[Egyptian] Unicode 5.1, Egyptian Transliteration, and Fonts

[Wolfgang Schenkel]

Dear Michael,

I don't remember whether there was a discussion about capital letters Aleph
and Ayin or not. Gardiner, in his Egyptian Grammar, has special forms (cf.
for example p. 550 Aker and atef-crown; p. 558 Anukis and myrrh).
Unfortunately the forms he proposes are not very practical. A different
solution is given in my Aus der Arbeit an einer Konkordanz zu den
altägyptischen Sargtexten, Wiesbaden 1983, p. 15: upper case Aleph and upper
case Ayin = lower case Aleph and lower case Ayin with a vertical stroke
attached (for example: my upper case Ayin looks like IPA Ayin). I don't
insist on my solution.

A different question is capital "yod" (M 17, reed). The standard solution is
"hook" *followed by* (capital) "I". In my Konkordanz zu den altägyptisches
Sargtexten" I will use a combination "hook" *above* (capital) "I". The
standard solution ist ok, if you don't use the "hook" to transcribe
(unfortunate English tradition: transliterate) an "unclear consonant" and if
you don't need (as I do) small caps. In the latter case "hook" followed by
"I" may represent two consonants. I don't insist on my solution.

Best wishes,
Wolfgang