Use Syriac script data for cataloging items in languages that use the Syriac script (for example, Aramaic and Syriac). Use Syriac script data the same way you use other non-Latin script data in the client.
See Work with international records and Guidelines for contributing non-Latin script bibliographic records to WorldCat for details specific to non- Latin scripts. See also general procedures describing how to:
Caution: MARC-8 character verification (Edit > MARC-8 Characters > Verify) is not appropriate for verifying Syriac characters. There is no MARC-8 character set for Syriac. Using this command for Syriac results in marking all Syriac characters as invalid. The OCLC system validates Syriac characters when you validate a record. See Use non-Latin scripts for cataloging bibliographic records for more specific procedures for working with these tools.
Because Syriac script is not included in MARC-8 character sets, you must export and import records in Unicode format (settings are in Tools > Options > Export and in File > Import Records/Options button).
Unicode is the universal character encoding scheme for written characters and text. It defines a consistent way of encoding multi-script text that enables the exchange of text data internationally.
Unicode provides for three encoding forms: a 32-bit form (UTF-32), a 16-bit form (UTF-16), and an 8-bit form (UTF-8, designed for use with ASCII-based systems).
Connexion client began supporting Syriac script with Unicode version 6.2.0.
If your system default language is not Syriac, you can install Syriac, and Windows provides an input keyboard for entering Syriac script. See more about input methods for languages that use non-Latin scripts.
Syriac characters are defined in Unicode 6.2 (coded in the range U+0700 to U+074F).
The client adds the following data to field 066 ‡c in Syriac records to indicate the presence of Syriac characters:
See the ALA-LC Romanization Table for Syriac on the Library of Congress website.
By default, the client displays (and prints) Syriac script with data aligned to the right. To toggle between displaying these scripts right-to-left or left-to-right:
To toggle alignment for all Syriac script data in the current record, click View > Align Right or press <Alt><V><I>. The data aligns to the right for display and printing. The Align Right icon next to the command on the View menu is active (highlighted) if Align Right is selected. The icon is inactive (grayed out) if Align Right is cleared.
To toggle data alignment in the current field, right-click a field and, on the pop-up menu, click Right-to-Left Reading Order. The client changes the alignment of the Syriac script data only in the current field.
Enter Unicode formatting characters in Syriac records to correctly display left-to-right multiple-digit numbers and punctuation, including brackets, hyphens, internal spaces, etc., within a field of right-to-left script data.
Note: Create a text string using Tools > Text Strings; click Add and enter one of the characters listed above using the right-click menu. Then use the Text Strings quick tool on the toolbar to enter the character.
Or
Assign the text string to a keystroke shortcut. Enter the character by pressing the keystroke.
Example: To control the display of the data 742[1981 or 1982] that you enter in field 260 ‡c, and that is preceded and to be followed by Syriac script data:
Always include the Syriac definite article ('alif laam) in all words in a keyword search.
See general procedures and search techniques for searching WorldCat.
Syriac punctuation (End of paragraph, Supralinear full stop, Sublinear full stop, Supralinear colon, Sublinear colon, Horizontal colon, Colon skewed left, Colon skewed right, Supralinear colon skewed left, and Sublinear colon skewed right) are ignored in indexing.
Syriac marks (Qushshaya, Rukkakha, Two vertical dots above, Two vertical dots below, Oblique line above, and Oblique line below) are ignored in indexing.
The Arial Unicode Microsoft font does not support the Syriac script. In Windows, Microsoft provides the Estrangelo Edessa to support Syriac.