## Text Encoding Initiative

### The XML Version of the TEI Guidelines

# <hand>

`<hand>` | used in the header to define each distinct scribe or handwriting style.

Attributes

(In addition to global attributes)

`hand` | identifier, either numeric or alphanumeric, used thereafter in the document to refer to this scribe or handwriting style (deprecated: use id).
| Datatype: CDATA
| Default: #IMPLIED

Example:

Note | This attribute is retained only for compatibility with P3 and will be withdrawn at the next release. Its use is deprecated; the `id` attribute should be used to supply a unique identifier for the hand; the `n` attribute may be used to supply an alternative (and possibly non-unique) name.

`scribe` | gives the name of, or other identifier for, the scribe.
| Datatype: CDATA
| Values: Any name, such as ‘tremulous hand’, ‘Hand B’, ‘Hoccleve, used to identify a scribe’
| Default: #IMPLIED

Example:

`style` | indicates recognized writing styles.
| Datatype: CDATA
| Values: Any descriptive name such as ‘secretary’, ‘copperplate’, ‘Chancery’, ‘Italian’, etc.
| Default: #IMPLIED

Example:

`mainLang` | (main language) indicates dominant language of hand.
| Datatype: CDATA
| Values: ‘Latin’, ‘English’
| Default: #IMPLIED

Example:

`ink` | describes tint or type of ink, e.g. ‘brown’. May also be used to indicate the writing medium, e.g. ‘pencil’,
| Datatype: CDATA
| Default: #IMPLIED

Example:

`character` | describes other characteristics of the hand, particularly those related to the quality of the writing.
| Datatype: CDATA
| Values: ‘shaky’, ‘thick’, ‘regular’
| Default: #IMPLIED

Example:

`first` | indicates whether or not this is the first or main scribe of the document.
| Datatype: CDATA
| Values: ‘YES’, ‘NO’
| Default: #IMPLIED

Example:

`resp` | (responsible) indicates the editor or transcriber responsible for identifying the hand.
| Datatype: CDATA
| Values: must be one of the identifiers declared in the document header, associated with a person asserted as responsible for some aspect of the text's creation, transcription, editing, or encoding (see chapter 17 Certainty and Responsibility).
| Default: %INHERITED;

Example:

Example

Note

The global `id` attribute is required on this element, and supplies an identifier, either numeric or alphanumeric, used thereafter in the document to refer to this scribe or handwriting style.

The `<hand>` element is used in the header to define each unique hand, including unique scribes, distinguished by the encoder in the document. One such element must appear within the header for each hand distinguished in the text. Each location where a change of hands occurs is marked in the text by the `<handShift>` milestone element.

Module Declared in file teitran2; Additional tag set for Physical Transcription: enabled by TEI.transcr
Data Description Empty.
May occur within handList
Declaration

    <!ELEMENT hand %om.RO;  EMPTY>
    <!ATTLIST hand
          %a.global;
          hand CDATA #IMPLIED
          scribe CDATA #IMPLIED
          style CDATA #IMPLIED
          mainLang CDATA #IMPLIED
          ink CDATA #IMPLIED
          character CDATA #IMPLIED
          first CDATA #IMPLIED
          resp CDATA %INHERITED;>

See further 18.2.1 Document Hands

Up: 35 Elements