Finding structure in diversity: a hierarchical clustering method for the categorization of allographs in handwriting

The paper introduces a variant of agglomerative hierarchical clustering techniques. The new technique is used for categorizing character shapes (allographs) in large data sets of handwriting into a hierarchical structure. Such a technique may be used as the basis for a systematic naming scheme of character shapes. Problems with existing methods are described and the proposed method is explained. After application of the method to a very large set of characters, separately for all the letters of the alphabet, relevant clusters are identified and given a unique name. Each cluster represents an allograph prototype.