Order of forename and initials?

[strogonoff]

Having seen this example:

    name:
      given:
        forename:
        - language:
          - en
          script:
          - Latn
          initial: V
        - language:
          - en
          script:
          - Latn
          initial: G
        formatted_initials:
          content: V.G.

I have a question about the order of formatted initials and the name. formatted_initials field isn’t part of an array, so it’s unclear whether initials go before or after forename.

For example, with names such as “Arthur C. Clarke” or “Iain M. Banks”, it’s clear that formatted_initials go after forename. However, there are names where initials could equally go before the forename.

Does this mean we need to resort to completename in scenarios where the order of initials vs. forename matters?

[ronaldtse]

Formatted initials means the initials of the given names, ie. Excluding surnames. Notice that the formatted initials are at the level of “given”, i.e. it is a rendering that covers the full set of “given” names.

The examples given above using formatted initials will be “A.C.” With surname “Clarke”. It is up to the renderer to decide whether the order is “formatted initials” then “surname” (“A.C. Clark”) or surname then initials (“CLARK, A.C.”).

Formatted initials are not technically part of the given names, and therefore does not have an order within the given names.

[strogonoff]

I see. So preserving full name exactly as provided can only be done via completename. Otherwise, it’s up to renderer.

[strogonoff]

@ronaldtse so it means, a forename can have both content and initial or either, but it cannot be lacking both?

[ronaldtse]

@strogonoff Right. A forename that does not have content or initial does not seem useful?

[ronaldtse]

Is this issue done? Can we close it @strogonoff ?