LINGUIST List 5.1496

Wed 21 Dec 1994

FYI: Fonts, List of Lang Lists, Thanks

Editor for this issue: <>

Directory

1. CAVEMAN -- San Bernardino, Calif. USA, Fonts
2. Michael Everson, List of Language Lists version 1.A
3. Sherri Calvo, thanks

 +-------------------------------------+
 | This has been sent to a couple of |
 | lists, so I apologize in advance if |
 | anybody receives multiple copies. |
 +-------------------------------------+

Hello,

I am trying to create a repository of fonts for writing in indigenous
languages. I want to include both native orthographies and IPA fonts.
(I get a lot of requests for both of these types of fonts, and I see
requests for information on the list, too.)

I am interested in FTP sites for obtaining public domain/shareware
fonts, along with addresses, etc. of people or organizations that
create fonts for sale (the copyrighted fonts -- the ones you CAN'T
copy freely). I will compile a list of where to get the FTP fonts,
and a separate section with a listing of who provides which copyrighted
fonts, and how to obtain them. I will also download the fonts from
FTP sites, and pass them on to whoever asks for them.

One of the problems I encounter when I try to read the work of others, is
the usage of different orthographies by different people. I would like to
see a common (within each language) orthography for each of the languages
we all study -- the smaller language groups quite often don't have a common
orthography. (I don't know if such a thing is even possible; there may be
too much disagreement on what a font for language _____ should look like.
We seem to disagree on just about every other topic, but that's healthy,
I think.)

If I could develop a repository for fonts, then, for example, I could
write a paper about the Cahuilla language and e-mail the paper anywhere
in the world along with the font(s) necessary to read/print the paper.
(Copyrighted fonts would have to be purchased from the source.) Others
could do the same with "their" languages.

Often, when writing papers, and quoting the works of others, I need to
write using a non-standard font, so I need to make it myself, then go
back to my writing. I haven't counted them, but I have a BUNCH of
partial fonts for many languages, both orthography and IPA. However,
these partially completed fonts are based on books written as far back
as the 1800s. I seriously doubt that they represent current writing
systems. I don't want to step on anybody's toes, but I can develop
a font for any language out there. I can do both TrueType and PostScript
fonts for both the PC and Macs. However, if somebody else has already
done the work, it makes sense to use their fonts. Why re-invent the
wheel?

As far as naming the fonts I've created, I've been using the three-letter
language codes from _Ethnologue: Languages of the World_, ed. Barbara
F. Grimes, 12th ed., 1992. For example, my Cahuilla orthography is
C-CHL.TTF (TrueType for PC), and my Cahuilla IPA is C-CHL-P.TTF.

I recently responded to Jan Tent's posting about yesterday, today, and
tomorrow words. I sent her words in North American Indian languages.
She wrote back asking about some of the symbols I had used. If a common
font set was available, I could have e-mailed her a font for her computer,
and she could have read my reply with the native orthography and IPA
pronunciations in the document I sent. To me, it seems that this would
be useful to people.

I'd like to hear others' opinions about such a project (in addition to
where to FTP or buy fonts). I would especially like to hear from the
indigenous language speakers on this list, in addition to the linguists.

So send me your information and opinions, even if the opinion is, "Chuck,
you're an idiot. Scrap the whole idea." I'll post a summary to the list
if there's enough interest, otherwise I'll respond personally.

If you need a font for a language you're working on, let me know that, too.

Happy Holidays,
Chuck Coker
Work: (909) 882-2099 (United States)
Home: (909) 886-5035 (United States)
e-mail: CJCokerCSUPomona.Edu

 =========================================================================
There have been no dragons in my life, only small spiders and stepping in
gum. I could have coped with the dragons.
 -- Anonymous (but wise)

The LoLL is now available by anonymous ftp to midir.ucd.ie
in /pub/everson.

Michael Everson
School of Architecture, UCD; Richview, Clonskeagh; Dublin 14; E/ire
Phone: +353 1 706-2745 Fax: +353 1 283-7778 Home: +353 1 478-2597

Thanks to all of the many people who sent me Igor Mel'cuk's contact info,
volunteered to forward messages, etc. You're a very helpful group!

Regards,
Sherri Calvo