Simultaneous action in drama

Abstract

Handling of simultaneous action in drama, in particular the encoding of cases where simultaneous action is marked with a printed brace

drama dramatic action brace
stage corresp

Encoding Instructions (new P5 version)

In situations where a dramatic text indicates typographically that a given stage direction applies to more than one speech or speaker (for instance, with a large brace grouping several speeches together), the WWP uses the method recommended in TEI, whereby each speech is given an xml:id value, and the stage element is given a corresp attribute whose value is the set of xml:id values for the speeches to which that stage direction refers. This encoding is demonstrated in section 10.2.6 of TEI P4; see example 1 for details.

However, we do not make any attempt to capture simultaneous action more generally, e.g. for cases where it’s clear conceptually that the action is simultaneous but the typography is ordinary:

 Mr. and Mrs. Higgins (_together_):

  Oh, we couldn’t possibly!

and

 Euthanasia (sadly):

  You’re just no good at games, Percy.

 Diffenbachia (speaking over her):

  He’s an _awful_ cricketer!

would not be marked up using the encoding described in this section.

Examples

Example 1 (from TEI P4): 
          <sp who="r.man">
            <speaker><persName>Mangan</persName></speaker> 
            <stage type="delivery">wildly</stage> 
            <p>Look here: I’m going to take off all my clothes.</p> 
            <stage type="action">he begins tearing off his coat.</stage> 
          </sp> <sp xml:id="s1" who="r.utt"> 
            <speaker><persName>Lady Utterword</persName></speaker>
            <p><persName>Mr Mangan!</persName></p> 
          </sp> 
          <sp xml:id="s2" who="r.sho"> 
            <speaker><persName>Captain Shotover</persName></speaker>
            <p>Whats that?</p> 
          </sp> 
          <sp xml:id="s3" who="r.hec"> 
            <speaker><persName>Hector</persName></speaker> 
            <p>Ha! ha! Do. Do.</p> 
          </sp> 
          <sp xml:id="s4" who="r.ell">
            <speaker><persName>Ellie</persName></speaker> 
            <p>Please dont.</p> 
          </sp> 
          <stage corresp="s1 s2 s3 s4" xml:id="d1" type="delivery">in consternation</stage> 
          <sp who="r.hus"> 
            <speaker><persName>Mrs. Hushabye</persName></speaker>
            <stage type="action">catching his arm and stopping him</stage>
            <p><persName>Alfred</persName>: for shame! Are you mad?</p> 
          </sp>