P

û (u-circumflex)         --> Alt+I, then U        --> Alt+0251
ú (u-acute)              --> Alt+E, then U        --> Ctrl+Alt+U
ù (u-grave)              --> Alt+`, then U        --> Alt+0249
ü (u-umlaut)             --> Alt+U, then U        --> Ctrl+Alt+Y

Ô (capital O-circumflex) --> Shift+Alt+J          --> Alt+0212
Ó (capital O-acute)      --> Shift+Alt+H       --> Shift+Ctrl+Alt+O
Ò (capital O-grave)      --> Shift+Alt+L          --> Alt+0210
Ö (capital O-umlaut)    --> Alt+U, then Shift+O -> Shift+Ctrl+Alt+P

Û (capital U-circumflex) --> Alt+I, then Shift+U  --> Alt+0219
Ú (capital U-acute)      --> Alt+Shift+;       --> Shift+Ctrl+Alt+U
Ù (capital U-grave)      --> Alt+`, then Shift+U  --> Alt+0217
Ü (capital U-umlaut)    --> Alt+U, then Shift+U -> Shift+Ctrl+Alt+Y

*) The input method varies depending on the active keyboard driver.

As for the conversion FROM Korean TO McCune-Reischauer, every programmer
can write a program that automates such a conversion. This could be
perfectionized by including a dictionary with exceptional terms -- e.g.,
"Seoul" and other geographical names. It's a simple task. (The other way
around, I agree, won't work -- but who would need that?)  The fact that I
have not seen such a program (have you?), however, makes me think that
there might not be any need for it. Is it just an argument that comes in
handy? If not, if there really is a need for this one-to-one conversion,
maybe Professor Lee or someone else on this list can explain this, and give
a concrete example? Again, the automated conversion from Korean to
McCune-Reischauer is technically no problem. I'd like to understand who
needs the ability to convert transcribed text to Han'gul?

Just my two cents worth ...

Frank



>1. Keep the McCune-Reischauer (MR) system for proper nouns and other
>general/popular uses, but adopt two of the modifications considered in a
>symposium on romanization held at the University of Hawaii in 1980: changing
>the breve over "O" and "U" to an additional letter ("e" or "w") or to a more
>commonly used diacritic mark (I recommend the circumflex) and replacing the
>apostrophe for aspirated consonants with an "h" (Austerlitz, Robert, et al.
>(1980) "Report on Workshop Conference on Korean Romanization," Korean
>Studies 4: 111-126).  These two changes will go along way to removing
>complaints about MR being difficult to use on computers without compromising
>the phonetic and aesthetic principles of the system that have made it
>popular for 60 years.  Use of the circumflex in place of the breve is
>already widespread as is use of "e" with "O" and "U."

       ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Frank Hoffmann * 1961 Columbia Pike #42 * Arlington, VA 22204 * USA
E-MAIL: hoffmann at fas.harvard.edu
W W W : http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~hoffmann/


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