Oxford University Press Text Capture Instructions

 

Split lines

Use the part attribute to split a line of verse into more than one line of text, for instance, if it is split among two or more speakers, or if a stage direction is interpolated.

DIA:Verse

Lines of Verse within Dialogue

line[@part]

Label each line element that contains only part of a verse line using the part attribute with the value initial, medial or final as follows:

initial
The line contains the first part of a verse line
final
The line contains the last part of a verse line
medial
The line contains part of a verse line between the first and last parts

Printed book

media/new-split-lines.png

XML


<speech>
<milestone unit="line" num="14" id="actrade-9780198129103-milestone-170"/>
<speaker>
<sc>francisco</sc>
</speaker>
<line>I think I hear them.—Stand! Who's there?</line>
</speech>
<speech>
<milestone unit="line" num="15" id="actrade-9780198129103-milestone-171"/>
<speaker>
<sc>horatio</sc>
</speaker>
<line part="initial">Friends to this ground.</line>
</speech>
<speech>
<speaker>
<sc>marcellus</sc>
</speaker>
<line part="final">And liegemen to the Dane.</line>
</speech>
<speech>
<milestone unit="line" num="16" id="actrade-9780198129103-milestone-172"/>
<speaker>
<sc>francisco</sc>
</speaker>
<line part="initial">Give you good night.</line>
</speech>
<speech>
<speaker>
<sc>marcellus</sc>
</speaker>
<line part="final">O farewell, honest soldier.</line>
<line part="initial">
<milestone unit="line" num="17" id="actrade-9780198129103-milestone-173"/>Who hath relieved you?</line>
</speech>
<speech>
<speaker>
<sc>francisco</sc>
</speaker>
<line part="final">Barnardo has my place.</line>
</speech>

Within a split line of verse there may not be a line with part="medial", or there may be more than one such line.

Printed book

media/new-split-lines-flat.png

XML


<stageDirection>
<milestone unit="line" num="29.1" id="actrade-9780199591152-593-milestone-1972"/>
<i>[Enter Duke]</i>
</stageDirection>
<speech>
<milestone unit="line" num="30" id="actrade-9780199591152-593-milestone-1973"/>
<speaker>
<sc>duke</sc>
</speaker>
<line>How now, Sir Proteus? How now, Thurio?</line>
<line>
<milestone unit="line" num="31" id="actrade-9780199591152-593-milestone-1974"/>Which
of you saw Eglamour of late?</line>
</speech>
<speech>
<milestone unit="line" num="32" id="actrade-9780199591152-593-milestone-1975"/>
<speaker>
<sc>thurio</sc>
</speaker>
<line part="initial">Not I.</line>
</speech>
<speech>
<speaker>
<sc>proteus</sc>
</speaker>
<line part="medial">Nor I.</line>
</speech>
<speech>
<speaker>
<sc>duke</sc>
</speaker>
<line part="medial">Saw you my daughter?</line>
</speech>
<speech>
<speaker>
<sc>proteus</sc>
</speaker>
<line part="final">Neither.</line>
</speech>
<speech>
<milestone unit="line" num="33" id="actrade-9780199591152-593-milestone-1976"/>
<speaker>
<sc>duke</sc>
</speaker>
<line>Why then, she’s fled unto that peasant Valentine,</line>
<line>
<milestone unit="line" num="34" id="actrade-9780199591152-593-milestone-1977"/>And
Eglamour is in her company.</line>
<line>
<milestone unit="line" num="35" id="actrade-9780199591152-593-milestone-1978"/>’Tis true, for Friar Laurence met them both</line>
<line>
<milestone unit="line" num="36" id="actrade-9780199591152-593-milestone-1979"/>As he
in penance wandered through the forest.</line>
</speech>

Both these lines contain multiple speeches on single lines. They are also examples of turn-over lines, where the length of the print line is longer than the width of the book.

Printed book

media/new-699139_image72.png

XML


<displayText class="dialogue" id="actrade-9780198146285-displayText-11">
<speech><milestone id="actrade-9780198146285-milestone-434" num="344" unit="line"/><speaker>
<sc>Me.</sc>
</speaker><line part="initial">aïn uero?</line>
</speech>
<speech><speaker>
<sc>So.</sc>
</speaker><line part="medial">aío enim uero.</line>
</speech>
<speech><speaker>
<sc>Me.</sc>
</speaker><line part="medial">uerbero.</line>
</speech>
<speech><speaker>
<sc>So.</sc>
</speaker><line part="final">mentire nunc.</line>
</speech>
<speech><milestone id="actrade-9780198146285-milestone-435" num="345" unit="line"/><speaker>
<sc>Me.</sc>
</speaker><line part="initial">at iam faciam ut uerum dicas dicere.</line>
</speech>
<speech><speaker>
<sc>So.</sc>
</speaker><line part="final">quid eo est opus?</line>
</speech>
</displayText>

When specifically instructed to capture the alternative display option for split lines, include the role="altDisplay" attribute on each part line. Only use this role attribute when specifically instructed.

XML


<speech>
<milestone unit="line" num="570" id="actrade-9780198759553-506-milestone-630"/>
<speaker>
<i>Mos.</i>
</speaker>
<line part="initial" role="altDisplay">But call you this good newes?</line>
</speech>
<speech>
<speaker>
<i>Ales.</i>
</speaker>
<line part="final" role="altDisplay">I sweete hart, be they not?</line>
</speech>

Split lines are not only limited to plays. Poems and other types of authentic content might occasionally contain split lines

Printed book

media/new-split-lines-in-poem.png

XML


<p>
<displayText class="verse" id="actrade-9780198125051-displayText-24"><lineGroup id="actrade-9780198125051-lineGroup-132">
<line>
<milestone unit="line" num="600" id="actrade-9780198125051-milestone-4413"/>‘A Juror to the witness: “Did no acts</line>
<line>
<milestone unit="line" num="601" id="actrade-9780198125051-milestone-4414"/>Of
familiarity occur between</line>
<line part="initial">
<milestone unit="line" num="602" id="actrade-9780198125051-milestone-4415"/>Deceased and you?”</line>
<line part="final">‘Here Mr. Grey addressed</line>
<line>
<milestone unit="line" num="603" id="actrade-9780198125051-milestone-4416"/>The
Coroner, demurring to a reply.</line></lineGroup><lineGroup id="actrade-9780198125051-lineGroup-134">
<line>
<milestone unit="line" num="604" id="actrade-9780198125051-milestone-4417"/>‘The Coroner: “It grieves me very much</line>
<line>
<milestone unit="line" num="605" id="actrade-9780198125051-milestone-4418"/>To
pain your feelings; but I feel compelled</line>
<line>
<milestone unit="line" num="606" id="actrade-9780198125051-milestone-4419"/>To say
the question is a proper one.</line>
<line>
<milestone unit="line" num="607" id="actrade-9780198125051-milestone-4420"/>It is
the Jury's duty to gain light</line>
<line>
<milestone unit="line" num="608" id="actrade-9780198125051-milestone-4421"/>On
this exceedingly distressing case;</line>
<line>
<milestone unit="line" num="609" id="actrade-9780198125051-milestone-4422"/>The
public mind has to be satisfied;</line>
<line>
<milestone unit="line" num="610" id="actrade-9780198125051-milestone-4423"/>I owe
a duty to the public. Let</line>
<line>
<milestone unit="line" num="611" id="actrade-9780198125051-milestone-4424"/>The
witness answer.”</line></lineGroup>
</displayText>
</p>
Release ID:
20261202
ID:
OUP_Structured_Text_TCI_topic_3_23_4
Author:
dunnm
Last changed:
Wed, 04 Jun 2025
Modified by:
buckmasm
Revision#:
4400