Transcription System
- [ ]
- An unclear or partially preserved akṣara (graphic syllable) whose reading is uncertain
- (* )
- A lost or illegible akṣara that has been conjecturally restored on the basis of context, parallel citation, or other means.
- ⟨* ⟩
- An omitted akṣara that has been conjecturally restored.
- ⟪ ⟫
- An interlinear insertion.
- { }
- A superfluous akṣara that should be canceled.
- .
- A missing portion (consonantal or diacritic vowel sign) of a partially legible akṣara. For example, .e represents an akṣara in which the vowel diacritic e is visible, but the consonant to which it was attached is lost or illegible; g. signifies that the consonant g is legible but incomplete so that one cannot determine whether or not a vowel diacritic was attached to the syllable.
- ?
- An illegible but visible or partially visible akṣara.
- +
- A missing akṣara that would have appeared on a lost or obscured portion of the scroll. A series of these symbols indicates the approximate number of lost syllables, one + sign being equivalent to one akṣara.
- ///
- Beginning or end of an incomplete line.
- ‧
- A small dot used in the original text to indicate word, sentence, verse, half verse, or other minor unit divisions.
- ◦
- A small circle used in the original text to indicate word, sentence, verse, half verse, or other minor unit divisions.
- ◯
- A single large or medium-sized circle, a design composed of circles, or other large circular or square design used in the original text to indicate the conclusion of a verse or section.
- ◊
- A space intentionally left blank in the original text.
- =
- A word break within an akṣara: used in phrases such as karyam=ido, in which the final consonant of the preceding word and the initial vowel of the following word are written together as a single syllable (mi).
- ‒
- Metrically heavy syllable.
- ⏑
- Metrically light syllable.
- ⏓
- Metrically heavy or light syllable.