How to write texts

All published material on VLACH need a short introduction, which follows a common structure:

• header
  • language: variety exonyms (esp. English), endonyms
  • language codes (esp. glottolog, others)
• short definition
  • 2-3 sentences, e.g.: xxx is a xxx language / belongs to xxx family, is spoken in xxx, its speakers are called xxx (exonyms) (endonyms). xxx derives from xxx.
• short description (every topic might have some sentences, but SHORT)
  • distribution in region of origin and in the world
  • official status
  • history
  • varieties
  • phonology, grammar
  • situation (number of speakers, literacy, education, media, vitality, revival)
  • references
  • desiderata
  • basic scientific bibliography
  • internal links
  • external links
• author(s) of intro text, year of publication

This general introduction should be followed by a brief description of the collection presented: How, when and where was it created? Who was involved in the project and what support did the communities provide? Where are further data and raw materials archived?

Cite as: Original Title – English title; performer: first name (X) name Y, camera/ interview: XY Transcription/ Translation: XY, XY, editor(s): XY, retrieved from www.oeaw.ac.at/VLACH, ID-number: XXX.

e.g.:
Cite as: Cînd irέ rátu – During the war; performer: Jászminka Bogdán, camera/ interview: Ioana Nechiti, transcription/ translation: Thede Kahl, Ioana Nechiti, editor: Mehdi Aminian, retrieved from www.oeaw.ac.at/VLACH, ID-number: baya1254HUV0005a.

Toponyms

Please be aware of different practices and writing toponyms. The UNGEGN recommendations, published as UN resolutions, can be used without hesitation. As many operators of databases around the world adhere to UNGEGN recommendations, we follow geonames concerning the use of toponymes which seems to be more consequent concerning the use of exonyms than Google maps or other providers.

Anthroponyms

Personal names are less a subject of the writing rules of the respective language than to personal preferences. In principle we can use orthography of the official documents (passport) which is usually mentioned in the Mappa Campi while fieldwork. This official writing might differ from scientific transcription, e.g. in Russian:

As not all persons identify with their official passport names, we always prefer to mention personal names in the way and orthography the informant prefers it. In Greek for example, names like Kostas, Mikis or Dina never appear in passport or other official documents. In these cases, we follow the informant's preference. If somebody prefers to appear anonymous or with an pseudonym, this is respected without any exception.

To avoid inconsistences in English orthography, we decided for British spelling:

• colour, flavour, humour, labour, neighbour
• analogue, catalogue, catalogue, dialogue
• apologize, organize, recognize
• analyse, breathalyse, paralyse
• travel, travelled, travelling
• fuel, fueled, fuelling
• leukaemia, manoeuvre, oestrogen, paediatric
• defence, licence, offence, pretence
• program

We usually use "Capitalized Case" when we name titles or chapters. As the names of websites and links are not considered to be chapters or classic headings, we use sentence case when naming links, sites and collections, e.g. Architecture and monuments, Landscape and settlements, Flora and fauna.