5. Working Group on Romanization Systems
Convenor
Peeter Päll (Estonia) E-mail Mr. Päll (peeter.pall@eki.ee)
Mandate
The basic mandate of the Working Group is to consider and reach agreement on a single romanization system for geographical names proposed by a (donor) country using a non-Roman writing system. The process requires time for full consultations on technical matters between the Working Group, the proposers and potential users. Romanization systems should be based on sound scientific principles and be implemented by the proposing country. New systems are referred to the United Nations Conferences on the Standardization of Geographical Names for resolution and vote before becoming a United Nations standard.
The Working Group contributed Part one, “Romanization systems for geographical names” to UNGEGN’s Technical reference manual for the standardization of geographical names, published by the United Nations in 2007.
In 2009, the Working Group contributed expertise to assist the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to develop documentation needed for the submission of proposals for new top-level domain names in non-Roman scripts.
Latest reports of the Working Group
- UNGEGN Information Bulletin 42, March 2012
- Report by the Convenor, 26th UNGEGN 2011, W.P. 2
- UNGEGN Information Bulletin 38, March 2010
- Report by the Convenor, 25th UNGEGN 2009, W.P.22
- Ninth Conference, New York, 2007, E/CONF.98/CRP.3
- Ninth Conference, New York, 2007, E/CONF.98/2.Add.1
- UNGEGN Information Bulletin 33, March 2007
- Report by the Convenor, 24th UNGEGN 2007, W.P.8
- UNGEGN Information Bulletin 32, September 2006
- Report by the Convenor, 23rd UNGEGN 2006, W.P.98
- Report by the Convenor, 22nd UNGEGN 2004, W.P.46
- Report by the Convenor, 21st UNGEGN 2002, W.P.3
- United Nations Romanization Systems for Geographical Names- Report on their current status (8th UNCSGN 2002), E/CONF.94/CRP.81. Updates in W.P.48 of the 22nd UNGEGN Session, 2004
- Report of the Working Group on Romanization Systems: activities from January 1998 to May 2002 (8th UNCSGN 2002), E/CONF.94/CRP.80
- Report of the Working Group on Romanization Systems in UNGEGN Newsletter 24, July 2001
- Report of the Working Group on Romanization Systems in UNGEGN Newsletter 23, July 2000
Resolutions on Romanization from the Ninth Conference
- IX/8. Implementation of romanization systems by sponsoring countries
- IX/9. Romanization of Hebrew
Recent meetings of the Working Group
The Working Group met in conjunction with the Working Group on Exonyms in 2012, during the 25th Session of UNGEGN in Nairobi, 2009; during the Ninth Conference in New York, August 2007; and in conjunction with the Baltic Division meeting in Tallinn, October 2006.
Website
The Working Group has its own website at http://www.eki.ee/wgrs/:
- The website contains updated versions of romanization systems (currently for 45 languages) as presented to the Conferences and in Working Group documents;
- Romanization systems are available for download as pdf and html files.
