Academic Scientific JournalsBeyond Reading and Writing: Paleography and Digitization in the Transformation of Philological Practice
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26881/sgg.2025.53.03Keywords:
AI‒assisted transcription, transkribus, historical handwriting, digital philology, handwritten text recognition (HTR)Abstract
This article examines how AI-assisted transcription tools, particularly Transkribus, transform philological work with historical manuscripts. By enabling the semi-automated reading of handwritten texts, Transkribus allows scholars to process large volumes of archival material that would otherwise remain inaccessible. The article discusses the strengths and limitations of handwritten text recognition (HTR) and highlights how machine-assisted transcription complements, rather than replaces, human interpretation. It argues that the integration of AI into philology enhances accessibility, supports critical engagement, and opens new possibilities for research in the digital humanities.
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Copyright by Instytut Filologii Germańskiej, Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Gdańskiego.
