L2/06-203

Source: Stefan Baums
Date: 2006-05-14
Subject: Latin Daṇḍas


Dear Indic list,

concerning the recent lobbying for script‐specific daṇḍas: In
scholarly work on Indian texts, we have a need for using Indian
punctuation signs inside transliterated (i.e., Latin‐script) text.
The current arrangement, with non‐script‐specific daṇḍa, double
daṇḍa and abbreviation sign (U+0964, U+0965, U+0970), accommodates
this need.  If Unicode decides to go down the road of script‐
specific daṇḍas etc., please do keep U+0964, U+0965 and U+0970 as
non‐script‐specific versions for backwards‐compatibility.
Stability is, after all, one of the promises of Unicode.

Thank you,
Stefan Baums

PS. On my system (Ubuntu Linux 5.10), when I open the Character
Map application, DANDA (U+0964), DOUBLE DANDA (U+0965) and
ABBREVIATION SIGN (U+0970) are correctly displayed in the ‘Common’
category (_not_ under ‘Devanagari’), respecting both the current
disposition of the Unicode Standard and the sensibilities of
non‐Devanagari‐using language communities.

-- 
Stefan Baums
Asian Languages and Literature
University of Washington