Digital Pali Reader
From: Yuttadhammo
Message: 1632
Date: 2006-01-09
Dear Friends,
I am happy to announce a test 'launch' of the Digital Pali Reader to all the members of this list. The DPR is a
javascript-based (ie web-based) reader of the first four suttanta nikaayas (ie minus the khuddaka). The idea was to
combine the pali texts with the PED, CPED (of Buddhadatta) and DPPN to create a readable version of the tipitaka with
instant definitions of each and every word. Though the work still falls short of this goal, I would estimate that it
does recognize correctly at least 90% of the words - certainly enough to be of some use to any pali student. I leave it
up to anyone interested to try and see for themselves. The core script (without dictionaries) is here:
http://pali.fivethousandyears.org/DPR.exe
Just run the exe file, open the directory it creates and run index.html . As far as I know, it doesn't work in Internet
Explorer, but since there are many better internet browsers out there (such as firefox, which the DPR was designed for),
this shouldn't cause great problems. Firefox can be downloaded from www.mozilla.com, Opera from www.opera.com
Notes:
1) compound recognition is still sketchy at best. Suppiyopi is still recognized as 'su-p-pi-yo-pi' instead of
'suppiyo-pi', and I'm sure there are worse in there. Sometimes there are two options, eg 'subha-ava' and 'su-bhaava',
but I should think that most students of the pali language do no better themselves :)
2) since this is only a test, and since the PED and DPPN are locked under respective licenses, the dictionary files are
not included with this archive. The links only work if one checks the 'www' checkbox near the bottom right of the
screen BEFORE bringing up the data in the main screen. If anyone finds this reader useful, please write to me at
yuttadhammo@... about using the dictionaries on your own computer.
3) 'pnc' turns off the punctuation and 'c/l' sets the approximate number of characters per line in the display.
If anyone would feel generous enough to write to me with bugs or imperfections, I would be most appreciative, as many
are very easy to correct.
Best wishes,
Yuttadhammo