Re: mover vs latin chars with diacriticals

Richard Kaye wrote:
>
> How about:
>
> "3.2 Token Elements
>   Token elements in presentation markup are broadly intended to
> represent the
> smallest units of mathematical notation which carry
> meaning. Tokens are
> roughly analogous to words in text. However, because of
> the precise,
> symbolic nature of mathematical notation, the various
> categories and
> properties of token elements figure prominently in MathML
> markup. By
> contrast, in textual data, individual words rarely need to
> be marked up or
> styled specially."
>
> My reading of this is that if your dot means differentiation, you
> should use mover.  If x-dot is just some wierd atomic symbol
> chosen by an
> eccentric author you should use the unicode.
>
> Richard
>

Just note that I cited why Unicode would be preferred and that STIX is
choosing Unicode (including diacritical marks) in a previous posting.

I simply do not know in what part of above extract from MathML
specification Richard Kaye read that <mover> is preferred over Unicode.

I obtained the range 0300-036F Unicode standard (MathML is not a standard
and standards may be preferred over not ones) and searched for "x-dot"
(i.e. for "combining dot above"). The Unicode value is 0307.

Just in the first line of the description of the code says

"= Derivative (Newtonian notation)"

Let me remark that there is a "="

The standard also notes relationship with Unicode 02D9 (dot above also but
*not* in math section).

The description for latter is

"Mandarin Chinese fifth tone"

Therefore, it appears the Unicode Standard folks have distinguished
between the "dot-above atomic symbol" and the "dot derivative of a
mathematical symbol".

I know nothing of Mandarin Chinese, therefore, I cannot opine if use of
x-dot would be considered "eccentric" or needed in that language and,
therefore, I cannot encourage or discourage its use.


Juan R.

Center for CANONICAL |SCIENCE)

Received on Friday, 28 April 2006 16:33:02 UTC