Operational Description | Programme Description | Dictionary | Inflections | English to Latin | User modifications
Programme description
The function of the program is to derive the structure and meaning of individual Latin words. A procedure was devised to: examine the ending of a word, compare it with the standard endings, derive the possible stems that could be consistent, compare those stems with a dictionary of stems, eliminate those for which the ending is inconsistent with the dictionary stem (e.g., a verb ending with a noun dictionary item), if unsuccessful, it tries with a large set of prefixes and suffixes, and various tackons (e.g., -que), finally it tries various ‘tricks’ (e.g., ‘ae’ may be replaced by ‘e’, ‘inp…’ by ‘imp…’, syncope, etc.), and it reports any resulting matches as possible interpretations.
With the input of a word, or several words in a line, the program returns information about the possible accedience, if it can find an agreeable stem in its dictionary.
=>amo
am.o V 1 1 PRES ACTIVE IND 1 S
love, like; fall in love with; be fond of; have a tendency to
To support this method, an INFLECT.SEC data file was constructed containing possible Latin endings encoded by a structure that identifies the part of speech, declension, conjugation, gender, person, number, etc. This is a pure computer encoding for a ‘brute force’ search. No sophisticated knowledge of Latin is used at this point. Rules of thumb (e.g., the fact, always noted early in any Latin course, that a neuter noun has the same ending in the nominative and accusative, with a final -a in the plural) are not used in the search. However, it is convenient to combine several identical endings with a general encoding (e.g., the endings of the perfect tenses are the same for all verbs, and are so encoded, not replicated for every conjugation and variant).
Many of the distinguishing differences identifying conjugations come from the voiced length of stem vowels (e.g., between the present, imperfect and future tenses of a third conjugation I-stem verb and a fourth conjugation verb). These aural differences, the features that make Latin ‘sound right’ to one who speaks it, are not relevant in the analysis of written endings.
The endings for the verb conjugations are the result of trying to minimize the number of individual endings records, while yet keeping the structure of the inflections data file fairly readable. There is no claim that the resulting arrangement is consonant with any grammarian’s view of Latin, nor should it be examined from that viewpoint. While it started from the conjugations in text books, it can only be viewed as some fuzzy intermediate step along a path to a mathematically minimal number of encoded verb endings. Later versions of the program might improve the system.
There are some egregious liberties taken in the encoding. With the inclusion of two present stems, the third conjugation I-stem verbs may share the endings of the regular third conjugation. The fourth conjugation has disappeared altogether, and is represented internally as a variant of the third conjugation (3, 4), but this is replaced for the user in output by 4 1. There is an artificial fifth conjugation for esse and others, a sixth for eo, and a seventh for other irregularities.
As an example, a verb ending record has the structure:
- PART – the part code for a verb = V;
- CONjugation – consisting of two parts:
- WHICH – a conjugation identifier - range 0..9 and
- VAR – a variant identifier on WHICH - range 0..9;
- TENSE – an enumeration type - range PRES..FUTP + X;
- VOICE – an enumeration type - range ACTIVE..PASSIVE + X;
- MOOD – an enumeration type - range IND..PPL + X;
- PERSON – person, first to third - range 1..3 + 0;
- NUMBER – an enumeration type - range S..P + X;
- KEY – which stem to be used - range 1..4;
- SIZE – number of characters - range 0..9;
- ENDING – the ending as a string of SIZE characters;
- AGE and FREQ flags which are not usually visible to the user.
Thus, the entry for the ending appropriate to ‘amo’ (with STEM = am) is:
V 1 1 PRES IND ACTIVE 1 S X 1 o
The elements are straightforward and generally use the abbreviations that are common in any Latin text. An X or 0 represents the ‘don’t know’ or ‘don’t care’ for enumeration or numeric types. Details are documented below in the CODES section.
A verb dictionary record has the structure:
- STEMS – for a verb there are 4 stems;
- PART – part code for a verb = V
- WHICH – a conjugation identifier - range 0..9
- VAR – a variant identifier - range 0..9;
- KIND – enumeration type of verb - range TO_BE..PERFDEF + X;
- AGE, AREA, GEO, FREQ, and SOURCE flags
- MEANING – text for English translations (up to 80 characters).
Thus, an entry corresponding to ‘amo amare amavi amatus’ is:
am am amav amat
V 1 1 X X X X X X
love, like; fall in love with; be fond of; have a tendency to
Endings may not uniquely determine which stem, and therefore the right meaning. ‘portas’ could be the accusative plural of ‘gate’, or the second person, singular, present indicative active of ‘carry’. In both cases the stem is ‘port’. All possibilities are reported.
portas
port.as V 1 1 PRES IND ACTIVE 2 S X
carry, bring
port.as N 1 1 ACC P F T
gate, entrance; city gates; door; avenue;
And note that the same stem (port) has other uses (portus = harbor).
portum
port.um N 4 1 ACC S M T
port, harbor; refuge, haven, place of refuge
PLEASE NOTE: It is certainly possible for the program to find a valid Latin construction that fits the input word and to have that interpretation be entirely wrong in the context. It is even possible to interpret a number, in Roman numerals, as a word! (But the number would be reported also.)
For the case of defective verbs, the process does not necessarily have to be precise. Since the purpose is only to translate from Latin, even if there are unused forms included in the algorithm these will not come up in any real Latin text. The endings for the verb conjugations are the result of trying to minimize the number of individual endings records, while keeping the structure of the base INFLECTIONS data file fairly readable.
In general the program will try to construct a match with the inflections and the dictionaries. There are some specific checks to reject certain mathematically correct combinations that do not appear in the language, but these checks are relatively few. The philosophy has been to allow a generous interpretation. A remark in a text or dictionary that a particular form does not exist must be tempered with the realization that the author probably means that it has not been observed in the surviving classical literature. This body of reference is minuscule compared to the total use of Latin, even limited to the classical period. Who is to say that further examples would not turn up such an example, even if it might not have been approved of by Cicero. It is also possible that such reasonable, if ‘improper’, constructs might occur in later writings by less educated, or just different, authors. Certainly English shows this sort of variation over time.
If the exact stem is not found in the dictionary, there are rules for the construction of words which any student would try. The simplest situation is a known stem to which a prefix or suffix has been attached. The method used by the program (if DO_FIXES is on, default is Yes) is to try any fixes that fit, to see if their removal results in an identifiable remainder. Then the meaning is mechanically implied from the meaning of the fix and the stem. The user may need to interpret with a more conventional English usage. This technique improves the hit performance significantly. However, in about 40% of the instances in which there is a hit, the derivation is correct but the interpretation takes some imagination. In something less than 10% of the cases, the inferred fix is just wrong, so the user must take some care to see if the interpretation makes any sense.
This method is complicated by the tendency for prefixes to be modified upon attachment (ab+fero = aufero, sub+fero = suffero). The program’s ‘tricks’ take many such instances into account. Ideally, one should look inside the stem for identifiable fragments. One would like to start with the smallest possible stem, and that is most frequently the correct one. While it is mathematically possible that the stem of ‘actorum’ is ‘actor’ with the common inflection ‘um’, no intuitive first semester Latin student would fail to opt for the genitive plural ‘orum’, and probably be right. To first order, the procedure ignores such hints and may report this word in both forms, as well as a verb participle. However, it can use certain generally applicable rules, like the superlative characteristic ‘issim’, to further guess.
In addition, there is the capability to examine the word for such common techniques as syncope, the omission of the ‘ve’ or ‘vi’ in certain verb perfect forms (audivissem = audissem).
If the dictionary can not identify a matching stem, it may be possible to derive a stem from ‘nearby’ stems (an adverb from an adjective is the most common example) and infer a meaning. If all else fails, a portion of the possible dictionary stems can be listed, from which the user can draw in making his own guess.
Codes in Inflection Line
For completeness, the enumeration codes used in the output are listed here from the Ada statements. Simple numbers are used for person, declension, conjugations, and their variants. Not all the facilities implied by these values are developed or used in the program or the dictionary. This list is only for Version 1.97E. Other versions may be somewhat different. This may make their dictionaries incompatible with the present program.
NOTE: in print dictionaries certain information is conveyed by font encoding, e.g., the use of bold face or italics. There is no system independent method of displaying such on computers (although individual programs can handle these, each in it own unique way). WORDS uses capital letters to express some such differences, which method is system independent in present usage.
type PART_OF_SPEECH_TYPE
X, -- all, none, or unknown
N, -- Noun
PRON, -- PRONoun
PACK, -- PACKON -- artificial for code
ADJ, -- ADJective
NUM, -- NUMeral
ADV, -- ADVerb
V, -- Verb
VPAR, -- Verb PARticiple
SUPINE, -- SUPINE
PREP, -- PREPosition
CONJ, -- CONJunction
INTERJ, -- INTERJection
TACKON, -- TACKON -- artificial for code
PREFIX, -- PREFIX -- here artificial for code
SUFFIX -- SUFFIX -- here artificial for code
type GENDER_TYPE
X, -- all, none, or unknown
M, -- Masculine
F, -- Feminine
N, -- Neuter
C -- Common (masculine and/or feminine)
type CASE_TYPE
X, -- all, none, or unknown
NOM, -- NOMinative
VOC, -- VOCative
GEN, -- GENitive
LOC, -- LOCative
DAT, -- DATive
ABL, -- ABLative
ACC -- ACCusative
type NUMBER_TYPE
X, -- all, none, or unknown
S, -- Singular
P -- Plural
type PERSON_TYPE is range 0..3;
type COMPARISON_TYPE
X, -- all, none, or unknown
POS, -- POSitive
COMP, -- COMParative
SUPER -- SUPERlative
type NUMERAL_SORT_TYPE
X, -- all, none, or unknown
CARD, -- CARDinal
ORD, -- ORDinal
DIST, -- DISTributive
ADVERB -- numeral ADVERB
type TENSE_TYPE
X, -- all, none, or unknown
PRES, -- PRESent
IMPF, -- IMPerFect
FUT, -- FUTure
PERF, -- PERFect
PLUP, -- PLUPerfect
FUTP -- FUTure Perfect
type VOICE_TYPE
X, -- all, none, or unknown
ACTIVE, -- ACTIVE
PASSIVE -- PASSIVE
type MOOD_TYPE
X, -- all, none, or unknown
IND, -- INDicative
SUB, -- SUBjunctive
IMP, -- IMPerative
INF, -- INFinitive
PPL -- ParticiPLe
type NOUN_KIND_TYPE
X, -- unknown, nondescript
S, -- Singular "only" -- not really used
M, -- plural or Multiple "only" -- not really used
A, -- Abstract idea
G, -- Group/collective Name -- Roman(s)
N, -- proper Name
P, -- a Person
T, -- a Thing
L, -- Locale, name of country/city
W -- a place Where
type PRONOUN_KIND_TYPE
X, -- unknown, nondescript
PERS, -- PERSonal
REL, -- RELative
REFLEX, -- REFLEXive
DEMONS, -- DEMONStrative
INTERR, -- INTERRogative
INDEF, -- INDEFinite
ADJECT -- ADJECTival
type VERB_KIND_TYPE
X, -- all, none, or unknown
TO_BE, -- only the verb TO BE (esse)
TO_BEING, -- compounds of the verb to be (esse)
GEN, -- verb taking the GENitive
DAT, -- verb taking the DATive
ABL, -- verb taking the ABLative
TRANS, -- TRANSitive verb
INTRANS, -- INTRANSitive verb
IMPERS, -- IMPERSonal verb (implied subject 'it', 'they', 'God')
-- agent implied in action, subject in predicate
DEP, -- DEPonent verb
-- only passive form but with active meaning
SEMIDEP, -- SEMIDEPonent verb (forms perfect as deponent)
-- (perfect passive has active force)
PERFDEF -- PERFect DEFinite verb
-- having only perfect stem, but with present force
The KIND_TYPEs represent various aspects of a word which may be useful to some program, not necessarily the present one. They were put in for various reasons, and later versions may change the selection and use. Some of the KIND flags are never used. In some cases more than one KIND flag might be appropriate, but only one is selected. Some seemed to be a good idea at one time, but have not since proved out. The lists above are just for completeness.
NOUN KIND is used in trimming (when set) the output and removing possibly spurious cases (locative for a person, but preserving the vocative).
VERB KIND allows examples (when set) to give a more reasonable meaning. A DEP flag allows the example to reflect active meaning for passive form. It also allows the dictionary form to be constructed properly from stems. TRANS/INTRANS were included to allow a further program a hint as to what kind of object it should expect. This flag is only now being fixed during the update. There are some verbs which, although mostly used in one way, might be either. These are assigned X rather than breaking into two entries. This would be of no particular use at this point since it would not allow the object to be determined. GEN/DAT/ABL flags have related function, but are almost absent. TO_BE is used to indicate that a form of esse may be part of a compound verb tense with a participle. TO_BEING indicates a verb related to esse (e.g., abesse) which has no object, neither is in used to form compounds. IMPERS is used to weed out person and forms inappropriate to an impersonal verb, and to insert a special meaning distinct from a general form associated with the same verb stem.
There is a problem in that all values for this parameter are not orthogonal. DEP is a different sort of thing from INTRANS. There ought to be a KIND_1 and KIND_2 to separate the different classes. However, this would be overkill considering the use made of this parameter, so far.
There is a more difficult DEP problem. ‘Good Latin’ requires that the DEP be recognized and processed to eliminate active forms. In some cases there are dictionary examples, mostly medieval, of the depondency being violated. Some of those cases have been recognized with a separate entry. This is not something that a suffix can handle appropriately, even if mechanically it can function. A better way might be to include the perfect form but still have the DEP flag, thereby allow the trimming in most cases. This has not been done yet. But an active form would be recognized if input, especially if the text is medieval.
NUMERAL KIND and VALUE are used by the program in constructing the meaning line.
Help for Parameters
One can CHANGE_PARAMETERS by inputting a ‘#’ [number sign] character (ASCII 35) as the input word, followed by a return. (Note that this has changed from early versions in which ‘?’ was used.) Each parameter is listed and the user is offered the opportunity to change it from the current value by answering Y or N (any case). For each parameter there is some explanation or help. This is displayed by in putting a ‘?’ [question mark], followed by a return. HINT: While going down the list if one has made all the changes desired, one need not continue to the end. Just enter a space and then give a return. The program will interpret this as an illegal entry (not Y or N) and will cancel the rest of the list, while retaining any changes made to that point.
Some parameters may not function in the English mode, nor is the documentation necessarily complete,
The various help displays are listed here:
TRIM_OUTPUT
This option instructs the program to remove from the output list of
possible constructs those which are least likely. There is now a fair
amount of trimming, killing LOC and VOC plus removing Uncommon and
non-classical (Archaic/Medieval) when more common results are found
and this action is requested (turn it off in MDV (!) parameters).
When a TRIM has been done, the output is followed by an asterix (*).
There certainly is no absolute assurence that the items removed are
not correct, just that they are statistically less likely.
Note that poets are likely to employ unusual words and inflections for
various reasons. These may be trimmed out if this parameter in on.
When in English mode, trim just reduces the output to the top six
results, if there are that many. Asterix means there are more
The default is Y(es)
HAVE_OUTPUT_FILE
This option instructs the program to create a file which can hold the
output for later study, otherwise the results are just displayed on
the screen. The output file is named WORD.OUT
This means that one run will necessarily overwrite a previous run,
unless the previous results are renamed or copied to a file of another
name. This is available if the METHOD is INTERACTIVE, no parameters.
The default is N(o), since this prevents the program from overwriting
previous work unintentionally. Y(es) creates the output file.
WRITE_OUTPUT_TO_FILE
This option instructs the program, when HAVE_OUTPUT_FILE is on, to
write results to the WORD.OUT file.
This option may be turned on and off during running of the program,
thereby capturing only certain desired results. If the option
HAVE_OUTPUT_FILE is off, the user will not be given a chance to turn
this one on. Only for INTERACTIVE running. Default is N(o).
This works in English mode, but output in somewhat different so far.
DO_UNKNOWNS_ONLY
This option instructs the program to only output those words that it
cannot resolve. Of course, it has to do processing on all words, but
those that are found (with prefix/suffix, if that option in on) will
be ignored. The purpose of this option is to allow a quick look to
determine if the dictionary and process is going to do an acceptable
job on the current text. It also allows the user to assemble a list
of unknown words to look up manually, and perhaps augment the system
dictionary. For those purposes, the system is usually run with the
MINIMIZE_OUTPUT option, just producing a list. Another use is to run
without MINIMIZE to an output file. This gives a list of the input
text with the unknown words, by line. This functions as a spelling
checker for Latin texts. The default is N(o).
This does not work in English mode, but may in the future.
WRITE_UNKNOWNS_TO_FILE
This option instructs the program to write all unresolved words to a
UNKNOWNS file named WORD.UNK
With this option on, the file of unknowns is written, even though
the main output contains both known and unknown (unresolved) words.
One may wish to save the unknowns for later analysis, testing, or to
form the basis for dictionary additions. When this option is turned
on, the UNKNOWNS file is written, destroying any file from a previous
run. However, the write may be turned on and off during a single run
without destroying the information written in that run.
This option is for specialized use, so its default is N(o).
This does not work in English mode, but may in the future.
IGNORE_UNKNOWN_NAMES
This option instructs the program to assume that any capitalized word
longer than three letters is a proper name. As no dictionary can be
expected to account for many proper names, many such occur that would
be called UNKNOWN. This contaminates the output in most cases, and
it is often convenient to ignore these spurious UNKNOWN hits. This
option implements that mode, and calls such words proper names.
Any proper names that are in the dictionary are handled in the normal
manner. The default is Y(es).
IGNORE_UNKNOWN_CAPS
This option instructs the program to assume that any all caps word
is a proper name or similar designation. This convention is often
used to designate speakers in a discussion or play. No dictionary can
claim to be exhaustive on proper names, so many such occur that would
be called UNKNOWN. This contaminates the output in most cases, and
it is often convenient to ignore these spurious UNKNOWN hits. This
option implements that mode, and calls such words names. Any similar
designations that are in the dictionary are handled in the normal
manner, as are normal words in all caps. The default is Y(es).
DO_COMPOUNDS
This option instructs the program to look ahead for the verb TO_BE (or
iri) when it finds a verb participle, with the expectation of finding
a compound perfect tense or periphrastic. This option can also be a
trimming of the output, in that VPAR that do not fit (not NOM) will be
excluded, possible interpretations are lost. Default choice is Y(es).
This processing is turned off with the choice of N(o).
DO_FIXES
This option instructs the program, when it is unable to find a proper
match in the dictionary, to attach various prefixes and suffixes and
try again. This effort is successful in about a quarter of the cases
which would otherwise give UNKNOWN results, or so it seems in limited
tests. For those cases in which a result is produced, about half give
easily interpreted output; many of the rest are etymologically true,
but not necessarily obvious; about a tenth give entirely spurious
derivations. The user must proceed with caution.
The default choice is Y(es), since the results are generally useful.
This processing can be turned off with the choice of N(o).
DO_TRICKS
This option instructs the program, when it is unable to find a proper
match in the dictionary, and after various prefixes and suffixes, to
try every dirty Latin trick it can think of, mainly common letter
replacements like cl -> cul, vul -> vol, ads -> ass, inp -> imp, etc.
Together these tricks are useful, but may give false positives (>10%).
They provide for recognized variants in classical spelling. Most of
the texts with which this program will be used have been well edited
and standardized in spelling. Now, moreover, the dictionary is being
populated to such a state that the hit rate on tricks has fallen to a
low level. It is very seldom productive, and it is always expensive.
The only excuse for keeping it as default is that now the dictionary
is quite extensive and misses are rare. Default is now Y(es).
DO_DICTIONARY_FORMS
This option instructs the program to output a line with the forms
normally associated with a dictionary entry (NOM and GEN of a noun,
the four principal parts of a verb, M-F-N NOM of an adjective, ...).
This occurs when there is other output (i.e., not with UNKNOWNS_ONLY).
The default choice is N(o), but it can be turned on with a Y(es).
SHOW_AGE
This option causes a flag, like '<Late>' to appear for inflection or
form in the output. The AGE indicates when this word/inflection was
in use, at least from indications is dictionary citations. It is
just an indication, not controlling, useful when there are choices.
No indication means that it is common throughout all periods.
The default choice is Y(es), but it can be turned off with a N(o).
SHOW_FREQUENCY
This option causes a flag, like '<rare>' to appear for inflection or
form in the output. The FREQ is indicates the relative usage of the
word or inflection, from indications is dictionary citations. It is
just an indication, not controlling, useful when there are choices.
No indication means that it is common throughout all periods.
The default choice is Y(es), but it can be turned off with a N(o).
DO_EXAMPLES
This option instructs the program to provide examples of usage of the
cases/tenses/etc. that were constructed. The default choice is N(o).
This produces lengthy output and is turned on with the choice Y(es).
DO_ONLY_MEANINGS
This option instructs the program to only output the MEANING for a
word, and omit the inflection details. This is primarily used in
analyzing new dictionary material, comparing with the existing.
However it may be of use for the translator who knows most all of
the words and just needs a little reminder for a few.
The default choice is N(o), but it can be turned on with a Y(es).
DO_STEMS_FOR_UNKNOWN
This option instructs the program, when it is unable to find a proper
match in the dictionary, and after various prefixes and suffixes, to
list the dictionary entries around the unknown. This will likely
catch a substantive for which only the ADJ stem appears in dictionary,
an ADJ for which there is only a N stem, etc. This option should
probably only be used with individual UNKNOWN words, and off-line
from full translations, therefore the default choice is N(o).
This processing can be turned on with the choice of Y(es).
SAVE_PARAMETERS
This option instructs the program, to save the current parameters, as
just established by the user, in a file WORD.MOD. If such a file
exists, the program will load those parameters at the start. If no
such file can be found in the current subdirectory, the program will
start with a default set of parameters. Since this parameter file is
human-readable ASCII, it may also be created with a text editor. If
the file found has been improperly created, is in the wrong format, or
otherwise uninterpretable by the program, it will be ignored and the
default parameters used, until a proper parameter file in written by
the program. Since one may want to make temporary changes during a
run, but revert to the usual set, the default is N(o).
There is also a set of DEVELOPER_PARAMETERS that are unlikely to be of interest to the normal user. Some of these facilities may be disconnected or not work for other reasons. Additional parameters may be included without notice or documentation. The HELP may be the most reliable source of information. These parameters are mostly for the use in the development process. These may be changed or examined by in similar change procedure by inputting a ‘!’ [exclamation sign] character, followed by a return.
HAVE_STATISTICS_FILE
This option instructs the program to create a file which can hold
certain statistical information about the process. The file is
overwritten for new invocation of the program, so old data must be
explicitly saved if it is to be retained. The statistics are in TEXT
format. The statistics file is named WORD.STA
This information is only of development use, so the default is N(o).
WRITE_STATISTICS_FILE
This option instructs the program, with HAVE_STATISTICS_FILE, to put
derived statistics in a file named WORD.STA
This option may be turned on and off while running of the program,
thereby capturing only certain desired results. The file is reset at
each invocation of the program, if the HAVE_STATISTICS_FILE is set.
If the option HAVE_STATISTICS_FILE is off, the user will not be given
a chance to turn this one on. Default is N(o).
SHOW_DICTIONARY
This option causes a flag, like 'GEN>' to be put before the meaning
in the output. While this is useful for certain development purposes,
it forces off a few characters from the meaning, and is really of no
interest to most users.
The default choice is N(o), but it can be turned on with a Y(es).
SHOW_DICTIONARY_LINE
This option causes the number of the dictionary line for the current
meaning to be output. This is of use to no one but the dictionary
maintainer. The default choice is N(o). It is activated by Y(es).
SHOW_DICTIONARY_CODES
This option causes the codes for the dictionary entry for the current
meaning to be output. This may not be useful to any but the most
involved user. The default choice is N(o). It is activated by Y(es).
DO_PEARSE_CODES
This option causes special codes to be output flagging the different
kinds of output lines. 01 for forms, 02 for dictionary forms, and
03 for meaning. The default choice is N(o). It is activated by Y(es).
There are no Pearse codes in English mode.
DO_ONLY_INITIAL_WORD
This option instructs the program to only analyze the initial word on
each line submitted. This is a tool for checking and integrating new
dictionary input, and will be of no interest to the general user.
The default choice is N(o), but it can be turned on with a Y(es).
FOR_WORD_LIST_CHECK
This option works in conjunction with DO_ONLY_INITIAL_WORD to allow
the processing of scanned dictionaries or text word lists. It accepts
only the forms common in dictionary entries, like NOM S for N or ADJ,
or PRES ACTIVE IND 1 S for V. It is be used only with DO_INITIAL_WORD
The default choice is N(o), but it can be turned on with a Y(es).
DO_ONLY_FIXES
This option instructs the program to ignore the normal dictionary
search and to go direct to attach various prefixes and suffixes before
processing. This is a pure research tool. It allows one to examine
the coverage of pure stems and dictionary primary compositions.
This option is only available if DO_FIXES is turned on.
This is entirely a development and research tool, not to be used in
conventional translation situations, so the default choice is N(o).
This processing can be turned on with the choice of Y(es).
DO_FIXES_ANYWAY
This option instructs the program to do both the normal dictionary
search and then process for the various prefixes and suffixes too.
This is a pure research tool allowing one to consider the possibility
of strange constructions, even in the presence of conventional
results, e.g., alte => deeply (ADV), but al+t+e => wing+ed (ADJ VOC)
(If multiple suffixes were supported this could also be wing+ed+ly.)
This option is only available if DO_FIXES is turned on.
This is entirely a development and research tool, not to be used in
conventional translation situations, so the default choice is N(o).
This processing can be turned on with the choice of Y(es).
------ PRESENTLY NOT IMPLEMENTED ------
USE_PREFIXES
This option instructs the program to implement prefixes from ADDONS
whenever and wherever FIXES are called for. The purpose of this
option is to allow some flexibility while the program in running to
select various combinations of fixes, to turn them on and off,
individually as well as collectively. This is an option usually
employed by the developer while experimenting with the ADDONS file.
This option is only effective in connection with DO_FIXES.
This is primarily a development tool, so the conventional user should
probably maintain the default choice of Y(es).
USE_SUFFIXES
This option instructs the program to implement suffixes from ADDONS
whenever and wherever FIXES are called for. The purpose of this
option is to allow some flexibility while the program in running to
select various combinations of fixes, to turn them on and off,
individually as well as collectively. This is an option usually
employed by the developer while experimenting with the ADDONS file.
This option is only effective in connection with DO_FIXES.
This is primarily a development tool, so the conventional user should
probably maintain the default choice of Y(es).
USE_TACKONS
This option instructs the program to implement TACKONS from ADDONS
whenever and wherever FIXES are called for. The purpose of this
option is to allow some flexibility while the program in running to
select various combinations of fixes, to turn them on and off,
individually as well as collectively. This is an option usually
employed by the developer while experimenting with the ADDONS file.
This option is only effective in connection with DO_FIXES.
This is primarily a development tool, so the conventional user should
probably maintain the default choice of Y(es).
DO_MEDIEVAL_TRICKS
This option instructs the program, when it is unable to find a proper
match in the dictionary, and after various prefixes and suffixes, and
trying every Classical Latin trick it can think of, to go to a few
that are usually only found in medieval Latin, replacements of z -> di
caul -> col, st -> est, ix -> is, nct -> nt. It also tries some things
like replacing doubled consonants in classical with a single one.
Together these tricks are useful, but may give false positives (>20%).
This option is only available if the general DO_TRICKS is chosen.
If the text is late or medieval, this option is much more useful than
tricks for classical. The dictionary can never contain all spelling
variations found in medieval Latin, but some constructs are common.
The default choice is N(o), since the results are iffy, medieval only,
and expensive. This processing is turned on with the choice of Y(es).
DO_SYNCOPE
This option instructs the program to postulate that syncope of
perfect stem verbs may have occurred (e.g, aver -> ar in the perfect),
and to try various possibilities for the insertion of a removed 'v'.
To do this it has to fully process the modified candidates, which can
have a considerable impact on the speed of processing a large file.
However, this trick seldom produces a false positive, and syncope is
very common in Latin (first year texts excepted). Default is Y(es).
This processing is turned off with the choice of N(o).
DO_TWO_WORDS
There are some few common Latin expressions that combine two inflected
words (e.g. respublica, paterfamilias). There are numerous examples
of numbers composed of two words combined together.
Sometimes a text or inscription will have words run together.
When WORDS is unable to reach a satisfactory solution with all other
tricks, as a last stab it will try to break the input into two words.
This most often fails. Even if mechanically successful, the result is
usually false and must be examined by the user. If the result is
correct, it is probably clear to the user. Otherwise, beware.
This problem will not occur for a well edited text, such as one will
find on your Latin exam, but sometimes with raw text.
Since this is a last chance and infrequent, the default is Y(es);
This processing is turned off with the choice of N(o).
INCLUDE_UNKNOWN_CONTEXT
This option instructs the program, when writing to an UNKNOWNS file,
to put out the whole context of the UNKNOWN (the whole input line on
which the UNKNOWN was found). This is appropriate for processing
large text files in which it is expected that there will be relatively
few UNKNOWNS. The main use at the moment is to provide display
of the input line on the output file in the case of UNKNOWNS_ONLY.
NO_MEANINGS
This option instructs the program to omit putting out meanings.
This is only useful for certain dictionary maintenance procedures.
The combination not DO_DICTIONARY_FORMS, MEANINGS_ONLY, NO_MEANINGS
results in no visible output, except spacing lines. Default is N)o.
OMIT_ARCHAIC
THIS OPTION IS CAN ONLY BE ACTIVE IF WORDS_MODE(TRIM_OUTPUT) IS SET!
This option instructs the program to omit inflections and dictionary
entries with an AGE code of A (Archaic). Archaic results are rarely
of interest in general use. If there is no other possible form, then
the Archaic (roughly defined) will be reported. The default is Y(es).
OMIT_MEDIEVAL
THIS OPTION IS CAN ONLY BE ACTIVE IF WORDS_MODE(TRIM_OUTPUT) IS SET!
This option instructs the program to omit inflections and dictionary
entries with AGE codes of E or later, those not in use in Roman times.
While later forms and words are a significant application, most users
will not want them. If there is no other possible form, then the
Medieval (roughly defined) will be reported. The default is Y(es).
OMIT_UNCOMMON
THIS OPTION IS CAN ONLY BE ACTIVE IF WORDS_MODE(TRIM_OUTPUT) IS SET!
This option instructs the program to omit inflections and dictionary
entries with FREQ codes indicating that the selection is uncommon.
While these forms area significant feature of the program, many users
will not want them. If there is no other possible form, then the
uncommon (roughly defined) will be reported. The default is Y(es).
DO_I_FOR_J
This option instructs the program to modify the output so that the j/J
is represented as i/I. The consonant i was written as j in cursive in
Imperial times and called i longa, and often rendered as j in medieval
times. The capital is usually rendered as I, as in inscriptions.
If this is NO/FALSE, the output will have the same character as input.
The program default, and the dictionary convention is to retain the j.
Reset if this is unsuitable for your application. The default is N(o).
DO_U_FOR_V
This option instructs the program to modify the output so that the u
is represented as v. The consonant u was written sometimes as uu.
The pronunciation was as current w, and important for poetic meter.
With the printing press came the practice of distinguishing consonant
u with the character v, and was common for centuries. The practice of
using only u has been adopted in some 20th century publications (OLD),
but it is confusing to many modern readers. The capital is commonly
V in any case, as it was and is in inscriptions (easier to chisel).
If this is NO/FALSE, the output will have the same character as input.
The program default, and the dictionary convention is to retain the v.
Reset If this is unsuitable for your application. The default is N(o).
PAUSE_IN_SCREEN_OUTPUT
This option instructs the program to pause in output on the screen
after about 16 lines so that the user can read the output, otherwise
it would just scroll off the top. A RETURN/ENTER gives another page.
If the program is waiting for a return, it cannot take other input.
This option is active only for keyboard entry or command line input,
and only when there is no output file. It is moot if only single word
input or brief output. The default is Y(es).
NO_SCREEN_ACTIVITY
This option instructs the program not to keep a running screen of the
input. This is probably only to be used by the developer to calibrate
run times for large text file input, removing the time necessary to
write to screen. The default is N(o).
UPDATE_LOCAL_DICTIONARY
This option instructs the program to invite the user to input a new
word to the local dictionary on the fly. This is only active if the
program is not using an (@) input file! If an UNKNOWN is discovered,
the program asks for STEM, PART, and MEAN, the basic elements of a
dictionary entry. These are put into the local dictionary right then,
and are available for the rest of the session, and all later sessions.
The use of this option requires a detailed knowledge of the structure
of dictionary entries, and is not for the average user. If the entry
is not valid, reloading the dictionary will raise and exception, and
the invalid entry will be rejected, but the program will continue
without that word. Any invalid entries can be corrected or deleted
off-line with a text editor on the local dictionary file. If one does
not want to enter a word when this option is on, a simple RETURN at
the STEM=> prompt will ignore and continue the program. This option
is only for very experienced users and should normally be off.
The default is N(o).
------ NOT AVAILABLE IN THIS VERSION -------
UPDATE_MEANINGS
This option instructs the program to invite the user to modify the
meaning displayed on a word translation. This is only active if the
program is not using an (@) input file! These changes are put into
the dictionary right then and permanently, and are available from
then on, in this session, and all later sessions. Unfortunately,
these changes will not survive the replacement of the dictionary by a
new version from the developer. Changes can only be recovered by
considerable processing by the developer, and should be left there.
This option is only for experienced users and should remain off.
The default is N(o).
------ NOT AVAILABLE IN THIS VERSION -------
MINIMIZE_OUTPUT
This option instructs the program to minimize the output. This is a
somewhat flexible term, but the use of this option will probably lead
to less output. The default is Y(es).
SAVE_PARAMETERS
This option instructs the program, to save the current parameters, as
just established by the user, in a file WORD.MDV. If such a file
exists, the program will load those parameters at the start. If no
such file can be found in the current subdirectory, the program will
start with a default set of parameters. Since this parameter file is
human-readable ASCII, it may also be created with a text editor. If
the file found has been improperly created, is in the wrong format, or
otherwise uninterpretable by the program, it will be ignored and the
default parameters used, until a proper parameter file in written by
the program. Since one may want to make temporary changes during a
run, but revert to the usual set, the default is N(o).
Special Cases
Some adjectives have no conventional positive forms (either missing or undeclined), or the POS forms have more than one COMP/SUPER. In these few cases, the individual COMP or SUPER form is entered separately. Since it is not directly connected with a POS form, and only the POS forms have different numbered declensions, the special form is given a declension of (0, 0). An additional consequence is that the dictionary form in output is only for the COMP/SUPER, and does not reflect all comparisons.
Uniques
There are some irregular situations which are not convenient to handle through the general algorithms. For these a UNIQUES file and procedure was established. The number of these special cases is less than one hundred, but may increase as new situations arise, and decrease as algorithms provide better coverage. The user will not see much difference, except in that no dictionary forms are available for these unique words.
Tricks
There are a number of situations in Latin writing where certain modifications or conventions regularly are found. While often found, these are not the normal classical forms. If a conventional match is not found, the program may be instructed to TRY_TRICKS. Below is a partial list of current tricks. The syncopated form of the perfect often drops the ‘v’ and loses the vowel. An initial ‘a’ followed by a double letter often is used for an ‘ad’ prefix, likewise an initial ‘ad’ prefix is often replaced by an ‘a’ followed by a double letter. An initial ‘i’ followed by a double letter often is used for an ‘in’ prefix, likewise an initial ‘in’ prefix is often replaced by an ‘i’ followed by a double letter. A leading ‘inp’ could be an ‘imp’. A leading ‘obt’ could be an ‘opt’. An initial ‘har…’ or ‘hal…’ may be rendered by an ‘ar’ or ‘al’, likewise the dictionary entry may have ‘ar’/’al’ and the trial word begin with ‘ha…’. An initial ‘c’ could be a ‘k’, or the dictionary entry uses ‘c’ for ‘k’. A nonterminal ‘ae’ is often rendered by an ‘e’. An initial ‘E’ can replace an ‘Ae’. An ‘iis…’ beginning some forms of ‘eo’ may be contracted to ‘is…’. A nonterminal ‘ii’ is often replaced by just ‘i’; including ‘ji’, since in this program and dictionary all ‘j’ are made ‘i’. A ‘cl’ could be a ‘cul’. A ‘vul’ could be a ‘vol’. and many others, including a procedure to try to break the input word into two.
Various manipulations of ‘u’ and ‘v’ are possible: ‘v’ could be replaced by ‘u’, like the new Oxford Latin Dictionary, leading ‘U’ could be replaced by ‘V’, checking capitalization, all ‘U’s could have been replaced by ‘V’, like stone cutting. Previous versions had various kludges attempting to calculate the correct interpretation. They were surprisingly good, but philosophically baseless and certainly failed in a number of cases. The present version simply considers ‘u’ and ‘v’ as the same letter in parsing the word. However, the dictionary entries make the distinction and this is reflected in the output.
Various combinations of these tricks are attempted, and each try that results in a possible hit is run against the full dictionary, which can make these efforts time consuming. That is a good reason to make the dictionary as large as possible, rather than counting on a smaller number of roots and doing the maximum word formation.
Finally, while the program could succeed on a word that requires two or three of these tricks to work in combination, there are limits. Some words for which all the modifications are supported will fail, if there are just too many. In fact, it is probably better that that be the case, otherwise one will generate too many false positives. Testing so far does not seem to show excessive zeal on the part of the program, but the user should examine the results, especially when several tricks are involved.
There is a basic conflict here. At the state of the 1.97E dictionary there are so few words that both fail the main program and are caught by tricks that this option could be defaulted to No. However, one could argue that there will be very few occasions for trying TRICKS, so that the cost is minimal. Unfortunately the degree of completeness of the dictionary for classical latin does not carry over to medieval Latin. With the hope that the program will become more useful in that area, the default has been set to Yes, reflecting the philosophy early in the development for classical Latin.
Trimming of uncommon results
Trimming has an impact on output. If TRIM_OUTPUT parameter is set, and specific parameters set in the MDEV, the program will deprecate those possible forms which come from archaic or medieval (non-classical) stems or inflections, also stems or inflections which are relatively uncommon. It will report such if no classical/common solutions are found. The default is set for this, expecting that most users are students and unlikely to encounter rare forms. Other users can set the parameters appropriately for their situation.
This capability is preliminary. It is just becoming useful in that the factors are set for about half the dictionary entries. There are still a large number of entries and inflections that are not set and will continue to be reported until determination of rarity is made.