# Tools for Working with Sumerian Cuneiform Texts A toolkit for analyzing and translating Sumerian cuneiform texts. The package provides functions for converting sign names to cuneiform characters, creating and querying dictionaries, and analyzing the structure of Sumerian words. package ## Getting Started Load the package and explore the built-in dictionary: ``` library(sumer) # Load the built-in dictionary dic <- read_dictionary() # Look up a Sumerian word look_up("d-suen", dic) # Search for a term in translations look_up("water", dic, "en") ``` ## Cuneiform Conversion and Analysis Functions for converting sign names to cuneiform and analyzing sign structure: - **`as.cuneiform`**: Converts Sumerian text to cuneiform characters. ``` as.cuneiform("lugal") as.cuneiform("AN.EN.ZU") ``` - **`as.sign_name`**: Converts Sumerian text to sign names. ``` as.sign_name("lugal") ``` - **`split_sumerian`**: Splits compound sign names into individual components. ``` split_sumerian("AN.EN.ZU") ``` - **`info`**: Displays detailed information about a Sumerian text. ``` info("jic-tukul") ``` ## Dictionary Creation Functions for creating dictionaries from annotated translation files: - **`read_translated_text`**: Reads annotated translation files (.docx or .txt) and extracts sign names, grammatical types, and meanings. ``` filename <- system.file("extdata", "text_with_translations.txt", package = "sumer") translations <- read_translated_text(filename) ``` - **`convert_to_dictionary`**: Converts translation data into dictionary format, adding cuneiform representations and phonetic readings. ``` dictionary <- convert_to_dictionary(translations) ``` - **`make_dictionary`**: Convenience function that combines reading and conversion in one step. ``` dictionary <- make_dictionary(filename) ``` ## Dictionary Input/Output Functions for saving and loading dictionaries: - **`save_dictionary`**: Saves a dictionary to a text file with metadata header. ``` save_dictionary(dic, "my_dictionary.txt", author = "John Doe", version = "1.0") ``` - **`read_dictionary`**: Loads a dictionary from file. Without arguments, loads the built-in dictionary. ``` dic <- read_dictionary() dic <- read_dictionary("my_dictionary.txt") ``` ## Dictionary Lookup - **`look_up`**: Interactive dictionary search. Supports both forward lookup (Sumerian to English) and reverse lookup (English to Sumerian). ``` # Forward lookup: Sumerian sign name look_up("AN", dic) look_up("AN.EN.ZU", dic) # Reverse lookup: search in translations look_up("king", dic, "en") look_up("Gilgamesh", dic, "en") ``` - **`skeleton`**: Creates a structured template (skeleton) for translating Sumerian text. ``` skeleton("e-ta-na an-ce3 ba-ed3-de3") ``` ## Typical Workflows ### Workflow A: Analyze and translate a text ``` library(sumer) # Convert sign name to cuneiform as.cuneiform("d-en-líl") # Load dictionary dic <- read_dictionary() # Look up the meaning look_up("d-en-líl", dic) # Get information about individual signs info("d-en-líl") info("lil") info("lil2") ``` ### Workflow B: Create your own dictionary ``` library(sumer) # Read annotated translations from file filename <- system.file("extdata", "text_with_translations.txt", package = "sumer") translations <- read_translated_text(filename) # Convert to dictionary format dictionary <- convert_to_dictionary(translations) # Save for later use save_dictionary(dictionary, "my_dictionary.txt", author = "My Name", year = "2025", version = "1.0") # Load and use my_dic <- read_dictionary("my_dictionary.txt") look_up("ki", my_dic) ``` ## Author(s) Maintainer : [Robin Wellmann] ro.wellmann@gmail.com ## See Also Core functions: `info`, `read_dictionary`, `look_up` Dictionary creation: `read_translated_text`, `convert_to_dictionary`, `make_dictionary`, `save_dictionary` `skeleton` Analysis tools: `split_sumerian`, `as.cuneiform`, `as.sign_name`

sumer-package