Pali not functioning as expected with S2R and R2S

[paulfrank7]

Reported this through Comments on the external ScriptShifter site but wanted to document it here as a ticket. Apologies for any duplication. ScriptShifter is not working as expected with Pali (Devanagari). Non-Latin script romanizes as non-Latin script, and vice-versa. Please see screenshot. Thanks! Paul Frank, Library of Congress

[rrroche]

Here is the text of the email:

Scriptshifter feedback report from Paul Frank

    *Language:* pali

    *Direction:* Script to Roman

    *Source:* बुद्धं शरणं गच्छामि । धम्मं शरणं गच्छामि । सङ्घं शरणं गच्छामि

    *Result:* बुद्धं शरणं गच्छामि । धम्मं शरणं गच्छामि । सङ्घं शरणं गच्छामि

    *Expected result:* Expect to see roman script

    *Applied options:* {}

    *Notes:*

    I am using the public version of ScriptShifter to create test MARC records with 880 values to share with OCLC as LC expands the number of scripts it uses in bibliographic descriptions. I am working with Pali in Devanagari script and when I input Pali in Devanagari and as SS for the roman equivalent, I see the same Pali in Devanagari script. The reverse is also happening. If I input roman script and ask for Pali in Devanagari, I get the roman script only. Thanks!

[scossu]

This transliteration is handled by Aksharamukha, which in the transliteration process, reports:

The LoC romanization of Pali is not yet supported. The output text will be rendered using ISO 233 if Semitic else ISO 15919.

The Aksharamukha website, however, reports this language as supported: https://www.aksharamukha.com/loc

This language should be removed from the list until we have a transliteration. @RandyBarry is this a Devanagari script? How hard would it be to produce a SS-only table?

[RandyBarry]

Stefano,The Pali language has been written in five different scripts. If you use the Sanskrit option ScriptƧhifter will transliterate Pali into the Devanagari script. I willLook into Pali. It might be easy to add Pali language options for some scripts. The five scripts listed in the ALA-LC Romanization Tables are: Bengali, Burmese, Devanagari, Sinhalese, and Thai. I’ll do three of the five. Not Burmese or Thai script for reasons related to those troublesome transliteration tables.Randy Barry - ᠷᠧᠨᠳᠢ ***@***.***>On Nov 23, 2025, at 18:57, Stefano Cossu ***@***.***> wrote:scossu left a comment (lcnetdev/scriptshifter#257) This transliteration is handled by Aksharamukha, which in the transliteration process, reports: The LoC romanization of Pali is not yet supported. The output text will be rendered using ISO 233 if Semitic else ISO 15919. The Aksharamukha website, however, reports this language as supported: https://www.aksharamukha.com/loc This language should be removed from the list until we have a transliteration. @RandyBarry is this a Devanagari script? How hard would it be to produce a SS-only table? —Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub, or unsubscribe.You are receiving this because you were mentioned.Message ID: ***@***.***>

[RandyBarry]

Pali can also be written in Khmer, Lao, Tua Tham/A or B, as well as a northern Thai script. I forgot to mention those additional scripts. You can see why I avoided working on Pali.Randy Barry - ᠷᠧᠨᠳᠢ ***@***.***>On Nov 23, 2025, at 18:57, Stefano Cossu ***@***.***> wrote:scossu left a comment (lcnetdev/scriptshifter#257) This transliteration is handled by Aksharamukha, which in the transliteration process, reports: The LoC romanization of Pali is not yet supported. The output text will be rendered using ISO 233 if Semitic else ISO 15919. The Aksharamukha website, however, reports this language as supported: https://www.aksharamukha.com/loc This language should be removed from the list until we have a transliteration. @RandyBarry is this a Devanagari script? How hard would it be to produce a SS-only table? —Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub, or unsubscribe.You are receiving this because you were mentioned.Message ID: ***@***.***>

[scossu]

@paulfrank7 can you ask the cataloger which script they are trying to transliterate for Pali? If there is a particular urgency and/or a significant volume of transliteration to do on one of them, it may be beneficial to focus only on that rather than waiting to have all the Pali script completed.