Description Of The Kannada Language

Kannada Unicode Design Guide (Version 1.0/March 2002)

Resource Center for Indian Language Technology Solutions - Kannada Department of Management Studies Indian Institute of Science Bangalore 560 012

Sponsored by Technology Development for Indian Languages Mission Ministry of Communications and Information Technology Government of India Kannada Unicode Design Guide (Version 1.0)

Abstract: This document provides general information about the Kannada language and conventions of its usage in computers. It provides information about the Input, Storage, Display and Printing of Kannada Characters. We strongly feel that this information gathered from various standards is necessary for the correct usage of the language in various applications of Kannada Language Computing. It also includes the sorting sequence for Kannada in Unicode.

Electronic version of this document will also be made available on the following websites:

– http://www.kannudi.org/ilts

– http://mgmt.iisc.ernet.in/~nanitha/

Note 1: This document contains Unicode characters and can be viewed using MS Office XP on Windows XP or equivalent

Note 2: The Convention followed in Unicode (Version 3.0) Chapter 9 (South and Southeast Asian Scripts) is used in this document and might differ from the notation commonly used in the Kannada Script.

Contact Information:

Chief Investigator Resource Centre for Indian Language Technology Solutions- Kannada Department of Management Studies Indian Institute of Science Bangalore – 560 012

Phone : 91-80-346 6022 / 394 2377 (Dir) 91-80-394 2378 / 394 2567 Fax : 91-80-346 6022 / 3600683 / 3600085 Email : [email protected] Table of Contents 1. History of Kannada Language 5 1.1 Description of Kannada Language 5 1.2 Brief introduction to Kannada language 6 1.2.1 Vowels 6 1.2.2 Anuswaras 6 1.2.3 Visarga 6 1.2.4 Avagraha 6 1.2.5 Consonants 6 1.2.6 Basic Language Rule in Kannada 7 2. Technical Characteristics 9 2.1 Kannada Alphabet Characteristic 9 2.1.1 Consonant Letters 9 2.1.2 Independent Vowel Letters 9 2.1.3 Dependent Vowel Signs 9 2.1.4 Virama (Halant) 11 2.1.5 Consonant Conjuncts 11 2.1.6 Visarg 12 2.1.7 Avagrah 12 2.1.8 Numerals 12 2.1.9 Punctuation Marks 12 2.1.10 Ancient Signs 12 2.2 Fonts 12 2.2.1 Font developing Tools 12 2.3 Keyboard 13 2.4 Presentation and Storage Considerations 14 2.5 Rendering Rules 14 2.5.1 Dead Consonant Rule 15 2.5.2 Consonant RA Rules 15 2.5.3 Ligature Rules 16 2.6 Sorting issues in Kannada 17 2.6.1 Sorting of Nukta characters 17 2.6.2 Sorting the data records containing anuswara and visarga 17 2.6.3 Sorting of words with dead consonants 18 2.6.4 Sorting of Conjuncts having two different display forms 19 2.6.5 Sorting of Diacritic characters 19 2.6.6 Conclusion 19 Kannada Unicode Design Guide Version 1.0/ March 2002

3. References 20

Appendix 1: Unicode chart and the Collation chart if deletion and relocation are not allowed 21 Appendix 2: Unicode chart and the Collation chart if deletion and relocation are allowed 24 Appendix 3: Output from FontLab displaying all glyphs in the glyph set standardised by KGP 27

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1. History of Kannada Language

Kannada is a south Indian language spoken in Karnataka state of India.Kannada is originated from the Dravidian Language. Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam are the other South Indian Languages originated from Dravidian Language. Kannada and Telugu have almost the same script. Malayalam and Tamil have resemblance. Kannada as a language has undergone modifications since BCs. It can be classified into four types-

Purva Halegannada (from the beginning till 10th Century)

Halegannada (from 10th Century to 12th Century)

Nadugannada (from 12th Century to 15th Century)

Hosagannada (from 15th Century)

1.1 Description of Kannada Script

Kannada script is the visual form of Kannada language. It originated from southern Bramhi lipi of Ashoka period. It underwent modifications periodically in the reign of Sathavahanas, Kadambas, Gangas, Rastrakutas, and Hoysalas. Even before seventh-Century, the Telugu-Kannada script was used in the inscriptions of the Kadambas of Banavasi and the early Chalukya of Badami in the west. From the middle of the seventh century the archaic variety of the Telugu-Kannada script developed a middle variety. The modern Kannada and Telugu scripts emerged in the thirteenth Century. Kannada script is also used to write Tulu, Konkani and Kodava languages.

Kannada along with other Indian language scripts shares a large number of structural features. The writing system of Kannada script encompasses the principles governing the phonetics and a syllabic writing systems, and phonemic writing systems (alphabets). The effective unit of writing Kannada is the orthographic syllable consisting of a consonant and vowel (CV) core and optionally, one or more preceding consonants, with a canonical structure of ((C) C) CV. The orthographic syllable need not correspond exactly with a phonological syllable, especially when a consonant cluster is involved, but the writing system is built on phonological principles and tends to correspond quite closely to pronunciation. The orthographic syllable is built up of alphabetic pieces, the actual letters of Kannada script. These consist of distinct character types: Consonant letters, independent vowels and the corresponding dependent vowel signs. In a text sequence, these characters are stored in logical phonetic order.

The Kannada block of Unicode Standard (0C80 to 0CFF) is based on ISCII-1988 (Indian Standard Code for Information Interchange). The Unicode Standard (Version 3) encodes Kannada characters in the same relative positions as those coded in the ISCII-1988 standard.

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1.2 Brief introduction to Kannada language

1.2.1 Vowels (Swaras) Vowels are the independently existing letters which are called Swaras. They are-

ಅ ಆ ಇ ಈ ಉ ಊ ಋ ಎ ಏ ಐ ಒ ಓ ಔ

There are two types of Swaras depending on the time used to pronounce. They are Hrasva Swara and Deerga Swara.

Hrasva Swara

A freely existing independent vowel which can be pronounced in a single matra time (matra kala) also called as a matra. They are-

ಅ ಇ ಉ ಋ ಎ ಐ ಒ ಔ

Deergha Swara A freely existing independent vowel which can be pronounced in two matras. They are-

ಆ ಈ ಊ ಏ ಓ

1.2.2 Anuswaras ಅಅ

1.2.3 Visarga ಅಅ

1.2.4 Avagraha Also called as Plutha, which is used for the third matra either in a consonant or a vowel.

1.2.5 Consonants (Vyanjanas) These are dependent on vowels to take a independent form of the Consonant.These can be divided into Vargeeya and Avargeeya.

Vargeeya Vyanjanas

ಕಕ ಖಖ ಗಗ ಘಘ ಙಙ ಚಚ ಛಛ ಜಜ ಝಝ ಞಞ ತತ ಥಥ ದದ ಧಧ ನನ ಟಟ ಠಠ ಡಡ ಢಢ ಣಣ ಪಪ ಫಫ ಬಬ ಭಭ ಮಮ

Avargeeya Vyanjanas

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ಯಯ ರರ ಲಲ ವವ ಶಶ ಷಷ ಸಸ ಹಹ ಳಳ

1.2.6 Basic Language Rule in Kannada

When a dependent consonant combines with an independent vowel, a Akshara is formed.

Consonant (Vyanjana) + Vowel (matra) ---> Letter (Akshara)

Example: ಕ + ಅ ---> ಕ

Based on this rule we can combine all the Consonants (Vyanjanas) with the existing Vowels (matra) to form Kagunitha for Kannada alphabet.

ಕ ಕಕಾ ಕಿ ಕಿಕೀ ಕಕು ಕಕೂ ಕಕೃ ಕಕೆ ಕಕೆಕೀ ಕಕೆಕೈ ಕಕೆಕೂ ಕಕೆಕೂಕೀಕಕೌಕಅ ಖ ಖಕಾ ಖಿ ಖಿಕೀ ಖಕು ಖಕೂ ಖಕೃ ಖಕೆ ಖಕೆಕೀ ಖಕೆಕೈ ಖಕೆಕೂ ಖಕೆಕೂಕೀಖಕೌಖಅ ಗ ಗಕಾ ಗಿ ಗಿಕೀ ಗಕು ಗಕೂ ಗಕೃ ಗಕೆ ಗಕೆಕೀ ಗಕೆಕೈ ಗಕೆಕೂ ಗಕೆಕೂಕೀಗಕೌಗಅ ಘ ಘಾ ಘಿ ಘಿಕೀ ಘಘೃ ಘೆ ಘೆಕೀ ಘೆಕೈ ಘೆಕೂ ಘೆಕೂ ಘೆಕೂಕೀಘಕೌಘಅ ಙ ಙಾ ಙ ಙಙಕೀ ಙಕು ಙಕೂ ಙಕೃ ಙ ಙಙಕೀ ಙಕೈ ಙಙೊ ಙಙೊಕೀ ಙೌ ಙಅ ಙಅ ಚ ಚಕಾ ಚಿ ಚಿಕೀ ಚಕು ಚಕೂ ಚಕೃ ಚಕೆ ಚಕೆಕೀ ಚಕೆಕೈ ಚಕೆಕೂ ಚಕೆಕೂಕೀಚಕೌಚಅ ಛಕಾ ಛಿ ಛಿಕೀ ಛಕು ಛಕೂ ಛಕೃ ಛಕೆ ಛಕೆಕೀ ಛಕೆಕೈ ಛಕೆಕೂ ಛಕೆಕೂಕೀಛಕೌಛಅ ಜ ಜಕಾ ಜಿ ಜಿಕೀ ಜಕು ಜಕೂ ಜಕೃ ಜಕೆ ಜಕೆಕೀ ಜಕೆಕೈ ಜಕೆಕೂ ಜಕೆಕೂಕೀಜಕೌಜಅ ಝ ಝಕಾ ಝಿ ಝಿಕೀ ಝಕು ಝಕೂ ಝಕೃ ಝೆ ಝೆಕೀ ಝೆಕೈ ಝೊ ಝೊಕೀಝಕೌಝಅ ಞ ಞಾ ಞಙ ಞಙಕೀ ಞಞು ಞಙೊ ಞಕೃ ಞಙ ಞಙಕೀ ಞಙಕೈ ಞಙಙೊ ಞಙಙೊಕೀ ಞೌ ಞಅ ಞಅ ತ ತಕಾ ತಿ ತಿಕೀ ತಕು ತಕೂ ತಕೃ ತಕೆ ತಕೆಕೀ ತಕೆಕೈ ತಕೆಕೂ ತಕೆಕೂಕೀತಕೌತಅ ಥ ಥಕಾ ಥಿ ಥಿಕೀ ಥಕು ಥಕೂ ಥಕೃ ಥಕೆ ಥಕೆಕೀ ಥಕೆಕೈ ಥಕೆಕೂ ಥಕೆಕೂಕೀಥಕೌಥಅ ದ ದಕಾ ದಿ ದಿಕೀ ದಕು ದಕೂ ದಕೃ ದಕೆ ದಕೆಕೀ ದಕೆಕೈ ದಕೆಕೂ ದಕೆಕೂಕೀದಕೌದಅ ಧ ಧಕಾ ಧಿ ಧಿಕೀ ಧಕು ಧಕೂ ಧಕೃ ಧಕೆ ಧಕೆಕೀ ಧಕೆಕೈ ಧಕೆಕೂ ಧಕೆಕೂಕೀಧಕೌಧಅ ನ ನಕಾ ನಿ ನಿಕೀ ನಕು ನಕೂ ನಕೃ ನಕೆ ನಕೆಕೀ ನಕೆಕೈ ನಕೆಕೂ ನಕೆಕೂಕೀನಕೌನಅ ಟ ಟಕಾ ಟಿ ಟಿಕೀ ಟಕು ಟಕೂ ಟಕೃ ಟಕೆ ಟಕೆಕೀ ಟಕೆಕೈ ಟಕೆಕೂ ಟಕೆಕೂಕೀಟಕೌಟಅ ಠ ಠಕಾ ಠಿ ಠಿಕೀ ಠಕು ಠಕೂ ಠಕೃ ಠಕೆ ಠಕೆಕೀ ಠಕೆಕೈ ಠಕೆಕೂ ಠಕೆಕೂಕೀಠಕೌಠಅ ಡ ಡಕಾ ಡಿ ಡಿಕೀ ಡಕು ಡಕೂ ಡಕೃ ಡಕೆ ಡಕೆಕೀ ಡಕೆಕೈ ಡಕೆಕೂ ಡಕೆಕೂಕೀಡಕೌಡಅ

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ಡ ಢಕಾ ಢಿ ಢಿಕೀ ಢಕು ಢಕೂ ಢಕೃ ಢಕೆ ಢಕೆಕೀ ಢಕೆಕೈ ಢಕೆಕೂ ಢಕೆಕೂಕೀಢಕೌಢಅ ಣ ಣಕಾ ಣಿ ಣಿಕೀ ಣಕು ಣಕೂ ಣಕೃ ಣಕೆ ಣಕೆಕೀ ಣಕೆಕೈ ಣಕೆಕೂ ಣಕೆಕೂಕೀಣಕೌಣಅ ಪ ಪಕಾ ಪಿ ಪಿಕೀ ಪಪು ಪಪೂ ಪಕೃ ಪಕೆ ಪಕೆಕೀ ಪಕೆಕೈ ಪೊ ಪೊಕೀಪಕೌಪಅ ಫ ಫಕಾ ಫಿ ಫಿಕೀ ಫು ಫೂ ಫಕೃ ಫಕೆ ಫಕೆಕೀ ಫಕೆಕೈ ಫೊ ಫೊಕೀಫಕೌಫಅ ಬ ಬಕಾ ಬಿ ಬಿಕೀ ಬಕು ಬಕೂ ಬಕೃ ಬಕೆ ಬಕೆಕೀ ಬಕೆಕೈ ಬಕೆಕೂ ಬಕೆಕೂಕೀಬಕೌಬಅ ಭ ಭಕಾ ಭಿ ಭಿಕೀ ಭಕು ಭಕೂ ಭಕೃ ಭಕೆ ಭಕೆಕೀ ಭಕೆಕೈ ಭಕೆಕೂ ಭಕೆಕೂಕೀಭಕೌಭಅ ಮ ಮಕಾ ಮಿ ಮಿಕೀ ಮಕು ಮಕೂ ಮಕೃ ಮೆ ಮೆಕೀ ಮೆಕೈ ಮೊ ಮೊಕೀಮಕೌಮಅ ಯ ಯಕಾ ಯಿ ಯಿಕೀ ಯಕು ಯಕೂ ಯಕೃ ಯೆ ಯೆಕೀ ಯೆಕೈ ಯೊ ಯೊಕೀಯಕೌಯಅ ರ ರಕಾ ರಿ ರಿಕೀ ರಕು ರಕೂ ರಕೃ ರಕೆ ರಕೆಕೀ ರಕೆಕೈ ರಕೆಕೂ ರಕೆಕೂಕೀರಕೌರಅ ಲ ಲಕಾ ಲಿ ಲಿಕೀ ಲಕು ಲಕೂ ಲಕೃ ಲಕೆ ಲಕೆಕೀ ಲಕೆಕೈ ಲಕೆಕೂ ಲಕೆಕೂಕೀಲಕೌಲಅ ವ ವಕಾ ವಿ ವಿಕೀ ವಪು ವಪೂ ವಕೃ ವಕೆ ವಕೆಕೀ ವಕೆಕೈ ವೊ ವೊಕೀವಕೌವಅ ಶ ಶಕಾ ಶಿ ಶಿಕೀ ಶಕು ಶಙೊ ಶಕೃ ಶಕೆ ಶಕೆಕೀ ಶಕೆಕೈ ಶಕೆಙೊ ಶಕೆಙೊಕೀಶಕೌಶಅ ಷ ಷಕಾ ಷಿ ಷಿಕೀ ಷಕು ಷಕೂ ಷಕೃ ಷಕೆ ಷಕೆಕೀ ಷಕೆಕೈ ಷಕೆಕೂಷಕೆಕೂಕೀಷಕೌ ಸ ಸಕಾ ಸಿ ಸಿಕೀ ಸಕು ಸಕೂ ಸಕೃ ಸಕೆ ಸಕೆಕೀ ಸಕೆಕೈ ಸಕೆಕೂ ಸಕೆಕೂಕೀಸಕೌಸಅ ಹ ಹಕಾ ಹಿ ಹಿಕೀ ಹಕು ಹಕೂ ಹಕೃ ಹಕೆ ಹಕೆಕೀ ಹಕೆಕೈ ಹಕೆಕೂ ಹಕೆಕೂಕೀಹಕೌಹಅ ಳ ಳಕಾ ಳಿ ಳಿಕೀ ಳಳು ಳಳೂ ಳಘೃ ಳಕೆ ಳಕೆಕೀ ಳಕೆಕೈ ಳಕೆಳೂ ಳಕೆಳೂಕೀಳಕೌಳಅ

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2. Technical Characteristics

Note: The Convention followed from this section of the document is same as the Unicode Chapter 9 (South and Southeast Asian Scripts) and might not be grammatically correct.

2.1 Kannada Alphabet Characteristic

2.1.2 Consonant Letters

Each of the consonant represents a single consonantal sound but also has the peculiarity of having inherent vowel, generally the short vowel ಅ (U+0C85). Thus, U+0C95 Kannada letter KA represents not just K (ಕ) but KA (ಕ). In the presence of the dependent vowel, however, the inherent vowel associated with a consonant letter is overridden by the dependent vowel. The different Consonants in Kannada are:

ಕ ಖ ಗ ಘ ಙ

ಚ ಛ ಜ ಝ ಞ

ತ ಥ ದ ಧ ನ

ಟ ಠ ಡ ಢ ಣ

ಪ ಫ ಬ ಭ ಮ

ಯ ರ ಲ ವ

ಶ ಷ ಸ ಹ ಳ

2.1.3 Dependent Vowel Signs (Matras)

The dependent vowels, also known as Swaras in Kannada, serve as the common manner of writing non-inherent vowels and are generally referred to as Swara Chinhas in Kannada or Matras in Sanskrit. The dependent vowels do not appear stand-alone; rather, they are visibly depicted in combination with a base-letter form (generally a consonant). A single consonant or a consonant cluster may have a dependent vowel applied to it to indicate the vowel quality of the syllable, when it

Resource Centre for Indian Language Technology Solutions - Kannada Page 9 of 28 Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore Kannada Unicode Design Guide Version 1.0/ March 2002 is different from the inherent vowel. Explicit appearance of a dependent vowel in a syllable overrides the inherent vowel ಆ (U +0C85) of a single consonant letter.

There are several variations with which the dependent vowels are applied to the base letterforms. Most of them appear as non-spacing dependent vowels signs when applied to base letterforms; above to the right side of a consonant letter or a consonant cluster. The following are the exceptions and variations for the above rule:

 The two dependent vowel signs (U+0CCC3 & U+0CC4) appear one level below and to the right of the consonant or the consonant cluster, separated by a small white space.

 Each of the five dependent vowels (U+0CC0, U+0CC7, U+0CC8, U+0CCA & U+0CCB) are depicted by two or three glyph components (two part or three part vowel signs ) with one component appearing with a space to the right of the consonant or the consonant cluster.

i) In the case o f three the above-mentioned two/three-part dependent vowels (at U+0CC0, U+0CC7, U+0CCB), the non-spacing components of each of them is (are) the same as the vowel sign(s) of the corresponding preceding short vowels. The spacing component for each of these dependent vowels is the same ‘length mark U+0CD5 given in Unicode version 3. The logic for this is that these dependent vowels are nothing but the long forms (independent and phonetically distinct) of the preceding short vowels.

ii) The first component of the dependent vowel (U+0CC8) mentioned above, is the same as

the dependent vowel (ೆಕೆ, U+0CC6) with the second component (U+0CD6) defined independently in Unicode version 3. The second part appears slightly below and to the right of the consonant or the consonant clusters.

 In view of this, it is important to note that the two glyphs (the length mark and the second

component of ೆಕೆಕೈ) represent with the codes at U+0CD5 and U+0CD6 in Unicode version 3 have no independent existence and do not play any part as independent codes in the collation algorithm.

 Unlike Devanagari, the Kannada script does not have any character with a left-side dependent vowel sign.

 A one-to-one correspondence exists between independent vowels and dependent vowel signs.

The Matras are-

ೆಕಾ ೆಙ ೆಙಕೀ ೆಕು ೆಕೂ ೆಕೃ ೆಕೆ ೆಕೆಕೀ ೆಕೆಕೈ ೆಕೆಕೂ ೆಕೆಕೂಕೀ ೆಕೌ ೆಅ ೆಅ

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2.1.4 Virama (Halant)

Like Devanagari, Kannada script also employs a sign known as Halant or vowel omission sign. A halant sign (ೆ್, U+0CCD) nominally serves to cancel (or kill) the inherent vowel of the consonant to which it is applied. It functions as a combining character. When a consonant has lost its inherent vowel by the application of halant, it is known as a dead consonant. The dead consonants are the presentation forms used to depict the consonants without an inherent vowel. Their rendered forms in Kannada resemble the full consonant with vertical stem replaced by the halant sign, which marks a character core. The stem glyph (U+0CBB) is graphically and historically related to the sign denoting the inherent /a/ (ಅ) vowel (U+0C85). In contrast, a live consonant is a consonant that retains its inherent vowel or is written with an explicit dependent vowel sign. The dead consonant is defined as a sequence consisting of a consonant letter followed by a halant. The default rendering for a dead consonant is to position the halant as a combining mark bound to the consonant letterform. The

Halant in Kannada is ೆ್

2.1.5 Consonant Conjuncts

Like any other Indian script, Kannada is also noted for a large number of consonant conjunct forms that serve as orthographic abbreviations (ligatures) of two or more adjacent forms. This abbreviation takes place only in the context of a consonant cluster. An orthographic consonant cluster is defined as a sequence of characters that represent one or more dead consonants (denoted by C d) followed by a normal live consonant (denoted by Cl).

Corresponding to each Kannada consonant, there exists a separate and unique glyph, which is specially used to represent the corresponding consonant in a consonant cluster. Most of these conjunct consonant glyphs resemble their original consonant forms (many without the implicit vowel sign, wherever applicable).

In Kannada, there is only one type of conjunct formation (consonant cluster) and it is depicted as follows:

 The first consonant of the consonant cluster is rendered with the implicit or a different dependant vowel appearing as the terminal element of the consonant cluster.

 The remaining consonants (consonants in between the first consonant and the terminal vowel element) appear in conjunct consonant glyph forms in the phonetic order. They are generally depicted directly below or sometimes below but to the right of the first consonant.

Thus, the systematically designed Kannada script font contains the conjunct glyph components, but they are not encoded as Unicode characters, because they are the resultant of ligation of distinct letters. Kannada script rendering software must be able to map appropriate combinations of characters in context to the appropriate conjunct glyphs in fonts.

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2.1.6 Visarg

Comes after a vowel sound and represents a sound similar to /h/.

2.1.7 Avagraha

Avagraha sign is a spacing mark used while rendering Sanskrit text. This is located at U+0CBD.

2.1.8 Numerals

Kannada numerals are located from U+0CE6 to U+0CEF

2.1.9 Punctuation Marks

All Punctuation mark in Kannada is borrowed from English.

These characters are not included in the range for Kannada in the Unicode Character set.

2.1.10 Ancient Signs

Some of he Halegannada characters are placed at U+0C8C, U+0CB1, U+0CE1.

2.2 Fonts

There are a number of TrueType fonts available for Kannada among which some of them follow an encoding standard (like ISCII) and others do not follow any encoding standard and is tied to a proprietary encoding. The Kannada Ganaka Parishat has standardised the glyph set to be used by all the Software that support Kannada. Annexure-1 displays the glyphs standardised by KGP. Microsoft has released an OpenType font (with TrueType outlines) for Kannada – “Tunga.ttf” that follows Unicode as its encoding standard.

2.2.1 Font Developing Tools

The OpenType font format is an extension of the TrueType font format, adding support for PostScript font data.The following tools can be used for designing of the OpenType Font.

 FontLab version 4.0 (A trial version for Windows is available for download at http://www.fontlab.com/html/fontlab.html#downloads)

 Font Creator Program version 3.0 (A trial version is available for download at http://www.high-logic.com/download.htm)

 Fontographer version 4.1 (No trial version is available. For more information - http://www.macromedia.com/software/fontographer/)

 Microsoft Visual OpenType Layout Tool "VOLT" provides an easy-to-use graphical user interface to add OpenType layout tables to fonts with TrueType outlines. It is licensed free and can be downloaded from the online community http://communities.msn.com/MicrosoftVOLTuserscommunity

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2.3 Keyboard

Inputting Kannada or any other Indian language needs Keyboard driver / Input Method, which is a Software Component that interprets user operations such as typing keys. There are many Keyboard Drivers/Input Methods available in the market for Windows Operating Systems like Baraha, Sreelipi, Akruthi, Kalitha etc. They follow different encoding methods (glyph codes) and support different keyboard layouts like INSCRIPT, English Phonetic, Typewriter 1, and Typewriter 2.

Microsoft supports Input Methods for nine Indian languages (including Kannada) in Office XP on Windows XP with INSCRIPT keyboard layout, which is common to all Indian languages and uses Unicode as the encoding Standard.

Government of Karnataka (Kannada Ganaka Parishat) has proposed a Standard Keyboard layout for Kannada. In this layout only 26 keys which are painted with English characters on a Keyboard can be used to represent 51 basic alphabets and special symbols in Kannada (13 swaras, 34 consonants and 4 special symbols). This is possible as each key has a dual function of representing the small case (normal key) and Capital case (Shift key) letters in English, as shown in the figure 2.1

Fig. 2.1: Keyboard Layout proposed by Kannada Ganaka Parishath.

Since the 51 keys have been used while the keyboard provides 52 possibilities, that option (key X is not assigned) can be used to represent foreign sounds such as combination of Nukta and ಫ.

Besides, there is a need to represent the old ಱ. The combination of X with consonant ರ yields ಱ.

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2.4 Presentation and Storage Considerations

The order for storage of plain text in Kannada generally follows the phonetic order, that is, a CV syllable with a dependant vowel is always encoded as a consonant letter C followed by a vowel sign V in the memory representation. This order is employed by the ISCII standard and corresponds with phonetic and keying order of textual data. Unlike Devanagari and some other Indian scripts, all the dependent vowels in Kannada are depicted to the right of their consonant letters. Hence there is no need to reorder the elements in mapping from the logical (character) store to the presentation (glyph) rendering and vice versa.

Character order Glyph order

KA + I KA + I

ಕ + ಇ ಕಿ

Further, Kannada script does not allow half-consonants, ligatures and half ligature forms.

2.5 Rendering Rules

(Based on Microsoft Uniscribe-OpenType implementation of the UNICODE Rendering Rules)

2.5.1 Notation. In the next set of rules, the following notation applies:

Cn Nominal glyph form of a consonant C as it appears in the code charts.

Cl A live consonant, depicted identically to Cn.

Cd Glyph depicting the dead consonant form of a consonant C.

Ch Glyph depicting the half-consonant form of a consonant C.

Ln Nominal glyph form of a conjunct ligature consisting of two or more component consonants. A conjunct ligature composed of two consonants X and Y is also

denoted by X.Yn.

RAsub A non-spacing combining mark glyph form positioned below the base glyph form.

Vvs Glyph depicting the dependent vowel sign form of a vowel V.

Viraman The nominal glyph form non-spacing combining mark depicting U+0CCD Kannada sign Virama.

A virama character is not always depicted; when it is depicted, it adopts this non-spacing mark form.

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2.5.1 Dead Consonant Rule. The following rule logically precedes the application of any other rule to form a dead consonant. Once formed, a dead consonant may be subject to other rules described next.

R0: When a consonant Cn precedes a VIRAMAn, it is considered to be a dead consonant Cd. A consonant Cn that does not precede VIRAMAn is considered to be live consonant Cl.

TAn + VIRAMAn TAd

ತ + ್್ ತ

(Based on Microsoft Uniscribe-OpenType implementation of the UNICODE Rendering Rules)

2.5.2 Consonant RA Rules:

R1: If the dead consonant RAd precedes either a consonant or an independent vowel, then it is replaced by the postscript ARKAVATTU, which is positioned so that it applies to the logically subsequent element in the memory representation.

RAd + KAl KAl + ARKAVATTU Displayed Output

ರ್ + ಕ ಕ +ARKAVATTU ಕರ್ಕ

R2: Except for the dead consonant RAd, when a dead consonant Cd precedes the live consonant RAl, then Cd is replaced with its nominal form Cn , and RA is replaced by the subscript non-spacing mark

RAsub , which is positioned so that it applies to Cn.

THAd + RAl THAn + RAsub Displayed Output

ಠ್ + ರ ಠ + RAsub ಠಠ

R3: If a dead consonant (other than RAd) precedes RAd, then the substitution of RA for RAsub is performed as described above; however, the VIRAMA that formed RAd remains so as to form a dead consonant conjunct form. A dead consonant conjunct form that contains an absorbed RAd may subsequently combine to form a multipart conjunct form.

TAd + RAd TAn + RAsub + VIRAMAn T.RAd

ತ + ರ್ ತ + RAsub + ್್ ತಠ

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A dead consonant conjunct form that contains an absorbed RAd may subsequently combine to form a multipart conjunct form.

T.RAd + YAl T.R.YAn

ತಠ + ಯ ತಠತ

Ligature Rules: Subsequent to the application of the rules just described, a set of rules governing ligature formation apply. The precise application of these rules depends on the availability of glyphs in the current font(s) being used to display text.

R4: If a dead consonant immediately precedes another dead consonant or a live consonant, then the first dead consonant may join the subsequent element to form a twopart conjunct ligature form.

JAd + NYAl J.NYAn

ಜ್ + ಞ ಜ

R5: A conjunct ligature form can itself behave as a dead consonant and enter into further, more complex ligatures.

SAd + TAd + KAl S.T.KAn

ಸ್ + ತ + ಕ ಸಸಸಸಸಸ

R6: If a nominal consonant or conjunct ligature form precedes RAsub as a result of the application of rule

R2, then the consonant or ligature form may join with RAsub to form a multipart conjunct ligature (see rule R2 for more information).

KAl + RAd K.RAn

ಕ + ರ್ ಕಠ

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R7: In some cases, other combining marks will also combine with a base consonant, either attaching at a nonstandard location or changing shape. In minimal rendering there are only two cases, RAl with Uvs or

UUvs .

RAl + Uvs RUn RAl + UUvs RUUn

ರ + ್ು ರು ರ + ್ೂ ರೂ

R8: When the dependent vowel Ivs is used to override the inherent vowel of a syllable, it is always written to the extreme left of the orthographic syllable. If the orthographic syllable contains a consonant cluster, then this vowel is always depicted to the left of that cluster.

THAd + RAl + Ivs T.RIn

ತ + ರ + ್ಿ ತಠ

2.6 Sorting issues in Kannada

The sorting sequence for Kannada Unicode is as per the collation chart given as an annexure. However, the following are some important issues, which have to be addressed separately for proper sorting of data in Kannada.

ISCII – 91 provides direct sorting through its codes. It is the natural sorting method just based on code values. There are no special algorithms for language specific issues for sorting the data. This results in non-conventional sorting in some specific cases. The scholars in Kannada have specified the sorting standards in Kannada. These standards are being followed in all dictionaries and other documents in Kannada. With this in view, the following four special cases have been identified.

2.6.1 Sorting of Nukta characters

The modifying mark or Nukta located at U+0CBC and included in the collation table is enough to take care of the sorting issues of characters ಜ + (U+0CBC) (modified ಜ) and ಫ + (U+0CBC) (modified ಫ). It also takes care of any other consonant, which may be modified using Nukta.

2.6.2 Sorting the data records containing anuswara and visarga

In case of sorting a data set containing words terminating with anuswara, visarga together with other words, words without terminating dependent vowels are placed in wrong positions.

 Sorting sequence as per the Unicode is according to the specified standards if the anuswara and visarga appear within a word.

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2.6.3 Sorting of words with dead consonants

 Sorting of words terminating with dead consonants

Sorting in this case also violates the sorting rules of Kannada. The Unicode sorting places the word terminating with the dead consonant at the end of the list. The following list compares the sorting of a sample data using Unicode table and the acceptable sorting for this case.

Sorted data as per Unicode Acceptable sorting

ರರಾಕ ರರಾಕ

ರರಾಗ ರರಾಗ

ರರಾಗಗೂಗ ರರಾಗ

ರರಾಗ ರರಾಗಗೂಗ

 Dead consonants within words

Proper sorting of data with such words can be achieved by using the invisible zero width consonant just after the dead consonant.

To circumvent unacceptable situations mentioned in 2.6.2 and 2.6.3 above, the Unicode Standard character U+200C (Zero width Non-Joiner) can be used appropriately in the preprocessor and collation algorithms.

2.6.4 Sorting of Conjuncts having two different display forms

Two such conjuncts are rendered in Kannada at present.

 Conjuncts with (U+0CB0) as the first consonant

This has been explained at an earlier section as Consonant RA rules (section 2.5.2)

Words containing both the display forms of the same consonant cluster with ರ (U+0CB0) as the first consonant of the cluster had to be sorted as follows. Even though the display rendering are different, both are identical in all respects. It is therefore natural that they should appear at consecutive positions. Even though a separate glyph and a corresponding glyph code are present in the display/storage codes such an arrangement in Unicode will not render for proper sorting.

The only alternative is to represent both the display forms by the same set of codes with a distinguishing code (U+0CF5) within the string for the second display form. In Unicode form, the distinguishing code value within the string of the consonant sorting. This can be achieved through preprocessing software, with specific functions to generate proper glyph codes, storage codes and Unicode at different levels. Such a situation–specific code representation guarantees proper sorting

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 The second case of rendering a same character in two different display forms is the dead

consonant ನ. It is also written in a second form as U+0CF5. Sorting issue in regards to this case is also dealt with the same way as in the previous case.

The zero width Non-Joiner at U+200C cannot be used instead of (U+0CF5),as the same sequence of characters appear both with Zero width Non-Joiner and with U+0CF5, the two sequences representing two different syllables (conjuncts).

2.6.5 Sorting of Diacritic characters

Diacritic characters formed using symbols located at 0CD1, 0CD2, 0CD3, 0CD4 and 0CF9 to render accents to consonants, are considered to be equivalent to the corresponding consonants for sorting purposes and hence the above procedure can be adopted in such cases also.

2.6.6 Conclusion

The sorting issues mentioned above may have multiple solutions. Similar issues might have been solved by different methods in respect of other Indian languages. Hence, it is desirable to evolve uniform procedures for issues common to all Indian languages. However, solutions for sorting problems mentioned here with respect Kannada have been obtained by considering all consonants from U+0C95 to U+0CB9 and the consonant U+0CDE when they appear independently in a data field as pure consonants (i.e. as two part coded[Ex:0C95=(0C95,0CBB)]). The sorting of a data field is achieved by the indexing method. All these can be elaborated to give the actual algorithms and floe charts, if need be.

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References:

1. “South and South East Asian Scripts”, Chapter 9 of The Unicode Standard (Version 3.0), http://www.unicode.org/

2. “Creating and Supporting Open Type Fonts for Indic Scripts”, http://www.microsoft.com/typography

3. “ Unicode for Kannada Script” (written by Dr. CV Srinatha Sastry), Directorate of Information Technology, Government of Karnataka

4. “User-Friendly Keyboard Layout for Kannada”, Kannada Ganaka Parishat

5. “ Standards for Kannada in Computers prescribed by the Government of Karnataka”, Kannada Ganaka Parishat.

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Appendix – 1

Unicode Chart and Collation if the suggested deletion and relocation of characters are not allowed

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0C8 0C9 0CA 0CB 0CC 0CD 0CE 0CF 0 ▓▓ ▓▓ ▓▓ ಐ ಠ ರ ೆಙಕೀ ೠ 1 ▓▓ ▓▓ ▓▓ ಡ ಱ ೆಕು ೡ 2 ▓▓ ▓▓ ೆಅ ಒ ಢ ಲ ೆಕೂ 3 ▓▓ ▓▓ ೆಅ ಓ ಣ ಳ ೆಕೃ 4 ▓▓ ▓▓ ▓▓ ▓▓ ▓▓ ಔ ತ 5 ▓▓ ▓▓ ಅ ಕ ಥ ವ ೆಕೀ 6 0 ▓▓ ಆ ಖ ದ ಶ ೆಕೆ ೆಕೈ 7 ▓▓ ▓▓ ಇ ಗ ಧ ಷ ೆಕೆಕೀ ೧ 8 ▓▓ ▓▓ ಈ ಘ ನ ಸ ೆಕೆಕೈ ೨ 9 ▓▓ ▓▓ ▓▓ ಉ ಙ ಹ ೩ A ▓▓ ▓▓ ಊ ಚ ಪ ೆಕೆಕೂ ೪ B ▓▓ ▓▓ ಋ ಛ ಫ ೆಕೆಕೂಕೀ ೫ C ▓▓ ▓▓ ಜ ಬ ೆಕೌ ೬ D ▓▓ ▓▓ ▓▓ ಝ ಭ ೆ್ ೭ E ▓▓ ▓▓ ಎ ಞ ಮ ೆಕಾ ೮ F ▓▓ ▓▓ ▓▓ ಏ ಟ ಯ ೆಙ ೯

Suggested Unicode for Kannada if deletion and relocation of Characters are not allowed

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Column 1 Column 2 Column 3 Column 4 Column 5 0C82 0CCD 0C96 0CA6 0CB9 ೆಅ ೆ್ ಖ ದ ಹ 0C83 0CBB 0C97 0CA7 0CB3 ೆಅ ಗ ಧ ಳ 0C85 0CBE 0C98 0CA8 0CB4 ಅ ೆಕಾ ಘ ನ 0C86 0CBF 0C99 0CAA 0CBC ಆ ೆಙ ಙ ಪ 0C87 0CC0 0C9A 0CAB ಇ ೆಙಕೀ ಚ ಫ 0C88 0CC1 0C9B 0CAC ಈ ೆಕು ಛ ಬ 0C89 0CC2 0C9C 0CAD ಉ ೆಕೂ ಜ ಭ 0C8A 0CC3 0C9D 0CAE ಊ ೆಕೃ ಝ ಮ 0C8B 0CC4 0C9E 0CAF ಋ ೆೄ ಞ ಯ 0CE0 0CC6 0C9F 0CB0 ೠ ೆಕೆ ಟ ರ 0C8E 0CC7 0CA0 0CB1 ಎ ೆಕೆಕೀ ಠ ಱ 0C8F 0CC8 0CA1 0CB2 ಏ ೆಕೆಕೈ ಡ ಲ 0C90 0CCA 0CA2 0CB5 ಐ ೆಕೆಕೂ ಢ ವ 0C92 0CCB 0CA3 0CB6 ಒ ೆಕೆಕೂಕೀ ಣ ಶ 0C93 0CCC 0CA4 0CB7 ಓ ೆಕೌ ತ ಷ 0C94 0C95 0CA5 0CB8 ಔ ಕ ಥ ಸ

Collating sequence of Kannada Unicode characters, if additions and relocations are not allowed. The sequence is column wise, top to bottom

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Appendix – 2

Unicode Chart and Collation if the suggested deletion and relocation of characters are allowed

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0C8 0C9 0CA 0CB 0CC 0CD 0CE 0CF 0 ▓▓ ▓▓ ▓▓ ಐ ಠ ರ ೆಙಕೀ ೠ 1 ▓▓ ▓▓ ▓▓ ▓▓ ಡ ಱ ೆಕು 2 ▓▓ ▓▓ ೆಅ ಒ ಢ ಲ ೆಕೂ 3 ▓▓ ▓▓ ೆಅ ಓ ಣ ಳ ೆಕೃ 4 ▓▓ ▓▓ ▓▓ ▓▓ ▓▓ ಔ ತ 5 ▓▓ ▓▓ ▓▓ ಅ ಕ ಥ ವ 6 ▓▓ 0 ▓▓ ಆ ಖ ದ ಶ ೆಕೆ 7 ▓▓ ▓▓ ಇ ಗ ಧ ಷ ೆಕೆಕೀ ೧ 8 ▓▓ ▓▓ ಈ ಘ ನ ಸ ೆಕೆಕೈ ೨ 9 ▓▓ ▓▓ ▓▓ ಉ ಙ ಹ ೩ A ▓▓ ▓▓ ಊ ಚ ಪ ೆಕೆಕೂ ೪ B ▓▓ ▓▓ ಋ ಛ ಫ ೆಕೆಕೂಕೀ ೫ C ▓▓ ▓▓ ▓▓ ಜ ಬ ೆಕೌ ೬ D ▓▓ ▓▓ ▓▓ ಝ ಭ ೆ್ ೭ E ▓▓ ▓▓ ▓▓ ಎ ಞ ಮ ೆಕಾ ೮ F ▓▓ ▓▓ ▓▓ ಏ ಟ ಯ ೆಙ ೯

Suggested Unicode for Kannada if deletions and relocation of characters are allowed

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Collating sequence of Kannada Unicode characters, if additions and relocations are allowed. The sequence is column wise, top to bottom.

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Appendix – 3

Output from FontLab displaying all glyphs in the glyph set standardised by KGP

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