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  • Disruptive TEI: De-/Encoding Normative Frameworks

Disruptive TEI: De-/Encoding Normative Frameworks

Curriculum

  • 13 Sections
  • 71 Lessons
  • Lifetime
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  • Module 1: The Basics
    Build a strong foundation in TEI by learning its core structure, syntax, and key elements.
    11
    • 1.1
      1.1: What is TEI?
    • 1.2
      1.1: Quick Quiz
      3 Questions
    • 1.3
      1.2: TEI-XML and Intelligent Search
    • 1.4
      1.2: Quick Quiz
      3 Questions
    • 1.5
      1.3: Setting Up Your TEI Workspace
    • 1.6
      1.3: Quick Quiz
      3 Questions
    • 1.7
      1.4: TEI Document Structure & Key Elements
    • 1.8
      1.4: Quick Quiz
      3 Questions
    • 1.9
      1.5: Genre-Specific Encoding
    • 1.10
      1.5: Quick Quiz
      3 Questions
    • 1.11
      Live Coding Exercise: TEI Metadata
  • Module 2: Critical Encoding Practices
    Explore how text encoding reflects systems of power and how critical approaches can challenge biases in metadata and markup.
    4
    • 2.1
      2.1: Power and Representation in Text Encoding
    • 2.2
      2.2: Bias in TEI Markup and Metadata
    • 2.3
      2.3: Encoding Marginalized Voices and Alternative Perspectives
    • 2.4
      2.4: Ethical and Inclusive Encoding Practices
  • Module 3: Decolonial TEI Encoding
    Uncover colonial legacies in encoding practices and implement ethical frameworks for attribution, consent, and cultural specificity.
    5
    • 3.1
      3.1: Identifying Colonial Biases in TEI Encoding
    • 3.2
      3.2: Ethical Attribution and Contextualization
    • 3.3
      3.3: Consent-Based & Community-Defined Metadata
    • 3.4
      3.4: Implementing Traditional Knowledge Labels
    • 3.5
      3.5: Challenging Assumptions of Universality and Neutrality
  • Module 4: Cultural Knowledge and Editorial Responsibility
    Interrogate editorial neutrality, embrace relational responsibility, and center community protocols in your encoding decisions.
    6
    • 4.1
      4.1: Disrupting Editorial Neutrality
    • 4.2
      4.2: Archival Silences: Encoding Absence and Refusal
    • 4.3
      4.3: Cultural Protocols and Community Authority
    • 4.4
      4.4: Relational Responsibility Beyond Attribution
    • 4.5
      4.5: Ethics in Metadata: Naming, Identity, and Consent
    • 4.6
      4.6: Encoding Epistemologies and Resisting Eurocentric Taxonomies
  • Module 5: Antiracist Markup Strategies
    Develop strategies for addressing racial bias, linguistic marginalization, and whitewashed textual representations in TEI.
    5
    • 5.1
      5.1: Introduction to Antiracist TEI Encoding
    • 5.2
      5.2: Dialects and Code-Switching
    • 5.3
      5.3: Textual Erasure and Whitewashing
    • 5.4
      5.4: Structural Norms and Editorial Power
    • 5.5
      5.5: Positionality and Editorial Perspective
  • Module 6: Encoding Language Diversity and Multilingualism
    Address linguistic injustice by encoding diverse, non-standard, and community-centered languages in respectful and effective ways.
    5
    • 6.1
      6.1: Language, Power, and Digital Editions
    • 6.2
      6.2: TEI Basics for Multilingual Texts
    • 6.3
      6.3: Community Languages and Non-Standard Varieties
    • 6.4
      6.4: Addressing Linguistic Injustice
    • 6.5
      6.5: Visualizing and Presenting Multilingual Editions
  • Module 7: Queer Perspectives and Markup Beyond the Binary
    Apply queer theory to encoding practices by exploring fluidity, nonlinear narratives, and resistance to binary structures.
    5
    • 7.1
      7.1: Queer Theory and Textual Encoding
    • 7.2
      7.2: Encoding Fluid Identities and Relationships
    • 7.3
      7.3: Queering Authorship and Attribution
    • 7.4
      7.4: Queer Temporalities and Nonlinear Narratives
    • 7.5
      7.5: Encoding Queer Linguistic Practices
  • Module 8: Cripping TEI: Encoding Disability, Neurodivergence, and Access
    Center disabled and neurodivergent experiences in encoding through principles of care, multimodality, and temporal disruption.
    6
    • 8.1
      8.1: Disability Studies, Crip Theory, and Digital Normativity
    • 8.2
      8.2: Disability Representation: Visibility, Consent, and Power
    • 8.3
      8.3: TEI Elements and Critical Metadata for Representing Disability
    • 8.4
      8.4: Crip Time, Temporal Disruption, and Nonlinearity
    • 8.5
      8.5: Multimodal and Access-Centered Encoding
    • 8.6
      8.6: Care, Access, and Responsibility
  • Module 9: Nonlinear, Fluid, and Ambiguous Texts
    Learn to represent polyvocal, performative, and evolving texts that defy traditional textual boundaries and require ethical flexibility.
    7
    • 9.2
      9.1: Challenging Linearity: Encoding Fluid and Living Narratives
    • 9.3
      9.2: Encoding Ambiguity, Multiplicity, and Uncertainty
    • 9.4
      9.3: Multi-Voiced and Polyphonic Texts
    • 9.5
      9.4: Spatial, Visual, and Performative Texts
    • 9.6
      9.5: Care-Centered Strategies for Encoding Complex Texts
    • 9.7
      9.6: Embodied Knowledge: Encoding Performance, Gesture, and Sensory Texts
  • Module 10: Markup for Change: Encoding Embodiment, Equity, and Environment
    Engage with affect, trauma, resistance, and environmental justice to explore how markup can become a form of advocacy and healing.
    6
    • 10.1
      10.1: Encoding Affect, Embodiment, and Intuitive Knowledge
    • 10.2
      10.2: Trauma and Loss: Encoding Silences and Difficult Histories
    • 10.3
      10.3: Resistance and Alternative Literacies
    • 10.4
      10.4: TEI and Environmental Humanities
    • 10.5
      10.5: Anti-Neoliberal TEI: Encoding Beyond Efficiency, Ownership, and Commodification
    • 10.6
      10.6: Data Justice and Encoding Against Surveillance
  • Module 12: Teaching with TEI: Composition, Code, and Critical Reading
    Design inclusive, multimodal, and critical pedagogy strategies using TEI as a tool for close reading, authorship, and data ethics.
    6
    • 11.1
      12.1: Text Encoding as Critical Reading
    • 11.2
      12.6: Grading Code with Care: Critical Approaches to Assessment
    • 11.3
      12.2: Textual Analysis with TEI
    • 11.4
      12.3: Multimodal TEI Assignments
    • 11.5
      12.4: Teaching Data Ethics and Representation
    • 11.6
      12.5: Collaborative Student Projects
  • Module 11: From Authority to Accountability: Collaborative Approaches to TEI
    Shift from single-author control to collective responsibility through equitable workflows and shared encoding practices.
    5
    • 12.1
      11.1: Rethinking Authorship
    • 12.2
      11.2: Ethical Frameworks for Collective Encoding
    • 12.3
      11.3: Equitable Workflow Design
    • 12.4
      11.4: Tools and Platforms for Collaborative TEI Encoding
    • 12.5
      11.5: Strategies for Managing Multi-Author Projects
  • Module 13: Beyond Encoding: Analyzing & Visualizing TEI Data
    Translate encoded data into stories, visualizations, and public-facing scholarship while attending to ethical data practices.
    6
    • 13.1
      13.1: Analyzing TEI Data
    • 13.2
      13.2: Visualization Techniques for TEI
    • 13.3
      13.3: Publishing TEI Projects Responsibly
    • 13.4
      13.4: Telling Stories with TEI
    • 13.5
      13.5: The Risks of Interoperability: TEI Meets Linked Open Data
    • 13.6
      13.6: Public Humanities Projects

1.3: Setting Up Your TEI Workspace

Lesson 1.3: Getting Started with TEI Encoding

Introduction

This lesson outlines the essential tools and setup required to create valid TEI-XML documents, including choosing an appropriate editor, configuring schema support, and validating encoded files.

Choosing a TEI-Compatible Editor

To begin encoding with TEI, an XML-capable text editor is essential. Editors come in two main forms: desktop-based (installed on a local computer) and web-based (used through a browser without installation). Web-based tools often support ease of access and real-time collaboration, while desktop editors offer deeper customization, offline access, and advanced features.

Options range from professional tools like oXygen to open-source and browser-based environments that support collaboration, validation, and customization. The table below compares leading editors across key criteria, helping users choose a setup that fits their technical level, project goals, and collaborative needs.

Editor Cost Schema Support Validation Ease of Use Collaboration Features Best For
oXygen XML Editor Starting from $240
Academic licenses $6/month
Free Trial		 Full TEI P5 support (RNG, DTD, XSD); TEI templates included Built-in validator; schema-aware auto-completion Intermediate to advanced Can integrate with Git, SVN, or Oxygen XML Web Author for shared editing Comprehensive professional TEI projects; advanced encoding and collaboration
oXygen XML Web Author Starting from $672/month
Free Trial		 Same as desktop version Real-time schema validation in browser Beginner-friendly UI; visual and raw XML views Real-time collaboration; comments; version history Collaborative classroom or team-based encoding
XML Copy Editor Free, open source Supports DTD and Relax NG Manual validation; less intuitive than oXygen Intermediate None (no built-in sharing or version control) Offline personal projects or teaching simple schemas
Visual Studio Code with XML Tools + TEI plugins Free, open source Supports DTD, RNG via plugins (e.g., Red Hat XML extension) External extension configuration Moderate (requires setup) Git-based collaboration; GitHub Codespaces or Live Share Teams with developer experience; adaptable to classroom collaboration
TEI Publisher Free (web-based) TEI P5 and TEI Simple supported Not built for editing — view-only Easy for beginners to view structure and output None Designing or customizing TEI schemas; teaching markup structure; creating project-specific encoding frameworks
Roma TEI Free (web-based) Full TEI P5 support; generates custom ODD schemas Indirect (generates schemas for validation in other tools) Easy to moderate (form-based interface, but concepts may be new to beginners) None Schema customization; teaching structure and publishing output; not for encoding
Sublime Text $70
Free Trial		 With external XML plugins only Limited support; setup required Fast and minimalist Git integration possible (via plugins); not designed for live collaboration Lightweight editing for experienced users

At a Glance

  • Best for beginners: oXygen XML Editor (desktop) or TEI Simple Publisher (if viewing structure only).
  • Best collaborative option: TEI Publisher or oXygen XML Web Author for real-time TEI projects.
  • Low-cost, team-friendly alternative: VS Code + GitHub — great for remote teams and users who prefer customizable, open-source tools and are comfortable using version control systems.

Schema Selection

TEI documents follow strict XML rules, enforced by schemas. A schema is a set of rules that define the structure, elements, and attributes allowed in a TEI document, ensuring consistency and correctness. Schemas serve as a blueprint that helps maintain interoperability between different TEI-encoded texts and ensures adherence to TEI standards. They also enable automatic validation, helping users detect errors in their XML structure. TEI schemas come in different formats, such as Relax NG (preferred for TEI), DTD, and XSD (see table below).

However, as the TEI Guidelines point out, it is important to remember that every schema results from an interpretation of a text and that there is no single schema encompassing the absolute truth about any text, although it may be convenient to privilege some schemas above others for particular types of analysis.

Schema Type Full Name Description Usage
Relax NG Regular Language for XML Next Generation A modern, compact, and flexible schema format. Can be written in XML or in a more readable compact syntax The default and recommended schema type for TEI validation and customization
XSD XML Schema Definition More complex and formal. Often used in enterprise or government XML applications Supported in TEI but less commonly used than Relax NG. Useful for interoperability with tools that require it
DTD Document Type Definition The oldest schema language for XML. Simple and widely supported, but limited in flexibility Still supported by TEI but gradually being phased out for more powerful options

Setting Up Your Editor for TEI

Once you’ve chosen an editor, follow these steps to set up your workspace for TEI encoding:

1. Installing TEI Schemas

To ensure your encoding is correct, install the TEI schema in your editor:

  • Oxygen XML Editor: Go to Options > Preferences > Document Type Association, then Add TEI.
  • Visual Studio Code: Install the XML Language Support by Red Hat extension by navigating to the Extensions Marketplace (Ctrl + Shift + X), searching for "XML Language Support by Red Hat," and clicking "Install." This extension provides TEI schema validation, XML formatting, and auto-completion to assist with structured encoding. Once installed, you can configure TEI schemas in your workspace settings.
  • Roma: A web-based tool that allows users to customize TEI schemas by selecting specific modules relevant to their projects. Users can generate custom ODD (One Document Does-it-all) schemas tailored to their needs. Access Roma here: Roma TEI.
  • Download TEI schemas from TEI Guidelines.

2. Enabling XML Validation

Always check for well-formed XML before encoding complex texts. Common errors are mismatched tags, missing attributes, incorrect nesting. Validation ensures that the document adheres to XML syntax rules.

  • Oxygen XML Editor: Press Ctrl + Shift + V to validate your TEI document.
  • Visual Studio Code: Install the XML Tools extension for automatic validation. You can download it from the Visual Studio Marketplace. Relax NG schemas, commonly used for TEI validation, can also be enabled to ensure that TEI-encoded texts adhere to standard guidelines.
  • Roma: Roma allows users to validate TEI-encoded texts by applying TEI schemas directly in a web-based interface. Users can upload a TEI file or paste their text, and Roma will check it against the selected schema to ensure proper encoding and compliance with TEI standards.
The oXygen editing interface
The oXygen editing interface — Source: “An Introduction to XML and TEI”

Works Cited

  • TEI Consortium. A Gentle Introduction to XML. TEI: Guidelines for Electronic Text Encoding and Interchange, TEI Consortium, 2025, tei-c.org/release/doc/tei-p5-doc/en/html/SG.html. Accessed February 20, 2025.
  • University of Illinois. An Introduction to XML and TEI. University Library LibGuides, 8 Nov. 2023, guides.library.illinois.edu/xml/oxygen. Accessed May 2, 2025.

Suggested Readings

  • TEI Consortium. “Tools.” TEI: Guidelines for Electronic Text Encoding and Interchange, TEI Consortium, 2025, tei-c.org/tools/.
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