DIGITAL TOOLS AND RESOURCES FOR TEXTUAL DATA

In its broader meaning, 'digital philology' comprises the ecdotic, as well as the hermeneutic processes carried out in the digital environment (namely, with digital methods and means). More specifically, it concerns the relationship between ICT systems and the critical analysis of documents/texts in the digital format. Therefore, the module fits into that part of the programme in "Digital and Public Humanities" specifically concerned with digital text processing. In turn, the digital text processing contributes to add further value to linguistic and literary heritage. The course will be taught in English.

The major objectives of the course are to provide both a theoretical and a practical introduction to the wide realm of "digital scholarly editing" by focussing in particular - though not solely - on:
(1) peculiarities of XML-TEI markup language (e.g. Apparatus module, authorial variants in genetic editions);
(2) HTR tools (e.g. Transkribus, e-Scriptorium)
(3) collation tools (e.g. CollateX) and computer-assited stemmatology (e.g. PAUP)
(4) visualisation softwares (e.g. EVT and TEI publisher);
(5) annotation tools (e.g. Pundit and Euporia)
The expected learning goals consist in:
- the critical knowledge of the ecdotic, as well as the hermeneutic processes carried out in the digital environment;
- the capacity of using the aforementioned tools.

No specific prerequisites. The necessary basic notions will be provided at the beginning of the course through dedicated materials, which will take into account the students' background.

The module will provide a critical review of the most important and current scholarly issues related to digital text processing, including the notions of 'scholarly edition' and 'digital scholarly edition.'
It will also examine the most popular tools in the scholarly community regarding:
- HTR techniques, text encoding procedures and XML mark-up languages, automatic collation, computer-assisted stemmatology;
- visualization of different types of editions;
- annotation tools.
Practical exercises based on authentic materials will be carried out in class.

A) Compulsory reading:
Pierazzo, Elena 2015. Digital Scholarly Editing: Theories, Models and Methods. Farnham: Ashgate [capp. 2, 3, 5 and 6]
B) Text Encoding Initiative Guidelines:
TEI P5: Guidelines for Electronic Text Encoding and Interchange, http://www.tei-c.org/release/doc/tei-p5-doc/en/html/index.html
Software Oxygen (to download on your laptop)
C) Selected readings from Driscoll, Matthew James and Elena Pierazzo. 2016. Digital Scholarly Editing, Theories and Practices. Digital Humanities Series, Vol. 4, doi, https://doi.org/10.11647/OBP.0095
D) Selected readings from Roelli, Philipp et al. 2020. Handbook of Stemmatology: History, Methodology, Digital Approaches, Berlin, Boston: De Gruyter, https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110684384 ; https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/9783110684384/html
Students who are not able to attend classes are kindly asked to contact the lecturer in order to receive further bibliographic indications about supplementary materials.

The written exam consists of four (4) open questions, and lasts 90 minutes. Open questions allow to test critical thought, as well as the capacity of mastering the subject through specific skills (e.g. text encoding, use of one or more tools illustrated in the module).
More specifically:
- Knowledge and understanding: checked through content questions;
- Applying knowledge and understanding: checked through practical exercises, such as text encoding exercises;
- Making judgements: checked through methodological questions;
- Communication skills: checked through open questions (whether students communicate their conclusions clearly and unambiguously, as well as the knowledge and rationale underpinning these);
- Learning skills: evaluation of the students' autonomy of judgement.

Lectures, lecturer-led discussions and practical exercises.

English

written

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Human capital, health, education" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development