Discourse Analysis and Grammatical Structure in the Maya Codices
This phase of the Maya Hieroglyphic Database Project will complete the morpho-syntactic coding of the texts contained in the Maya books dating from the Postclassic Period (C.E. 1100-1520). The codices constitute a major part of the hieroglyphic corpus and were the source of many early decipherments. Unlike the texts of the monumental sculpture from the earlier Classic Period (250-900 C.E.), we have no direct data on the provenience of the extant hieroglyphic books. Also, unlike the earlier carved texts, the codical texts are a compilation of various sources.
The Maya Hieroglyphic Database allows access to the texts never before realized. It includes low resolution line drawings of each gly ph block with an image of the frame (clause with picture) within which each glyph block occurs. The database assembles the most current transcriptions and translations of the texts which will be coded for various grammatical features. The final product will include a CD ROM containing the Codices portion of the Maya Hieroglyphic Database, and a series of research papers discussing the implications of our findings. The detailed grammatical coding is an essential preparation for rigorous linguistic analysis, and will contribute to ongoing research into possible language or dialect differences among various sections of the codices.
