Dear notsoeasyread :-)
The Mellen “Studies in Religion” sales literature describes a number
of interesting books. I believe that The Gathering of the Gospels by
Morton covers your subject as described. Morton , developed the text
analysis algorithm, CUSUM to assist in the computer- assisted analysis
of disputed authorship. Both Morton and CUSUM are frequently cited in
academic papers on this subject. However, I infer that the program is
a relatively small part of the authorship analysis compared to the
expert knowledge required to apply it to such works as Mark and John.
[Large quote follows as I don't think copyright is an issue for sales
material]
“Morton, A. Q.THE GATHERING OF THE GOSPELS: From Papyrus to Printout
This book examines the planning and production of the original copies
of the four gospels and Acts. It provides much new information about
these books and the relations between them. The progression from first
to last is shown to be a logical sequence of addition and expansion.
A. Q. Morton, recognised a world leading authority on disputed
authorship, now shows the precise extent of the indebtedness and how
the different sections were combined to make the books. . . . Morton
boldly asks, if the first three are compilations, is it not likely the
fourth is also one? This thought is nathema to most scholars, but the
book demonstrates that this gospel is
combination of two major sources in an ingenious way. One of these
sources is akin to Mark, but shows no direct dependence on it, the
other is distinctively different from the other gospels. The analysis
of John is the most remarkable section of the book, but it is full of
fresh information. It sparkles with apposite illustrations and the
flashes of insight that are a feature of this writer's work. The book
will compel students of the New Testament to revise many of their most
cherished ideas, not just about the gospels but about Jesus and the
origins of the Christian church." - James McLeman
[Mellen Biblical Press No. 53]
0-7734-2427-X $69.95/£39.95 152pp. 1997
A.Q. Morton is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. He is best
known, perhaps, for his pioneering work in bringing the academy
face-to-face with the computer revolution ( Christianity in the
Computer Age, 1964). He has also written major works on the Gospels,
Acts, and Paul ( The Structure of the Fourth Gospel, 1961; The Genesis
of John, 1980; The Structure of Luke-Acts,
1964; Paul, The Man and the Myth, 1966); and The Making of Mark
(Mellen, 1996).”
Morton, A. Q., THE MAKING OF MARK also seems quite relevant.
http://www.mellenpress.com/assets/religion.pdf
_____
Clough, Paul,
Intellectual Property: Copy detection and plagiarism shows a
commercial use of CUSUM.
http://www.dcs.shef.ac.uk/~cloughie/papers/references.pdf
A.Q. Morton’s work is also quoted in this Oxford Journal analysis of
Shakespeare, by Gabriel Egan et al:
http://www3.oup.co.uk/ywes/hdb/Volume_80/Issue_01/pdf/mae006.pdf
_____
Unlikely, but recent news possibility:
Ball, Philip, Algorithm makes tongue tree
http://www.nature.com/nsu/020121/020121-2.html
_____
Algorithm descriptions:
Ashford, Tom, Computerised Disputed of Authorship: The Cusum Method
http://www.dcs.shef.ac.uk/teaching/eproj/ug2001/pdf/u8tja.pdf
Aaronson, Scott, Stylometric Clustering: a comparison of data driven
and syntactic features
http://www.cs.berkeley.edu/~aaronson/sc.doc
Search Terms
Initial search terms related to the BBC and bible and software were
not very useful but led to refinement of the search to authorship eg:
"disputed authorship" software epistles
authorship gospels
and “A. Q. Morton”
Despite many, many search attempts on the BBC site and the web, I am
sorry that I could not manage to definitively link Morton with the
BBC. However, I believe his works are an excellent match for your
desired subjects. I hope this is satisfactory
Regards, |
