A digital Latin-English dictionary
WORDS Online Overview User GuideOperational Description |Programme Description |Dictionary |Inflections |English to Latin |User modifications
The function of the program is to derive the structure and meaning ofindividual Latin words. A procedure was devised to: examine the ending ofa word, compare it with the standard endings, derive the possible stemsthat could be consistent, compare those stems with a dictionary of stems,eliminate those for which the ending is inconsistent with the dictionarystem (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 bereplaced by ‘e’, ‘inp…’ by ‘imp…’, syncope, etc.), and it reports anyresulting matches as possible interpretations.
With the input of a word, or several words in a line, the program returnsinformation about the possible accedience, if it can find an agreeablestem in its dictionary.
=>amoam.o V 1 1 PRES ACTIVE IND 1 Slove, like; fall in love with; be fond of; have a tendency toTo support this method, an INFLECT.SEC data file was constructedcontaining possible Latin endings encoded by a structure that identifiesthe part of speech, declension, conjugation, gender, person, number, etc.This is a pure computer encoding for a ‘brute force’ search. Nosophisticated knowledge of Latin is used at this point. Rules of thumb(e.g., the fact, always noted early in any Latin course, that a neuternoun has the same ending in the nominative and accusative, with a final -ain the plural) are not used in the search. However, it is convenient tocombine several identical endings with a general encoding (e.g., theendings of the perfect tenses are the same for all verbs, and are soencoded, not replicated for every conjugation and variant).
Many of the distinguishing differences identifying conjugations come fromthe voiced length of stem vowels (e.g., between the present, imperfect andfuture tenses of a third conjugation I-stem verb and a fourth conjugationverb). These aural differences, the features that make Latin ‘soundright’ to one who speaks it, are not relevant in the analysis of writtenendings.
The endings for the verb conjugations are the result of trying to minimizethe number of individual endings records, while yet keeping the structureof the inflections data file fairly readable. There is no claim that theresulting arrangement is consonant with any grammarian’s view of Latin,nor should it be examined from that viewpoint. While it started from theconjugations in text books, it can only be viewed as some fuzzyintermediate step along a path to a mathematically minimal number ofencoded verb endings. Later versions of the program might improve thesystem.
There are some egregious liberties taken in the encoding. With theinclusion of two present stems, the third conjugation I-stem verbs mayshare the endings of the regular third conjugation. The fourthconjugation has disappeared altogether, and is represented internally as avariant of the third conjugation (3, 4), but this isreplaced for the user in output by 4 1. There is an artificial fifthconjugation for esse and others, a sixth for eo, and a seventh for otherirregularities.
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 oThe elements are straightforward and generally use theabbreviations 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. Detailsare 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 amatV 1 1 X X X X X Xlove, like; fall in love with; be fond of; have a tendency toEndings may not uniquely determine which stem, and therefore the rightmeaning. ‘portas’ could be the accusative plural of ‘gate’, or the secondperson, singular, present indicative active of ‘carry’. In both cases thestem is ‘port’. All possibilities are reported.
portasport.as V 1 1 PRES IND ACTIVE 2 S Xcarry, bringport.as N 1 1 ACC P F Tgate, entrance; city gates; door; avenue;And note that the same stem (port) has other uses (portus = harbor).
portumport.um N 4 1 ACC S M Tport, harbor; refuge, haven, place of refugePLEASE NOTE: It is certainly possible for the program to find a validLatin construction that fits the input word and to have thatinterpretation be entirely wrong in the context. It is even possible tointerpret a number, in Roman numerals, as a word! (But the number wouldbe reported also.)
For the case of defective verbs, the process does not necessarily have tobe precise. Since the purpose is only to translate from Latin, even ifthere are unused forms included in the algorithm these will not come upin any real Latin text. The endings for the verb conjugations are theresult of trying to minimize the number of individual endings records,while keeping the structure of the base INFLECTIONS data file fairlyreadable.
In general the program will try to construct a match with the inflectionsand the dictionaries. There are some specific checks to rejectcertain mathematically correct combinations that do not appear in thelanguage, but these checks are relatively few. The philosophy has been toallow a generous interpretation. A remark in a text or dictionary that aparticular form does not exist must be tempered with the realization thatthe author probably means that it has not been observed in the survivingclassical literature. This body of reference is minuscule compared to thetotal use of Latin, even limited to the classical period. Who is to saythat further examples would not turn up such an example, even if it mightnot have been approved of by Cicero. It is also possible that suchreasonable, if ‘improper’, constructs might occur in later writings byless educated, or just different, authors. Certainly English shows thissort of variation over time.
If the exact stem is not found in the dictionary, there are rules for theconstruction of words which any student would try. The simplest situationis a known stem to which a prefix or suffix has been attached. The method usedby 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 themeaning is mechanically implied from the meaning of the fix and thestem. The user may need to interpret with a more conventional Englishusage. This technique improves the hit performance significantly. However,in about 40% of the instances in which there is a hit, the derivation iscorrect but the interpretation takes some imagination. In something lessthan 10% of the cases, the inferred fix is just wrong, so the user musttake some care to see if the interpretation makes any sense.
This method is complicated by the tendency for prefixes to be modifiedupon attachment (ab+fero = aufero, sub+fero = suffero). The program’s‘tricks’ take many such instances into account. Ideally, one should lookinside the stem for identifiable fragments. One would like to start withthe 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 studentwould 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 inboth forms, as well as a verb participle. However, it can use certaingenerally applicable rules, like the superlative characteristic ‘issim’,to further guess.
In addition, there is the capability to examine the word for such commontechniques as syncope, the omission of the ‘ve’ or ‘vi’ in certain verbperfect forms (audivissem = audissem).
If the dictionary can not identify a matching stem, it may be possible toderive a stem from ‘nearby’ stems (an adverb from an adjective is the mostcommon example) and infer a meaning. If all else fails, a portion of thepossible dictionary stems can be listed, from which the user can draw inmaking his own guess.
Codes in Inflection Line
For completeness, the enumeration codes used in the output are listed herefrom the Ada statements. Simple numbers are used for person, declension,conjugations, and their variants. Not all the facilities implied by thesevalues are developed or used in the program or the dictionary. This listis only for Version 1.97E. Other versions may be somewhat different. Thismay make their dictionaries incompatible with the present program.
NOTE: in print dictionaries certain information is conveyed by fontencoding, e.g., the use of bold face or italics. There is no systemindependent method of displaying such on computers (although individualprograms can handle these, each in it own unique way). WORDS uses capitalletters to express some such differences, which method is system independentin 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 forceThe KIND_TYPEs represent various aspects of a word which may be useful tosome program, not necessarily the present one. They were put in forvarious reasons, and later versions may change the selection and use.Some of the KIND flags are never used. In some cases more than one KINDflag might be appropriate, but only one is selected. Some seemed to be agood idea at one time, but have not since proved out. The lists above arejust for completeness.
NOUN KIND is used in trimming (when set) the output and removing possiblyspurious cases (locative for a person, but preserving the vocative).
VERB KIND allows examples (when set) to give a more reasonable meaning. ADEP 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 whatkind of object it should expect. This flag is only now being fixed duringthe update. There are some verbs which, although mostly used in one way,might be either. These are assigned X rather than breaking into twoentries. This would be of no particular use at this point since it wouldnot allow the object to be determined. GEN/DAT/ABL flags have relatedfunction, but are almost absent. TO_BE is used to indicate that a form ofesse may be part of a compound verb tense with a participle. TO_BEINGindicates 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 personand forms inappropriate to an impersonal verb, and to insert a specialmeaning 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 aKIND_1 and KIND_2 to separate the different classes. However, this wouldbe 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 andprocessed 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 (ASCII35) as the input word, followed by a return. (Note that this has changedfrom early versions in which ‘?’ was used.) Each parameter is listed andthe user is offered the opportunity to change it from the current value byanswering Y or N (any case). For each parameter there is some explanationor help. This is displayed by in putting a ‘?’ [question mark], followedby a return. HINT: While going down the list if one has made all thechanges desired, one need not continue to the end. Just enter a space andthen 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 anychanges made to that point.
Some parameters may not function in the English mode, nor is the documentationnecessarily 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 ofinterest to the normal user. Some of these facilities may be disconnectedor not work for other reasons. Additional parameters may be includedwithout notice or documentation. The HELP may be the most reliablesource of information. These parameters are mostly for the use in thedevelopment process. These may be changed or examined by in similarchange procedure by inputting a ‘!’ [exclamation sign] character, followedby 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 orundeclined), or the POS forms have more than one COMP/SUPER. In these fewcases, the individual COMP or SUPER form is entered separately. Since itis not directly connected with a POS form, and only the POS forms havedifferent numbered declensions, the special form is given a declension of(0, 0). An additional consequence is that the dictionary form in outputis only for the COMP/SUPER, and does not reflect all comparisons.
Uniques
There are some irregular situations which are not convenient to handlethrough the general algorithms. For these a UNIQUES file and procedurewas established. The number of these special cases is less than onehundred, but may increase as new situations arise, and decrease asalgorithms provide better coverage. The user will not see muchdifference, except in that no dictionary forms are available for theseunique words.
Tricks
There are a number of situations in Latin writing where certainmodifications or conventions regularly are found. While often found,these are not the normal classical forms. If a conventional match is notfound, the program may be instructed to TRY_TRICKS. Below is a partiallist of current tricks. The syncopated form of the perfect often dropsthe ‘v’ and loses the vowel. An initial ‘a’ followed by a double letteroften is used for an ‘ad’ prefix, likewise an initial ‘ad’ prefix is oftenreplaced by an ‘a’ followed by a double letter. An initial ‘i’ followedby 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. Aleading ‘inp’ could be an ‘imp’. A leading ‘obt’ could be an ‘opt’. Aninitial ‘har…’ or ‘hal…’ may be rendered by an ‘ar’ or ‘al’, likewisethe 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 becontracted 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 replacedby ‘u’, like the new Oxford Latin Dictionary, leading ‘U’ could bereplaced by ‘V’, checking capitalization, all ‘U’s could have beenreplaced by ‘V’, like stone cutting. Previous versions had variouskludges attempting to calculate the correct interpretation. They weresurprisingly good, but philosophically baseless and certainly failed in anumber of cases. The present version simply considers ‘u’ and ‘v’ as thesame letter in parsing the word. However, the dictionary entries make thedistinction and this is reflected in the output.
Various combinations of these tricks are attempted, and each try thatresults in a possible hit is run against the full dictionary, which canmake these efforts time consuming. That is a good reason to make thedictionary as large as possible, rather than counting on a smaller numberof roots and doing the maximum word formation.
Finally, while the program could succeed on a word that requires two orthree of these tricks to work in combination, there are limits. Somewords for which all the modifications are supported will fail, if thereare 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 doesnot seem to show excessive zeal on the part of the program, but the usershould examine the results, especially when several tricks are involved.
There is a basic conflict here. At the state of the 1.97E dictionary thereare so few words that both fail the main program and are caught by tricksthat this option could be defaulted to No. However, one could argue thatthere will be very few occasions for trying TRICKS, so that the cost isminimal. Unfortunately the degree of completeness of the dictionary forclassical latin does not carry over to medieval Latin. With the hope thatthe program will become more useful in that area, the default has beenset to Yes, reflecting the philosophy early in the developmentfor classical Latin.
Trimming of uncommon results
Trimming has an impact on output. If TRIM_OUTPUT parameter is set, andspecific parameters set in the MDEV, the program will deprecate thosepossible forms which come from archaic or medieval (non-classical) stemsor inflections, also stems or inflections which are relatively uncommon.It will report such if no classical/common solutions are found. Thedefault is set for this, expecting that most users are students andunlikely to encounter rare forms. Other users can set the parametersappropriately for their situation.
This capability is preliminary. It is just becoming useful in that thefactors are set for about half the dictionary entries. There are still alarge number of entries and inflections that are not set and will continueto be reported until determination of rarity is made.
