The transliteration of characters from non-Latin scripts differs from target language to target language and from purpose to purpose (literal/phonetic). The encoding of special characters that are used in these transliterations does as well.
The online-converter 2cyr.com now provides a tool for the automatic transliteration of languages written in Kyrillic to Latin script and vice versa. It is also possible to use an individually created transliteration for special needs.
For the lack of a common one-to-one encoding of characters within one transliteration system the machine-based conversion of bibliographic data is difficult. Nevertheless 2cyr.com is a useful instrument and with the help of a screen keyboard it is possible to make requests to Unicode-based library catalogues, bibliographical databases, search engines in general and paste the received information to the own reference management software.
individuelle Anpassung der Umschrift für jedes einzelne Zeichen
A further project of JewishGen, the Online Worldwide Burial Registry (JOWBR) collects data from tombstone inscriptions of and death records.
The data base is searchable by names and regions, sometimes even photographs of the gravestones (matzevot) are displayed. JewishGen-volunteers also help with translating
and/or transliterating Hebrew inscriptions. The cooperating Jewish Cemetery Project, identifies jewish burial sites worldwide and offers closer information about each particular cemetery.
Transliteration of non-latin scripts very often adapts to the sound of the target language.
For instance the name of the Russian author Солженицын is transliterated Solschenizyn in German, Solzhenitsyn in English and Soljentisyne in French. Research libraries all over the world apply specific standards for transliteration according to their national rules of catalogizing. Unfortunately very often it is difficult to figure out from the websites of the libraries.
Online Public Access Catalogs (OPAC) which transliteration system is applied for which language.
An introduction to this subject that deals with the transliteration of Hebrew offers the online-publication of Susanne Marquardt.
