Overlapping and fragmented elements

Encoding Instructions (new P5 version)

The WWP frequently encounters instances of overlapping textual features, and we use the mechanisms provided by TEI to deal with them. This entry deals with overlapping said, quote, l, and lg elements.

It is important to note from the start that the WWP’s nesting of said and quote with l and lg is for practical purposes only and does not express any analytical perspective on the relationship of these things (for instance, on whether a speaker is quoting a poem or being quoted in a poem).

The TEI provides the part attribute for l and lg for use in fragmenting and linking these elements to avoid overlap. The part attribute may have the following values:

"I" for "initial"

"M" for "medial"

"F" for "final"

The TEI also provides for more complex cases the next and prev attributes on l, said, and quote. These require that each element fragment be given an xml:id to which the next and prev attributes can refer. The TEI also provides for a cit attribute on quote, such that if the source of the quote is known, that information can be given.

        <lg type="verse.para">
          <l>Hence my obeisance, my devotion hence,</l>
          <l part="I">And hence my transport.</l>
        </lg>
        <lg type="verse.para">
          <l part="F">Nor should this, perchance,</l>
          <l>Pass unrecorded, that I still had loved</l>
          <!-- ... -->
        </lg>

        
          <l>I’ll tell thee how it came about</l>
          <l>She fell upon me and turned me out.</l>
          <l>I cried <said xml:id="q01" next="q02">But surely you’re mistaken,</said></l>
          <l><said xml:id="q02" prev="q01">To leave me thus poor and forsaken</said></l>
          <l>But nothing did my words avail.</l>
          <l>Jane paused for breath in great travail</l>
          <l>But then resumed, no whit deterred,</l>
          <l>I thought perhaps she hadn’t heard.</l>
        </said>