31 lines
2.8 KiB
Markdown
31 lines
2.8 KiB
Markdown
# About
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In this project, I want to design, programme, and build a keyboard that uses a custom Middle English language layout. The design is inspired by a mix of the Icelandic and US-English keyboard layouts. I have no formal education in linguistics, but it does interest me.
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The inspiration for this project came from being a bit annoyed at copying and pasting certain Middle English characters repeatedly. While looking for a layout online, I stumbled across [A Keyboard Layout for Old English and Middle English](https://fieldomoss.com/old-english-keyboard) by [Moss Quanci](https://fieldomoss.com/), but I found it very complicated for my simple use, as I needed only the Middle English characters and extra diacritics for Old English were unnecessary for me. To add to that, I'm a Linux user (i use arch btw), so I wasn't able to use the layout as it was targeted towards Windows and Mac users. As I couldn't use it, I decided to make my own.
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> I should note that this project is either abandoned or postponed. This is because I discovered alt codes and didn't need to have a keyboard layout just to type some letters. It also saved me time from actually designing another layout, because researching for Middle English has taken a lot of time and I'll need more time to research the language. Perhaps I can return to this at a later time, but for now I just use the alt codes. Or just use an Icelandic keyboard layout.
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### Alt Codes for Letters (Linux)
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So for linux I type `CTRL + SHIFT + u + [Unicode]` to get the character.
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Here is a list of some Middle English characters with their unicode:
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- `Þ` (uppercase thorn) is `00DE`
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- `þ` (lowercase thorn) is `00FE`
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- `Ð` (uppercase eth) is `00D0`
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- `ð` (lowercase eth) is `00F0`
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- `Æ` (uppercase ash) is `00C6`
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- `æ` (lowercase ash) is `00E6`
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- `Ȝ` (uppercase yogh) is `021C`
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- `ȝ` (lowercase yogh) is `021D`
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Perhaps it'll be inconvenient to memorise all off them, but I guess you could switch to a Icelandic keyboard for some of þe letters (such as þ, æ, and ð) and for þe rest idk. I'll work on a keyboard later because of þis. As I research more, I'll add more letters þat are *probably* important.
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# Design Choices
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As mentioned earlier, I am not a linguist, so I am unsure which letters and accents are appropriate for þe time period Middle English was used. I will of course do my research, but do feel free to reach out to make suggestions and/or corrections. Any help is greatly appreciated.
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Also mentioned earlier, þe Middle English keyboard layout is inspired by a mix of þe Icelandic and US-English keyboard layouts. I have tried to keep þe layout as close to possible to þe US-English layout while having þe extra keys from þe Icelandic layout.
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## Draft of layout:
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*Credit of original image to: https://2-5.org/pages/icelandic-basic-keyboard*
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