Do it yourself
The Zooniverse software enables both experts and novices to transcribe remnants of documents from the Cairo Geniza that are written in Hebrew or Arabic script.
TO TRANSCRIBE documents on your own, it’s just a matter of learning to use new software. If you want to try it, here are some tips.
- First log on to zooniverse.org and register by clicking on the upper right corner of the screen (this isn’t required but will enable you to save copies of documents you work on).
- Go to scribesofthecairogeniza.org and select “easy Hebrew” (or “easy Arabic”). The first thing you will see is a tutorial, which explains how to use the site to transcribe.
- To the right of your computer screen, select “show field guide” to learn more about what you may see in the manuscripts.
- Also to the right, select “show crib sheet” for samples of different Hebrew scripts. Try to match the script in your manuscript, displayed behind the crib sheet by clicking on “change script.”
- When you’re ready to tackle the manuscript displayed on your screen, choose “add transcription” from the toolbar at the left. Now you have to be very careful. First move your cursor to the beginning of the line you want to work on, then click and you will see a green dot there. Now move your cursor to the end of the line and click again.
- Now click “Pan” in the toolbar, which will let you move around your manuscript or the crib sheet. You can also select “zoom in” to make the manuscript larger.
Be brave — it doesn’t all depend on you. Each line must be transcribed by at least three people, then an algorithm compares the three lines of text and gives it a score. If the three lines are exact matches, then the fragment is retired. If not, then the fragment will only be retired after it has been transcribed by seven people.
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