Decorative capitalization

Abstract

Decorative capitalization should be encoded with hi, with an type attribute if categorization is useful.

decoration capital letters, distinctive ornament
hi type dic

Encoding Instructions (new P5 version)

The WWP encodes oversized or decorative initial capital letters using hi type="dic", regardless of their ornamentation or lack thereof. We do not record the size of the letter, the number of lines it indents, or any details of its decoration.

Indentation of subsequent lines which results from the size of the initial capital should be ignored; the lines should be encoded as if no indentation were present.

If the ornamentation is representational rather than abstract it should be encoded using figure, following the same criteria as for other figures. The figure element should precede the initial letter, which should also be transcribed separately. The letter should not be transcribed within text in figure, since it is already transcribed in the main text, but it should be described in the figDesc. See example 1.

Where letters following the dropped initial capital are also capitalized, they will be encoded using <hi rend="case(allcaps)">, following the WWP’s guidelines for transcribing words in capital letters.The content of this element should be entered in lower case, so that when printed without any highlighting the word is normally capitalized. See example 2.

Examples

An ornate initial T on the word The, surrounded by small goats carrying a banner which reads Amor vincit omnia.

        <figure>
          <figDesc>A large initial capital letter <quote>T</quote>,
            surrounded by goats carrying a banner reading <quote>Amor
              vincit omnia</quote>.</figDesc>
          <text xml:id="TR98765-43"><body><p>Amor vincit omnia</p></body></text>
        </figure>
        <hi type="dic">T</hi>he … </p>

An ornate initial O followed by an ordinary capital N.

ONce upon a time...
<hi type="dic">O</hi><hi rend="case(allcaps)">n</hi>ce upon a time …