#54 Design of glyph for U+E8BF

[Robin Walker]

In Junicode, the design of the glyph for U+E8BF LATIN SMALL LETTER Q LIGATED WITH FINAL ET matches that shown in the MUFI specification. In that design, the character looks like a "q" ligated with a squiggle resembling a numeral "3", with the latter being at nearly full size. But, in all the examples that I have seen of this character in printed works, the squiggle "3" is smaller and wholly below the baseline, attached to the descender of the "q". I have attached two examples of this character, as printed in works from 1574 and from 1850.

Is it possible to have an alternate form for this character which more resembles the forms seen in those works?

[Robin Walker]

Second attachment

[Peter Baker]

That is certainly a possible form, but position of the squiggle in Junicode is well attested: see e.g. this example from the Gutenberg Bible. Junicode does have several variant shapes of glyphs--mainly when these are mandated by MUFI, or for backwards compatibility when the Junicode design itself has changed. But I am reluctant to admit too many variant shapes, for the purpose of a font like this is not to enable editors to reproduce the look of their sources, but rather the meaning. There is no possibility of confusion here.