--- In Pali@yahoogroups.com, "Piya Tan" <libris@...> wrote:
> Dear Jim,
>
> I've simplified and adapted the academic Pali text convetions for
my own use
> which I find very convention. I find the "industry standard" change
every
> academic tenure or so. As such, we are on our own so to speak as
far as
> conventions apply, but some commons sense standard helps. Authors
usually
> give the key to the conventions they use at the beginning or the
end of
> their works.
I disagree with your statement that <quote> the "industry standard"
change every academic tenure or so. <endquote> The CPD standard that
I'm referring to was already well-established in 1924 and little has
changed since then apart from the addition of new abbreviations for
the texts later added to its bibliography. What I have noticed,
however, is the shift away from the PTS standard towards the CPD
standard by leading academic scholars, editors, and translators in
the publications of the PTS over the past decade or so -- K.R.
Norman, Peter Masefield, Margaret Cone, P. Pecenko, to name a few.
Many of the abbreviations used for the canonical texts happen to be
the same so one doesn't see much difference there. It's mostly to do
with how the post-canonical texts are abbreviated, I think.
> However, through years of key-punching and writing I find it easier
to write
> D rather than DN for Diigha Nikaaya and so one. One reason is when
I have to
> quote the Commentaries, I would rather use the DA than DNA (?) or
DN-A or D
> Comy.
Although the CPD started off with DN, it now uses the single letter.
The CPD uses Sv (for Suma"ngalavilaasinii) instead of DA.
Incidentally, there doesn't seem to be a widely-accepted standard
abbreviation for "commentary". CPD uses Ct. and I saw where Norman
uses cty, and Comy is another one that seems to be in use.
> I think the obiquitous hyphens in the UKABS convention are
redundant and
> tedious.
The hyphen is often used in the CPD standard abbreviations for
commentaries and subcommentaries, eg. Khp-a, Sv-p.t, Pa.tis-a, etc.
> I find the simplest and briefest abbreviations helpful, sort of
Okcham's
> razor ("Entities are not to be multiplied beyond necessity"),
especially
> when Buddhism ultimately reject "entities". As such, sometimes I do
lose
> touch with the convetion fashion.
Of course, you're quite at liberty to pick and choose which
abbreviations you find suitable for your work. I was merely pointing
out what I consider to be the industry standard adopted by many in
the international body of Pali academics and one that I find
acceptable and also use. I'm also familiar with other schemes and
don't mind them at all.
> Attached is the file for the convention I use.
Unfortunately, I never received the attached file. I don't think this
mailing list allows attachments to go through. You could send me the
file off-list, if you wish.
Thank-you for your feedback.
Best wishes,
Jim