mnu@gibbon.inel.gov (Rick Morneau) (08/30/90)
I am currently working on a PostScript Hiragana font for use with the
WriteNow word processor on my NeXT computer. The current version is a
simple state machine that reads one, two or three roomaji letters and
draws a single kana symbol. Since there is no one-to-one mapping
between a key and a kana symbol, the PostScript interpreter cannot
save the bitmaps for each kana for subsequent re-use. Instead,
it must redraw the symbol each time, which considerably slows down
both display and printing.
Anyway, it occurred to me that I might be better off if I designed
the font so that a single key would correspond to a single kana. The
question is, which keys should correspond to which kanas? Obviously,
the stand-alone vowels are easy to map. But what do I do about the
consonant-vowel syllables? I.e., which key should I use for "SA", which
key for "NU", etc. In other words, is there a standard or conventional
mapping between Japanese kana and English keyboards?
If anyone out there knows the answer to this question, I would really
appreciate hearing from you. Since I am going to do this, I want to
do it right.
BTW, I'm designing the font in my spare time, and if time permits,
I will also do fonts for Katakana and Kanji. They are simple stroked
characters, and cannot compete with professionally done fonts (I do
not have the artistic talent or patience needed to do a professional
job). But I WILL make them available to anyone who is interested (just
don't hold your breath :-).
To respond by email, please do not use the address shown in the
header. Instead, please use the address:
mnu@nairobi.inel.gov
Thanks in advance!
BTW, I am not responsible for the disclaimer that follows.
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= Rick Morneau Idaho National Engineering Laboratory =
* mnu@nairobi.inel.gov Idaho Falls, Idaho 83401 *
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