James Tauber
@jtauber.com
Using computers to better understand languages, texts, and music
Web, Python, Corpus Linguistics, Narratology, Data Visualization, Philology, Ancient Greek, Music Theory, Tolkien, Space, Retro Computing
Perseus, Greek Learner Texts, @digitaltolkien.com
Web, Python, Corpus Linguistics, Narratology, Data Visualization, Philology, Ancient Greek, Music Theory, Tolkien, Space, Retro Computing
Perseus, Greek Learner Texts, @digitaltolkien.com
Pinned
James Tauber
@jtauber.com
· Nov 3
Intro for new followers: I'm a long-time (i.e. old) Python and Web developer. Now mostly apply that to digital humanities and corpus linguistics with focus on historical languages (especially Ancient Greek) and Tolkien. Also education, data visualization, music theory, and a handful of other things.
Noticed a pattern in how Unwin assigned ISBNs in the 70s/80s that I only noticed compiling data for the Tolkien Books DB.
After the 0-04-, the publication part of the ISBN starts 82 for all the Tolkien books even though these were assigned early on and, starting 1990, lower numbers were used.
1/2
After the 0-04-, the publication part of the ISBN starts 82 for all the Tolkien books even though these were assigned early on and, starting 1990, lower numbers were used.
1/2
January 1, 2026 at 3:43 PM
Noticed a pattern in how Unwin assigned ISBNs in the 70s/80s that I only noticed compiling data for the Tolkien Books DB.
After the 0-04-, the publication part of the ISBN starts 82 for all the Tolkien books even though these were assigned early on and, starting 1990, lower numbers were used.
1/2
After the 0-04-, the publication part of the ISBN starts 82 for all the Tolkien books even though these were assigned early on and, starting 1990, lower numbers were used.
1/2
Reposted by James Tauber
If 2025 didn't stop you nothing will
January 1, 2026 at 10:55 AM
If 2025 didn't stop you nothing will
Going into 2025 I had no idea that (a) I had Type 2 Diabetes; (b) my employer was going to stop paying me. I *think* going into 2026 that I'm going to move to Germany and start my PhD but I'm now wary of assuming too much :-)
December 31, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Going into 2025 I had no idea that (a) I had Type 2 Diabetes; (b) my employer was going to stop paying me. I *think* going into 2026 that I'm going to move to Germany and start my PhD but I'm now wary of assuming too much :-)
First Tintin album goes into public domain tomorrow and more albums over next few years. Obviously translations are still under copyright but they could be retranslated. But albums from the 30s were B&W initially so presumably colour versions will remain under copyright (although can be recoloured).
December 31, 2025 at 3:44 PM
First Tintin album goes into public domain tomorrow and more albums over next few years. Obviously translations are still under copyright but they could be retranslated. But albums from the 30s were B&W initially so presumably colour versions will remain under copyright (although can be recoloured).
Reposted by James Tauber
I’ve spent this morning morbidly watching the MTV channels close down and the final songs played were:
MTV Music - Video Killed the Radio Star (Buggles)
Club MTV - Don’t Stop the Music (Rihanna)
MTV 90s - Goodbye (Spice Girls)
MTV 80s - Together in Electric Dreams (Oakey and Moroder)
MTV Music - Video Killed the Radio Star (Buggles)
Club MTV - Don’t Stop the Music (Rihanna)
MTV 90s - Goodbye (Spice Girls)
MTV 80s - Together in Electric Dreams (Oakey and Moroder)
December 31, 2025 at 10:34 AM
I’ve spent this morning morbidly watching the MTV channels close down and the final songs played were:
MTV Music - Video Killed the Radio Star (Buggles)
Club MTV - Don’t Stop the Music (Rihanna)
MTV 90s - Goodbye (Spice Girls)
MTV 80s - Together in Electric Dreams (Oakey and Moroder)
MTV Music - Video Killed the Radio Star (Buggles)
Club MTV - Don’t Stop the Music (Rihanna)
MTV 90s - Goodbye (Spice Girls)
MTV 80s - Together in Electric Dreams (Oakey and Moroder)
In which Tom pays me the greatest compliment I have ever received!
I cannot tell you how useful to my work, @jtauber.com's @digitaltolkien.com is to my work (and fun, too). #Tolkien
The Digital Tolkien Project -- How it Helps My Work
alasnotme.blogspot.com
December 30, 2025 at 8:12 PM
In which Tom pays me the greatest compliment I have ever received!
Finished Chants of Sennaar. A fascinating game with a bizarre ending that's going to take some time to evaluate.
December 30, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Finished Chants of Sennaar. A fascinating game with a bizarre ending that's going to take some time to evaluate.
One of my favourite things in my static site generation library, Ryland, is how easily I can add pagination when rendering a page per item in a list.
December 29, 2025 at 11:35 PM
One of my favourite things in my static site generation library, Ryland, is how easily I can add pagination when rendering a page per item in a list.
My first post from Lea :-)
December 29, 2025 at 9:32 PM
My first post from Lea :-)
Reposted by James Tauber
I am offering two doctoral positions (65%) in the Junior Research Group “Sustainability in Translation” (buff.ly/HULoKXy) at the University of Würzburg in Germany.
1. buff.ly/6M9fEyk
2. buff.ly/Mq4uuAm
(both until 06.01.2026)
Please share widely.
#TranslationStudies #ClassicalReceptionStudies #DH
1. buff.ly/6M9fEyk
2. buff.ly/Mq4uuAm
(both until 06.01.2026)
Please share widely.
#TranslationStudies #ClassicalReceptionStudies #DH
Junior Research Group „Sustainability in Translation“ - Junior Research Group Sustainability in Translation
The Junior Research Group develops an interdisciplinary approach to analysing the relation between the genre of translation and sustainability, combining methods from Translation Studies,…
www.klassphil.uni-wuerzburg.de
December 2, 2025 at 10:08 AM
I am offering two doctoral positions (65%) in the Junior Research Group “Sustainability in Translation” (buff.ly/HULoKXy) at the University of Würzburg in Germany.
1. buff.ly/6M9fEyk
2. buff.ly/Mq4uuAm
(both until 06.01.2026)
Please share widely.
#TranslationStudies #ClassicalReceptionStudies #DH
1. buff.ly/6M9fEyk
2. buff.ly/Mq4uuAm
(both until 06.01.2026)
Please share widely.
#TranslationStudies #ClassicalReceptionStudies #DH
Reposted by James Tauber
We may yet get to 4,000 followers by Tolkien’s birthday :-)
December 29, 2025 at 8:38 PM
We may yet get to 4,000 followers by Tolkien’s birthday :-)
On the long flight got a decent amount done on the Tolkien Books DB and made huge progress on Chants of Sennaar.
December 29, 2025 at 3:27 AM
On the long flight got a decent amount done on the Tolkien Books DB and made huge progress on Chants of Sennaar.
My December 28th has been going for 35 hours and has two more hours left. But at least I’m back in Boston (for one last time)
December 29, 2025 at 2:59 AM
My December 28th has been going for 35 hours and has two more hours left. But at least I’m back in Boston (for one last time)
About to begin my long journey back to Boston. This time I don’t miss a day but have an extra long 28th.
December 27, 2025 at 9:35 PM
About to begin my long journey back to Boston. This time I don’t miss a day but have an extra long 28th.
Reposted by James Tauber
The very first volume I bought (in 1988 when I was 14 years old)
358 of 365 - The Shaping of Middle-earth edited by Christopher #Tolkien
December 24, 2025 at 6:02 AM
The very first volume I bought (in 1988 when I was 14 years old)
Reposted by James Tauber
home.digitaltolkien.com/search/ now support searching the P-text of Volume 3
Search HoMe | HoMe Base
Look up the citation reference for a passage or see the distribution of terms and phrases
home.digitaltolkien.com
December 23, 2025 at 8:36 AM
home.digitaltolkien.com/search/ now support searching the P-text of Volume 3
Reposted by James Tauber
Reposted by James Tauber
Reposted by James Tauber
Speaking of "Lord of the Rings cover bands" which is trending...
I've always wanted to start a Smiths cover band called The Smiths of Eregion. This Charming Man becomes about Annatar.
I've always wanted to start a Smiths cover band called The Smiths of Eregion. This Charming Man becomes about Annatar.
December 20, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Speaking of "Lord of the Rings cover bands" which is trending...
I've always wanted to start a Smiths cover band called The Smiths of Eregion. This Charming Man becomes about Annatar.
I've always wanted to start a Smiths cover band called The Smiths of Eregion. This Charming Man becomes about Annatar.
Darn it. Wrote another word study for @projectamaze.com that made me tear up! Will come out around 28th.
December 20, 2025 at 1:25 AM
Darn it. Wrote another word study for @projectamaze.com that made me tear up! Will come out around 28th.
Reposted by James Tauber
I love a bit of literary tourism - visiting places I know from stories in books and films. So what a joy it was to talk to Lee Jackson about #Dickensland!
Join us for the start of the new season of #LifeandLanguage
@victorianlondon.bsky.social
open.spotify.com/episode/0aB3...
Join us for the start of the new season of #LifeandLanguage
@victorianlondon.bsky.social
open.spotify.com/episode/0aB3...
December 19, 2025 at 2:42 PM
I love a bit of literary tourism - visiting places I know from stories in books and films. So what a joy it was to talk to Lee Jackson about #Dickensland!
Join us for the start of the new season of #LifeandLanguage
@victorianlondon.bsky.social
open.spotify.com/episode/0aB3...
Join us for the start of the new season of #LifeandLanguage
@victorianlondon.bsky.social
open.spotify.com/episode/0aB3...
36 hours since I left my apartment and one more hour to go of the final flight!
December 19, 2025 at 1:03 AM
36 hours since I left my apartment and one more hour to go of the final flight!
Posted from 30,000 ft
December 19, 2025 at 12:21 AM
Posted from 30,000 ft
Crossing the international dateline
December 18, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Crossing the international dateline