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Use of signs in RES

Several signs are part of the Gardiner list for no other reason than the state of the art of printing technology at the time, but these signs have become superfluous today. Some should be avoided, as they are a source of confusion for coding. In other cases, software should be able to identify several different encodings of the same hieroglyphic writing.

Rotation and mirroring

Signs that result by rotation and mirroring of other signs cause little harm, as long as rotation is by 90, 180 or 270 degrees. This means that the following expressions are equivalent.

Common use: Alternative:
A54 A53[mirror,rotate=270]
C2b C2a[mirror]
C2c C2[mirror]
C14 C13[mirror]
C15 C14[mirror]
D51 D50[rotate=270]
D55 D54[mirror]
F24 F23[mirror]
F47 F46[mirror]
F49 F48[mirror]
P1a P1[rotate=180]
V7 V6[rotate=180]
V31a V31[mirror]
Y1a Y1[rotate=270]
Y4 Y3[mirror]
Z16 Z15[rotate=90]

However, as some sign lists include C2 but not C2c, C2[mirror] is preferred over C2c. The same holds for V31[mirror] and V31a, and Y1[rotate=270] and Y1a.

For other degrees of rotation, it is more expedient to use a normalised sign with horizontal or vertical orientation, and rotate it according to occurrence in a text, which is likely to be different from the default rotated sign in any font. This consideration leads to deprecation of the following signs.

Deprecated: Use:
O37 O36[rotate=120]
T2 T3[rotate=310]
T15 T14[rotate=330]
U6 U7[rotate=45]
U6a U7[rotate=75]
U6b U7[mirror,rotate=285]

It is debatable whether N20 and N21 are identical apart from rotation and resizing.

Repetition

In RES, combination of individual signs is preferable to use of composite signs, because relative positioning of individual signs can be determined more accurately than what is available by default in any font. This leads to deprecation of further signs:

Deprecated: Use:
D50a D50*[fix,sep=0.2]D50
D50b D50*[fix,sep=0.2]D50*[fix,sep=0.2]D50
D50c D50*[fix,sep=0.2]D50*[fix,sep=0.2]D50*[fix,sep=0.2]D50
D50d D50*[fix,sep=0.2]D50*[fix,sep=0.2]D50
:[fix,sep=0.2]
.*[sep=0]D50*[fix,sep=0.2]D50*[sep=0].
D50e D50*[fix,sep=0.2]D50*[fix,sep=0.2]D50
:[fix,sep=0.2]
D50*[fix,sep=0.2]D50*[fix,sep=0.2]D50
D50f D50*[fix,sep=0.2]D50*[fix,sep=0.2]D50*[fix,sep=0.2]D50
:[fix,sep=0.2]
.*[sep=0]D50*[fix,sep=0.2]D50*[fix,sep=0.2]D50*[sep=0].
D50g D50*[fix,sep=0.2]D50*[fix,sep=0.2]D50*[fix,sep=0.2]D50
:[fix,sep=0.2]
D50*[fix,sep=0.2]D50*[fix,sep=0.2]D50*[fix,sep=0.2]D50
D50h D50*[fix,sep=0.2]D50*[fix,sep=0.2]D50
:[fix,sep=0.2]
D50*[fix,sep=0.2]D50*[fix,sep=0.2]D50
:[fix,sep=0.2]
D50*[fix,sep=0.2]D50*[fix,sep=0.2]D50
D50i D50*[fix,sep=0.2]D50*[fix,sep=0.2]D50*[fix,sep=0.2]D50*[fix,sep=0.2]D50
D67a D67:[fix,sep=0.3]D67
D67b D67*[fix,sep=0.3]D67:[fit,fix,sep=0.3]D67
D67c D67*[fix,sep=0.3]D67*[fix,sep=0.3]D67:[fix,sep=0.3]D67
D67d D67*[fix,sep=0.3]D67*[fix,sep=0.3]D67
:[fit,fix,sep=0.3]
D67*[fix,sep=0.3]D67
D67e D67*[fix,sep=0.3]D67*[fix,sep=0.3]D67
:[fix,sep=0.3]
D67*[fix,sep=0.3]D67*[fix,sep=0.3]D67
D67f D67*[fix,sep=0.3]D67*[fix,sep=0.3]D67*[fix,sep=0.3]D67
:[fit,fix,sep=0.3]
D67*[fix,sep=0.3]D67*[fix,sep=0.3]D67
D67g D67*[fix,sep=0.3]D67*[fix,sep=0.3]D67*[fix,sep=0.3]D67
:[fix,sep=0.3]
D67*[fix,sep=0.3]D67*[fix,sep=0.3]D67*[fix,sep=0.3]D67
D67h D67*[fix,sep=0.3]D67*[fix,sep=0.3]D67
:[fix,sep=0.3]
D67*[fix,sep=0.3]D67*[fix,sep=0.3]D67
:[fix,sep=0.3]
D67*[fix,sep=0.3]D67*[fix,sep=0.3]D67
F51a F51*[fix,sep=0.2]F51*[fix,sep=0.2]F51
F51b F51:[fit,fix,sep=0.2]F51:[fit,fix,sep=0.2]F51
M12a M12*[fix,sep=0.3]M12
M12b M12*[fix,sep=0.3]M12*[fit,fix,sep=0.3]M12
M12c M12*[fix,sep=0.3]M12*[fix,sep=0.3]M12*[fix,sep=0.3]M12
M12d M12*[fix,sep=0.3]M12*[fix,sep=0.3]M12*[fit,fix,sep=0.3]M12*[fix,sep=0.3]M12
M12e M12*[fix,sep=0.3]M12*[fix,sep=0.3]M12
:[fix,sep=0.3]
M12*[fix,sep=0.3]M12*[fix,sep=0.3]M12
M12f M12*[fix,sep=0.3]M12*[fix,sep=0.3]M12*[fix,sep=0.3]M12
:[fit,fix,sep=0.3]
.*[sep=0]M12*[fix,sep=0.3]M12*[fix,sep=0.3]M12*[sep=0].
M12g M12*[fix,sep=0.3]M12*[fix,sep=0.3]M12*[fix,sep=0.3]M12
:[fix,sep=0.3]
M12*[fix,sep=0.3]M12*[fix,sep=0.3]M12*[fix,sep=0.3]M12
M12h M12*[fix,sep=0.3]M12*[fix,sep=0.3]M12
:[fix,sep=0.3]
M12*[fix,sep=0.3]M12*[fix,sep=0.3]M12
:[fix,sep=0.3]
M12*[fix,sep=0.3]M12*[fix,sep=0.3]M12
M17a M17*[fix,sep=0.2]M17
M22a M22*[sep=0.5]M22
N19 N18:[fix,sep=0.5]N18
N35a N35:N35:N35
V1a V1*[fix,sep=0.1]V1
V1b V1*[fix,sep=0.1]V1*[fit,fix,sep=0.1]V1
V1c V1*[fix,sep=0.1]V1*[fix,sep=0.1]V1*[fix,sep=0.1]V1
V1d V1*[fix,sep=0.1]V1*[fix,sep=0.1]V1
:[fix,sep=0.1]
.*[sep=0]V1*[fix,sep=0.1]V1*[sep=0].
V1e V1*[fix,sep=0.1]V1*[fix,sep=0.1]V1
:[fix,sep=0.1]
V1*[fix,sep=0.1]V1*[fix,sep=0.1]V1
V1f V1*[fix,sep=0.1]V1*[fix,sep=0.1]V1*[fix,sep=0.1]V1
:[fit,fix,sep=0.1]
.*[sep=0]V1*[fix,sep=0.1]V1*[fix,sep=0.1]V1*[sep=0].
V1g V1*[fix,sep=0.1]V1*[fix,sep=0.1]V1*[fix,sep=0.1]V1
:[fix,sep=0.1]
V1*[fix,sep=0.1]V1*[fix,sep=0.1]V1*[fix,sep=0.1]V1
V1h V1*[fix,sep=0.1]V1*[fix,sep=0.1]V1*[fix,sep=0.1]V1*[fix,sep=0.1]V1
:[fix,sep=0.1]
V1*[fix,sep=0.1]V1*[fix,sep=0.1]V1*[fix,sep=0.1]V1
V1i V1*[fix,sep=0.1]V1*[fix,sep=0.1]V1*[fix,sep=0.1]V1*[fix,sep=0.1]V1
V20a V20:[fix,sep=0.3]V20
V20b V20*[fix,sep=0.3]V20:[fix,sep=0.3]V20
V20c V20*[fix,sep=0.3]V20:[fix,sep=0.3]V20*[fix,sep=0.3]V20
V20d V20*[fix,sep=0.3]V20*[fix,sep=0.3]V20
:[fix,sep=0.3]
.*[sep=0]V20*[fix,sep=0.3]V20*[sep=0].
V20e V20*[fix,sep=0.3]V20*[fix,sep=0.3]V20
:[fix,sep=0.3]
V20*[fix,sep=0.3]V20*[fix,sep=0.3]V20
V20f V20*[fix,sep=0.1]V20*[fix,sep=0.1]V20*[fix,sep=0.1]V20
:[fix,sep=0.3]
V20*[fix,sep=0.3]V20*[fix,sep=0.3]V20
V20g V20*[fix,sep=0.1]V20*[fix,sep=0.1]V20*[fix,sep=0.1]V20
:[fix,sep=0.3]
V20*[fix,sep=0.1]V20*[fix,sep=0.1]V20*[fix,sep=0.1]V20
V20h V20*[fix,sep=0.1]V20*[fix,sep=0.1]V20
:[fix,sep=0.1]
V20*[fix,sep=0.1]V20*[fix,sep=0.1]V20
:[fix,sep=0.1]
V20*[fix,sep=0.1]V20*[fix,sep=0.1]V20
V20i V20*[fix,sep=0.3]V20
V20j V20*[fix,sep=0.3]V20*[fix,sep=0.3]V20
V20k V20*[fix,sep=0.1]V20*[fix,sep=0.1]V20*[fix,sep=0.1]V20
V20l V20*[fix,sep=0.1]V20*[fix,sep=0.1]V20*[fix,sep=0.1]V20*[fix,sep=0.1]V20
V40a V40*[fix,sep=0.1]V40
W14a V28*W14:[sep=0.3,fit]O34
Z2 Z1*Z1*Z1
Z2a Z1*[sep=0.3,fit]Z1*[sep=0.3,fit]Z1
Z2b N33*[sep=0.5,fit]N33*[sep=0.5,fit]N33
Z3 Z1:Z1:Z1
Z3a Z1[rotate=90]:Z1[rotate=90]:Z1[rotate=90]
Z3b N33:N33:N33
Z4 Z1*Z1
Z15a Z15*[fix,sep=0.3]Z15
Z15b Z15*[fix,sep=0.3]Z15*[fix,sep=0.3]Z15
Z15c Z15*[fix,sep=0.3]Z15*[fix,sep=0.3]Z15*[fix,sep=0.3]Z15
Z15d Z15*[fix,sep=0.3]Z15*[fix,sep=0.3]Z15
:[fix,sep=0.3]
.*[sep=0]Z15*[fix,sep=0.3]Z15*[sep=0].
Z15e Z15*[fix,sep=0.3]Z15*[fix,sep=0.3]Z15
:[fix,sep=0.3]
Z15*[fix,sep=0.3]Z15*[fix,sep=0.3]Z15
Z15f Z15*[fix,sep=0.3]Z15*[fix,sep=0.3]Z15*[fix,sep=0.3]Z15
:[fix,sep=0.3]
.*[sep=0]Z15*[fix,sep=0.3]Z15*[fix,sep=0.3]Z15*[sep=0].
Z15g Z15*[fix,sep=0.3]Z15*[fix,sep=0.3]Z15*[fix,sep=0.3]Z15
:[fix,sep=0.3]
Z15*[fix,sep=0.3]Z15*[fix,sep=0.3]Z15*[fix,sep=0.3]Z15
Z15h Z15*[fix,sep=0.3]Z15*[fix,sep=0.3]Z15
:[fix,sep=0.3]
Z15*[fix,sep=0.3]Z15*[fix,sep=0.3]Z15
:[fix,sep=0.3]
Z15*[fix,sep=0.3]Z15*[fix,sep=0.3]Z15
Z15i Z15*[fix,sep=0.3]Z15*[fix,sep=0.3]Z15*[fix,sep=0.3]Z15*[fix,sep=0.3]Z15
Z16a Z16:[fix,sep=0.3]Z16
Z16b Z16:[fix,sep=0.3]Z16:[fix,sep=0.3]Z16
Z16c Z16:[fix,sep=0.3]Z16:[fix,sep=0.3]Z16:[fix,sep=0.3]Z16
Z16d (Z16:[fix,sep=0.3]Z16:[fix,sep=0.3]Z16)
*[fix,sep=0.3]
(.:[sep=0]Z16:[fix,sep=0.3]Z16:[sep=0].)
Z16e (Z16:[fix,sep=0.3]Z16:[fix,sep=0.3]Z16)
*[fix,sep=0.3]
(Z16:[fix,sep=0.3]Z16:[fix,sep=0.3]Z16)
Z16f (Z16:[fix,sep=0.3]Z16:[fix,sep=0.3]Z16:[fix,sep=0.3]Z16)
*[fix,sep=0.3]
(.:[sep=0]Z16:[fix,sep=0.3]Z16:[fix,sep=0.3]Z16:[sep=0].)
Z16g (Z16:[fix,sep=0.3]Z16:[fix,sep=0.3]Z16:[fix,sep=0.3]Z16)
*[fix,sep=0.3]
(Z16:[fix,sep=0.3]Z16:[fix,sep=0.3]Z16:[fix,sep=0.3]Z16)
Z16h (Z16:[fix,sep=0.3]Z16:[fix,sep=0.3]Z16)
*[fix,sep=0.3]
(Z16:[fix,sep=0.3]Z16:[fix,sep=0.3]Z16)
*[fix,sep=0.3]
(Z16:[fix,sep=0.3]Z16:[fix,sep=0.3]Z16)

Stacking

Where stacked signs are present in the standardised sign list, there is no harm in their use. In fact, composite signs may even be preferable to individual signs combined by stacking, as the relative positioning (and scaling) within the composite signs may have been fine-tuned to the exact shapes of the individual signs in the font.

Common use: Alternatives (examples):
D52a stack[on](D52,S29)
D57 stack[on](D56,T30)
D59 stack[y=0.4,on](D58,D36)
F50 stack[on](F46,S29), stack(F46,S29)
G2 stack[x=0.8,on](G1,G1)
G3 stack[under](G1,U1)
G18 stack[x=0.8,on](G17,G17)
G19 stack[x=0.4,y=0.4,on](G17,D37)
G20 stack[x=0.4,y=0.4,on](G17,D36)
G20a stack[x=0.4,y=0.4,on](G17,D21)
G44 stack[x=0.8,on](G43,G43)
G45 stack[x=0.4,y=0.3,on](G43,D36), stack[x=0.4,y=0.3,under](G43,D36)
G45a stack[x=0.4,y=0.3,on](G43,D37), stack[x=0.4,y=0.3,under](G43,D37)
G46 stack[under](G43,U1[scale=0.8])
M1a stack[y=0.8,on](M1,M3)
M1b stack[y=0.8,on](M1,I9)
M14 stack[under](M13,I10[scale=0.9])
M27 stack[y=0.2,under](M26,D36)
O12 stack[y=0.3,on](O11,D36)
P7 stack[y=0.6,under](P6,D36)
P9 stack[y=0.4,on](P8,I9)
S13 stack[x=0.4,under](S12,D58)
S14 stack[y=0.2,under](S12[scale=0.9],T3)
S14a stack[y=0.1,under](S12[scale=0.8],S40)
S14b S40:S12
S30 stack[on](S29,I9), stack(S29,I9)
S31 stack[x=0.8,under](S29[scale=0.9],U1[scale=0.8])
T5 stack[y=0.6,under](T3,I10[scale=0.8])
T6 stack[x=0.6,y=0.6,under](T3,insert[bs,sep=0.2](I10[scale=0.8],D))
T32a stack[under](T30,S29)
T33a stack[under](T33,S29)
U35 stack[y=0.4](U34,I9)
V21 stack[y=0.7,under](V20,I10)
V28a stack(V28,D36)
V29a stack[on](V29,V31)
Aa22 stack[y=0.3,under](Aa21,D36)

The situation for sign combinations obtained with insert or fit is less clear. Sometimes, encoding in terms of individual signs may give a result closer to the desired result.

Common use: Alternatives (examples):
D29 D28:[sep=0.2,fit,fix]R12
F14 insert[t,sep=0.0](.:F13,M4)
G26 G26a:[sep=0.0,fit,fix]R12
G43a insert[s,sep=0.5](.:.*G43,X1)
I11a insert[bs,sep=0.3](I10,X1:.:N17)
L2a (M23:[sep=0.2]X1)*[sep=0.5,fit](L2:[sep=0.2,fit].*[fix]X1)
M5 M4:[sep=0.0,fit,fix]X1[scale=0.5]
M6 M4:[sep=0.0,fit,fix]D21[scale=0.8]
M7 M4:[sep=0.0,fit,fix]Q3
M24 M23:[sep=0.0,fit,fix]D21[scale=0.8]
M25 M26:[sep=0.0,fit,fix]D21[scale=0.8]
N7 N5:[sep=0.0,fit,fix]T28
O10c insert[sep=0.1](O18,D2)
T29 T30:[sep=0.0,fit,fix]T28
U3 insert[s,sep=0.0](U1,D4)
U4 insert[s,sep=0.5](U1,Aa11)
U5 insert[s,sep=0.5](U2,Aa11)
V15 V13:[sep=0.0,fit,fix]D54
W5 T28:[sep=0.0,fit,fix]W3

Normalisation

When attempting automatic transliteration, or automatic alignment of hieroglyphic and transliteration, one should allow for signs and sign combinations to be written in different ways. For example, one should assign the same meaning to S30 and stack(S29,I9).