UTC Script Encoding Working Group

Chair
Jan Kučera
Vice-Chairs
Deborah Anderson
Roozbeh Pournader
Useful Links
Pipeline • Roadmap Charts • Data Files Script Encoding Initiative
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The Script Encoding Working Group is a Working Group of the Unicode Technical Committee (UTC) operating under the Technical Group Procedures. It provides to the UTC recommendations on encoding proposals and other documents, outside of CJK or emoji-related topics. These recommendations reflect the collective discussion of the participants, and are intended to guide further discussion at UTC meetings, particularly regarding complex topics that require an extended, in-depth discussion. Preparation of summary recommendations makes the decision process during plenary UTC meetings more efficient. The recommendations are not binding—the UTC makes the final decisions on all proposals and public feedback.

The scope of the Script Encoding Working Group includes all proposals for the encoding of new scripts, modern or historic, as well as proposals for non-emoji symbols, punctuation, or notational systems. CJK-related proposals are handled by the CJK & Unihan group. Emoji proposals are handled by the Unicode Emoji Subcommittee.

Standard Annexes

The Script Encoding Working Group is responsible for the following standard annexes:

• UAX #53 Unicode® Arabic Mark Rendering
• UAX #57 Unicode Egyptian Hieroglyph Database (Unikemet)
• PD UAX #60 Proposed Draft Data For Non Han Ideographic Scripts

Technical Reports

The Script Encoding Working Group is responsible for the following technical report:

• UTR #56 Unicode® Cuneiform Sign Lists

Meetings

The Script Encoding Working Group meets on a regular basis, usually one day a month. Meetings are scheduled in an effort to guarantee that a full, quarterly report of proposal reviews can be provided in a timely manner to each meeting of the Unicode Technical Committee.

Reports of the Script Encoding Working Group

Each quarter, before a UTC meeting, the chair of the Script Encoding Working Group prepares a report for the UTC, encompassing the recommendations of all the Script Encoding Working Group meetings since the prior UTC. These reports are added to the UTC document register as publicly accessible documents.

For convenience in reference, a complete list of all Script Encoding Working Group reports, dating back to 2010, is also maintained.

Confidentiality of Meeting Discussions

The Script Encoding Working Group engages in frank discussions regarding complex, technical content. As a working group reporting to the UTC, it follows the same general rules regarding confidentiality of meeting discussions. Citing from the Technical Group Procedures of the Unicode Consortium, "Discussions during meetings are confidential and are not to be shared publicly without explicit permission of the chair."

Intermediate drafts of the Script Encoding Working Group reports are also confidential, until they can be vetted and any errors corrected. The final reports, which then represent the Script Encoding Working Group consensus recommendations, are public documents.

 

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