The Classification of Handwriting Features of the Kazakh Language Written in Latin Script

Abstract

Abstract In 2017, the Republic of Kazakhstan began the phased transition of its alphabet from Cyrillic to Latin script. This transition has presented significant challenges to Kazakhstani document examiners, who have yet to develop appropriate methodologies for the analysis of handwriting samples written in the Kazakh language using Latin letters. This study aims to identify distinguishing macro and micro features of letters within Kazakh writing samples produced using the Latin alphabet and determine their frequencies of occurrence and discriminating power indices. Micro features were examined using the four most frequently appearing letters: “a”, “y”, “e” and “n”. A comparative analysis of tested Latin letters with those of a similar configuration in Cyrillic demonstrated differences in the number of distinguishing features, as well as in the frequency of occurrence and discriminating power indices of similar features. These results show that separate statistical bases should be used for Latin and Cyrillic letters when analysing handwriting samples based on the frequencies of occurrence of micro and macro writing features. Key PointsThe Republic of Kazakhstan is currently moving from the use of a Cyrillic alphabet to a Latin one.Kazakhstani document examiners are faced with new difficulties in the identification of handwriting samples based on Latin script.In this article, 100 Kazakh-language handwriting samples prepared using Latin letters were obtained from Kazakh nationals and analysed.Distinguishing macro and micro features within these samples were identified and their frequencies of occurrence and discriminating power indices were calculated.Results from this study show that features of Latin letters should be analysed using a separate statistical base from that used for Cyrillic.