Termin:
24.11.2011 17:00 - 18:30
Ort:
Institut für Iranistik
Apostelgasse 23
1030 Wien
Kontakt:
Bettina Hofleitner
Institut für Iranistik
Zentrum Asienwissenschaften und Sozialanthropologie
Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften (ÖAW)
Apostelgasse 23
1030 Wien
T +43 1 51581 6500
F +43 1 51581 6520
bettina.hofleitner@oeaw.ac.at
www.oeaw.ac.at/iran/
A Database in Iranian Studies - Aims and Goals
Prof. Dr. Yann Richard
Why devise a database in Iranian Studies? Throughout my research on modern Iranian history, I was confronted with the necessity of keeping record of all bibliographical references which might come out as useful to my future works. Luckily, I was able to start an electronic database early on, instead of relying on mere paper records, which are at once more difficult to sort, more cumbersome to move, between drawers and boxes, and too invasive to carry around public libraries. Having all the data stored in my computer, as soon as laptops became available, I was able to carry along my records with me at all times. To this initial database I later added on another, which works in automatic connexion with the first and keeps record of the elites and personalities of some importance to Iranian history from 1800 to 1953. Such information, as well as the internal cross-reference system which allows to sort the records along multiple criteria have proved very useful, for example in identifying Qajar noblemen whose titles were prone to change several times in a lifetime. This Rejâl database also raises further issues: Which criteria should determine the inscription of a new name? Should non-Iranian personalities be included in the list? Can further links between individuals be worked out according to such external criteria as birthplace, language spoken, religious affiliation, and so on?
The present state of the database will be presented along with a few technical problems posed by the indexation of Persian names in transliteration.
