Switching non-English keyboard layouts and using Emacs shortcuts

Switching non-English keyboard layouts and using Emacs shortcuts

[Shakthi Kannan]

Hi,

I am using GNU Emacs 24.3.1 on Ubuntu 14.10. I use the following to
switch between Dvorak and Tamil (native language) keyboard layouts
respectively:

  $ setxkbmap us -variant dvorak
  $ setxkbmap -layout in -variant tam_unicode

When using the Tamil keyboard layout, I am able to enter unicode
characters, but, the Emacs shortcuts do not work anymore. The message
that I get when I want to move to the beginning of the line is "C-ய is
undefined" (equivalent of C-a in Dvorak layout).

I can switch to the Dvorak layout, use Emacs shortcuts and then switch
back to enter unicode characters, but this is tedious.

#1 Is there a way to program Emacs such that when I press "C-", then
any key that follows needs to be interpreted from the Dvorak layout?

#2 How do other people who use non-English layouts use Emacs shortcuts
with their native language input method?

Appreciate any help in this regard,

Thanks!

SK

-- 
Shakthi Kannan
http://www.shakthimaan.com

Re: Switching non-English keyboard layouts and using Emacs shortcuts

[Richard Wordingham]

On Wed, 13 May 2015 10:05:37 +0530
Shakthi Kannan <shakthimaan@gmail.com> wrote:

> I can switch to the Dvorak layout, use Emacs shortcuts and then switch
> back to enter unicode characters, but this is tedious.

> #1 Is there a way to program Emacs such that when I press "C-", then
> any key that follows needs to be interpreted from the Dvorak layout?

I don't know.

> #2 How do other people who use non-English layouts use Emacs shortcuts
> with their native language input method?

To be pedantic, as my native language input method inputs the Latin
script, I have no problems using it directly from X.

However, I also use non-Latin layouts.  In most applications, I use
the ibus input method, but that used not to work for Emacs with English
locales selected. As a result, I switched to using a quail keyboard, and
that avoids the problem you report.  The quail keyboard is simply
ignored when entering the shortcuts.  Unfortunately, a few commands
also ignore the quail keyboard for command input - one of these days
I'll investigate, fix and report.

I use the Emacs command set-input-method to select or change a quail
keyboard, and toggle-input-method to toggle between using and not using
a quail keyboard.  There are standard shortcuts for these
commands, but with the command line recall and completion facilities of
Emacs it's easier to just type their starts once at the beginning of
each Emacs session.  Because of the problem with shortcuts, it's not
worth using ibus now that it works in Emacs; I've stuck with quail.

I don't use setxkbmap to switch between X keyboards.  I just have four
X keyboards permanently defined (I am on Ubuntu 12.04) and rely on ibus
for the rest in non-Emacs applications.  I switch X keyboard by means
of the keyboard command​ ctrl/shift and ibus keyboard by alt/shift.
These commands were chosen so I could run multi-lingual editing sessions
in Emacs and LibreOffice on my Linux box from a Windows laptop with
Xming as X-server. Each window (= Emacs frame) has its own X- and ibus
keyboard selections.

Richard.

Re: Switching non-English keyboard layouts and using Emacs shortcuts

[Gian Uberto Lauri]

Shakthi Kannan writes:
 > Hi,
 > 
 > I am using GNU Emacs 24.3.1 on Ubuntu 14.10. I use the following to
 > switch between Dvorak and Tamil (native language) keyboard layouts
 > respectively:
 > 
 >   $ setxkbmap us -variant dvorak
 >   $ setxkbmap -layout in -variant tam_unicode

AFAIK when you issue the second command when you issue ய, Emacs
receive a numeric value that is different from (0xbaf instead of 0x61)
and this code is generated at the OS level.

You should

1) bind all the command to the tamil character equivalent (ouch!);

2) use custom layout with a special sequence that changes the layout
   on the fly without using the setxkbmap command explicitly. I should
   ask my wife how to do this - she did it when she studied Arabic and
   Turkish;

3) use an Emacs input method (tamil-inscript or tamil-itrans)

I think that 2) is a bit 'heaveier' than 3) as for Emacs commands, but
2) is much better than 3) for entering a long text.

-- 
 /\           ___                                    Ubuntu: ancient
/___/\_|_|\_|__|___Gian Uberto Lauri_____               African word
  //--\| | \|  |   Integralista GNUslamico            meaning "I can
\/                 coltivatore diretto di software       not install
     già sistemista a tempo (altrui) perso...                Debian"

Warning: gnome-config-daemon considered more dangerous than GOTO


P.S.
Output of describe-input-method for both Tamil methods on Emacs 24.4.1


Input method: tamil-inscript (mode line indicator:TmlIS)

Tamil keyboard Inscript.


KEY SEQUENCE
------------
You can input characters by the following key sequences:
key	char  [type a key sequence to insert the corresponding character]
--- ---- --- ---- --- ---- --- ----	--- ---- --- ---- --- ---- --- ----	--- ---- --- ---- --- ---- --- ----	--- ----
#	்ர	 /	 ய	  4	  ௪	   9   ௯	D	அ	 N	 ள	  U	  ங	   _   ஃ	d	்	 j	 ர	  p	  ஜ	   u   ஹ	}	ஞ
$	ர்	 0	 ௦	  5	  ௫	   ;   ச	E	ஆ	 Q	 ஔ	  V	  ன	   `   ொ	e	ா	 k	 க	  q	  ௌ	   v   ந	~	ஒ
%	ஜ்ஞ	 1	 ௧	  6	  ௬	   <   ஷ	F	இ	 R	 ஈ	  W	  ஐ	   a   ோ	f	ி	 l	 த	  r	  ீ	   w   ை	N]	ழ
&	க்ஷ	 2	 ௨	  7	  ௭	   A   ஓ	G	உ	 S	 ஏ	  Z	  எ	   b   வ	g	ு	 m	 ஸ	  s	  ே	   x   ஂ
'	ட	 3	 ௩	  8	  ௮	   C   ண	J	ற	 T	 ஊ	  ^	  த்ர   c   ம	h	ப	 n	 ல	  t	  ூ	   z   ெ

KEY BINDINGS FOR TRANSLATION
----------------------------
key             binding
---             -------

C-@				quail-select-current
C-b				quail-prev-translation
C-f				quail-next-translation
C-h				quail-translation-help
TAB				quail-completion
C-n				quail-next-translation-block
C-p				quail-prev-translation-block
C-SPC			quail-select-current
<down>			quail-next-translation-block
<kp-enter>		quail-select-current
<left>			quail-prev-translation
<mouse-2>		quail-mouse-choose-completion
<right>			quail-next-translation
<tab>			quail-completion
<up>			quail-prev-translation-block

============================================
Input method: tamil-itrans (mode line indicator:TmlIT)

Tamil transliteration by ITRANS method.

You can input characters using the following mapping tables.
    Example: To enter வணக்கம், type vaNakkam.

### Basic syllables (consonants + vowels) ###

    +--------------------------------------------------------------------------
    |	அ	ஆ	இ	ஈ	உ	ஊ	எ	ஏ	ஐ	ஒ	ஓ	ஔ
    |	a	A	i	I	u	U	e	E	ai	o	O	au
----+--------------------------------------------------------------------------
க்	|	க	கா	கி	கீ	கு	கூ	கெ	கே	கை	கொ	கோ	கௌ
k	|	ka	kA	ki	kI	ku	kU	ke	kE	kai	ko	kO	kau
----+--------------------------------------------------------------------------
ங்	|	ங	ஙா	ஙி	ஙீ	ஙு	ஙூ	ஙெ	ஙே	ஙை	ஙொ	ஙோ	ஙௌ
N^	|	N^a	N^A	N^i	N^I	N^u	N^U	N^e	N^E	N^ai	N^o	N^O	N^au
----+--------------------------------------------------------------------------
ச்	|	ச	சா	சி	சீ	சு	சூ	செ	சே	சை	சொ	சோ	சௌ
ch	|	cha	chA	chi	chI	chu	chU	che	chE	chai	cho	chO	chau
----+--------------------------------------------------------------------------
ஞ்	|	ஞ	ஞா	ஞி	ஞீ	ஞு	ஞூ	ஞெ	ஞே	ஞை	ஞொ	ஞோ	ஞௌ
JN	|	JNa	JNA	JNi	JNI	JNu	JNU	JNe	JNE	JNai	JNo	JNO	JNau
----+--------------------------------------------------------------------------
ட்	|	ட	டா	டி	டீ	டு	டூ	டெ	டே	டை	டொ	டோ	டௌ
T	|	Ta	TA	Ti	TI	Tu	TU	Te	TE	Tai	To	TO	Tau
----+--------------------------------------------------------------------------
ண்	|	ண	ணா	ணி	ணீ	ணு	ணூ	ணெ	ணே	ணை	ணொ	ணோ	ணௌ
N	|	Na	NA	Ni	NI	Nu	NU	Ne	NE	Nai	No	NO	Nau
----+--------------------------------------------------------------------------
த்	|	த	தா	தி	தீ	து	தூ	தெ	தே	தை	தொ	தோ	தௌ
t	|	ta	tA	ti	tI	tu	tU	te	tE	tai	to	tO	tau
----+--------------------------------------------------------------------------
ந்	|	ந	நா	நி	நீ	நு	நூ	நெ	நே	நை	நொ	நோ	நௌ
n	|	na	nA	ni	nI	nu	nU	ne	nE	nai	no	nO	nau
----+--------------------------------------------------------------------------
ப்	|	ப	பா	பி	பீ	பு	பூ	பெ	பே	பை	பொ	போ	பௌ
p	|	pa	pA	pi	pI	pu	pU	pe	pE	pai	po	pO	pau
----+--------------------------------------------------------------------------
ம்	|	ம	மா	மி	மீ	மு	மூ	மெ	மே	மை	மொ	மோ	மௌ
m	|	ma	mA	mi	mI	mu	mU	me	mE	mai	mo	mO	mau
----+--------------------------------------------------------------------------
ய்	|	ய	யா	யி	யீ	யு	யூ	யெ	யே	யை	யொ	யோ	யௌ
y	|	ya	yA	yi	yI	yu	yU	ye	yE	yai	yo	yO	yau
----+--------------------------------------------------------------------------
ர்	|	ர	ரா	ரி	ரீ	ரு	ரூ	ரெ	ரே	ரை	ரொ	ரோ	ரௌ
r	|	ra	rA	ri	rI	ru	rU	re	rE	rai	ro	rO	rau
----+--------------------------------------------------------------------------
ல்	|	ல	லா	லி	லீ	லு	லூ	லெ	லே	லை	லொ	லோ	லௌ
l	|	la	lA	li	lI	lu	lU	le	lE	lai	lo	lO	lau
----+--------------------------------------------------------------------------
வ்	|	வ	வா	வி	வீ	வு	வூ	வெ	வே	வை	வொ	வோ	வௌ
v	|	va	vA	vi	vI	vu	vU	ve	vE	vai	vo	vO	vau
----+--------------------------------------------------------------------------
ழ்	|	ழ	ழா	ழி	ழீ	ழு	ழூ	ழெ	ழே	ழை	ழொ	ழோ	ழௌ
z	|	za	zA	zi	zI	zu	zU	ze	zE	zai	zo	zO	zau
----+--------------------------------------------------------------------------
ள்	|	ள	ளா	ளி	ளீ	ளு	ளூ	ளெ	ளே	ளை	ளொ	ளோ	ளௌ
L	|	La	LA	Li	LI	Lu	LU	Le	LE	Lai	Lo	LO	Lau
----+--------------------------------------------------------------------------
ற்	|	ற	றா	றி	றீ	று	றூ	றெ	றே	றை	றொ	றோ	றௌ
rh	|	rha	rhA	rhi	rhI	rhu	rhU	rhe	rhE	rhai	rho	rhO	rhau
----+--------------------------------------------------------------------------
ன்	|	ன	னா	னி	னீ	னு	னூ	னெ	னே	னை	னொ	னோ	னௌ
nh	|	nha	nhA	nhi	nhI	nhu	nhU	nhe	nhE	nhai	nho	nhO	nhau
----+--------------------------------------------------------------------------
ஜ்	|	ஜ	ஜா	ஜி	ஜீ	ஜு	ஜூ	ஜெ	ஜே	ஜை	ஜொ	ஜோ	ஜௌ
j	|	ja	jA	ji	jI	ju	jU	je	jE	jai	jo	jO	jau
----+--------------------------------------------------------------------------
ஶ்	|	ஶ	ஶா	ஶி	ஶீ	ஶு	ஶூ	ஶெ	ஶே	ஶை	ஶொ	ஶோ	ஶௌ
	|												
----+--------------------------------------------------------------------------
ஷ்	|	ஷ	ஷா	ஷி	ஷீ	ஷு	ஷூ	ஷெ	ஷே	ஷை	ஷொ	ஷோ	ஷௌ
Sh	|	Sha	ShA	Shi	ShI	Shu	ShU	She	ShE	Shai	Sho	ShO	Shau
----+--------------------------------------------------------------------------
ஸ்	|	ஸ	ஸா	ஸி	ஸீ	ஸு	ஸூ	ஸெ	ஸே	ஸை	ஸொ	ஸோ	ஸௌ
s	|	sa	sA	si	sI	su	sU	se	sE	sai	so	sO	sau
----+--------------------------------------------------------------------------
ஹ்	|	ஹ	ஹா	ஹி	ஹீ	ஹு	ஹூ	ஹெ	ஹே	ஹை	ஹொ	ஹோ	ஹௌ
h	|	ha	hA	hi	hI	hu	hU	he	hE	hai	ho	hO	hau
----+--------------------------------------------------------------------------
க்ஷ்	|	க்ஷ	க்ஷா	க்ஷி	க்ஷீ	க்ஷு	க்ஷூ	க்ஷெ	க்ஷே	க்ஷை	க்ஷொ	க்ஷோ	க்ஷௌ
x	|	xa	xA	xi	xI	xu	xU	xe	xE	xai	xo	xO	xau
----+--------------------------------------------------------------------------


### Miscellaneous (various signs + digits) ###

------------------+------------------------------------------------------------
	various	|	digits
------------------+------------------------------------------------------------
	ஃ	ஸ்ரீ	ௐ	|	௦	௧	௨	௩	௪	௫	௬	௭	௮	௯
	H	srii		|	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
------------------+------------------------------------------------------------


### Others (numerics + symbols) ###

Characters below have no ITRANS method associated with them.
Their descriptions are included for easy reference.

------------------+------------------------------------------------------------
	numerics	|	symbols
------------------+------------------------------------------------------------
௰	௱	௲	|௳	௴	௵	௶	௷	௸	௹	௺
பத்து	நூறு	ஆயிரம்	|நாள்	மாதம்	வருடம்	பற்று	வரவு	மேற்படி	ரூபாய்	எண்
------------------+------------------------------------------------------------



Full key sequences are listed below:


KEY SEQUENCE
------------
You can input characters by the following key sequences:
key	char  [type a key sequence to insert the corresponding character]
--- ---- --- ---- --- ---- --- ----	--- ---- --- ---- --- ---- --- ----	--- ---- --- ---- ---- ----	---- ---- ----- ----
0	௦	 t	 த்	  No  ணொ   kA  கா	pA	பா	 tu	 து	  zA  ழா   N^A ஙா	hai	ஹை	 nhe னெ	  wai  வை	GYuu ஜ்ஞூ  rhau	றௌ
1	௧	 u	 உ	  Nu  ணு   kE  கே	pE	பே	 uu	 ஊ	  zE  ழே   N^E ஙே	hau	ஹௌ	 nhi னி	  wau  வௌ	JNaa ஞா	  rhii	றீ
2	௨	 v	 வ்	  Sh  ஷ்	   kI  கீ	pI	பீ	 vA	 வா	  zI  ழீ	   N^I ஙீ	hii	ஹீ	 nho னொ	  wii  வீ	JNai ஞை	  rhuu	றூ
3	௩	 w	 வ்	  TA  டா   kO  கோ	pO	போ	 vE	 வே	  zO  ழோ   N^O ஙோ	huu	ஹூ	 nhu னு	  wuu  வூ	JNau ஞௌ	  shhA	ஷா
4	௪	 x	 க்ஷ்	  TE  டே   kU  கூ	pU	பூ	 vI	 வீ	  zU  ழூ   N^U ஙூ	jaa	ஜா	 nii நீ	  xaa  க்ஷா	JNii ஞீ	  shhE	ஷே
5	௫	 y	 ய்	  TI  டீ	   ka  க	pa	ப	 vO	 வோ	  za  ழ	   N^a ங	jai	ஜை	 nuu நூ	  xai  க்ஷை	JNuu ஞூ	  shhI	ஷீ
6	௬	 z	 ழ்	  TO  டோ   ke  கெ	pe	பெ	 vU	 வூ	  ze  ழெ   N^e ஙெ	jau	ஜௌ	 paa பா	  xau  க்ஷௌ	N^aa ஙா	  shhO	ஷோ
7	௭	 .D	 ்	  TU  டூ   kh  ்		ph	்	 va	 வ	  zi  ழி   N^i ஙி	jii	ஜீ	 pai பை	  xii  க்ஷீ	N^ai ஙை	  shhU	ஷூ
8	௮	 .h	 ்	  Ta  ட	   ki  கி	pi	பி	 ve	 வெ	  zo  ழொ   N^o ஙொ	juu	ஜூ	 pau பௌ	  xuu  க்ஷூ	N^au ஙௌ	  shha	ஷ
9	௯	 .n	 ஂ	  Te  டெ   ko  கொ	po	பொ	 vi	 வி	  zu  ழு   N^u ஙு	kaa	கா	 pii பீ	  yaa  யா	N^ii ஙீ	  shhe	ஷெ
A	ஆ	 Ch	 ்	  Th  ்	   ku  கு	pu	பு	 vo	 வொ	  ~N  ங்	   Naa ணா	kai	கை	 puu பூ	  yai  யை	N^uu ஙூ	  shhi	ஷி
D	்	 Dh	 ்	  Ti  டி   lA  லா	rA	ரா	 vu	 வு	  ~n  ஞ்	   Nai ணை	kau	கௌ	 raa ரா	  yau  யௌ	Shaa ஷா	  shho	ஷொ
E	ஏ	 GY	 ஜ்ஞ்	  To  டொ   lE  லே	rE	ரே	 wA	 வா	  .Dh ்	   Nau ணௌ	kii	கீ	 rai ரை	  yii  யீ	Shai ஷை	  shhu	ஷு
G	்	 JA	 ழா	  Tu  டு   lI  லீ	rI	ரீ	 wE	 வே	  GYA ஜ்ஞா  Nii ணீ	kuu	கூ	 rau ரௌ	  yuu  யூ	Shau ஷௌ	  ~Naa	ஙா
H	ஃ	 JE	 ழே	  aa  ஆ	   lO  லோ	rO	ரோ	 wI	 வீ	  GYE ஜ்ஞே  Nuu ணூ	laa	லா	 rhA றா	  zaa  ழா	Shii ஷீ	  ~Nai	ஙை
I	ஈ	 JI	 ழீ	  ai  ஐ	   lU  லூ	rU	ரூ	 wO	 வோ	  GYI ஜ்ஞீ   ShA ஷா	lai	லை	 rhE றே	  zai  ழை	Shuu ஷூ	  ~Nau	ஙௌ
J	ழ்	 JN	 ஞ்	  au  ஔ	   la  ல	ra	ர	 wU	 வூ	  GYO ஜ்ஞோ  ShE ஷே	lau	லௌ	 rhI றீ	  zau  ழௌ	chaa சா	  ~Nii	ஙீ
K	்	 JO	 ழோ	  bh  ்	   ld  ள்	re	ரெ	 wa	 வ	  GYU ஜ்ஞூ  ShI ஷீ	ldA	ளா	 rhO றோ	  zii  ழீ	chai சை	  ~Nuu	ஙூ
L	ள்	 JU	 ழூ	  ch  ச்	   le  லெ	rh	ற்	 we	 வெ	  GYa ஜ்ஞ   ShO ஷோ	ldE	ளே	 rhU றூ	  zuu  ழூ	chau சௌ	  ~naa	ஞா
M	ஂ	 Ja	 ழ	  dh  ்	   li  லி	ri	ரி	 wi	 வி	  GYe ஜ்ஞெ  ShU ஷூ	ldI	ளீ	 rha ற	  ~NA  ஙா	chii சீ	  ~nai	ஞை
N	ண்	 Je	 ழெ	  gh  ்	   lo  லொ	ro	ரொ	 wo	 வொ	  GYi ஜ்ஞி  Sha ஷ	ldO	ளோ	 rhe றெ	  ~NE  ஙே	chuu சூ	  ~nau	ஞௌ
O	ஓ	 Ji	 ழி	  hA  ஹா   lu  லு	ru	ரு	 wu	 வு	  GYo ஜ்ஞொ  She ஷெ	ldU	ளூ	 rhi றி	  ~NI  ஙீ	dnyA ஜ்ஞா  ~nii	ஞீ
T	ட்	 Jo	 ழொ	  hE  ஹே   mA  மா	sA	ஸா	 xA	 க்ஷா  GYu ஜ்ஞு  Shi ஷி	lda	ள	 rho றொ	  ~NO  ஙோ	dnyE ஜ்ஞே  ~nuu	ஞூ
U	ஊ	 Ju	 ழு	  hI  ஹீ	   mE  மே	sE	ஸே	 xE	 க்ஷே  JNA ஞா   Sho ஷொ	lde	ளெ	 rhu று	  ~NU  ஙூ	dnyI ஜ்ஞீ	  dnyaa	ஜ்ஞா
Y	்	 LA	 ளா	  hO  ஹோ   mI  மீ	sI	ஸீ	 xI	 க்ஷீ	  JNE ஞே   Shu ஷு	ldi	ளி	 rii ரீ	  ~Na  ங	dnyO ஜ்ஞோ  dnyai	ஜ்ஞை
a	அ	 LE	 ளே	  hU  ஹூ   mO  மோ	sO	ஸோ	 xO	 க்ஷோ  JNI ஞீ	   Taa டா	ldo	ளொ	 ruu ரூ	  ~Ne  ஙெ	dnyU ஜ்ஞூ  dnyau	ஜ்ஞௌ
b	்	 LI	 ளீ	  ha  ஹ	   mU  மூ	sU	ஸூ	 xU	 க்ஷூ  JNO ஞோ   Tai டை	ldu	ளு	 saa ஸா	  ~Ni  ஙி	dnya ஜ்ஞ	  dnyii	ஜ்ஞீ
d	்	 LO	 ளோ	  he  ஹெ   ma  ம	sa	ஸ	 xa	 க்ஷ	  JNU ஞூ   Tau டௌ	lii	லீ	 sai ஸை	  ~No  ஙொ	dnye ஜ்ஞெ  dnyuu	ஜ்ஞூ
e	எ	 LU	 ளூ	  hi  ஹி   me  மெ	se	ஸெ	 xe	 க்ஷெ  JNa ஞ	   Tii டீ	luu	லூ	 sau ஸௌ	  ~Nu  ஙு	dnyi ஜ்ஞி  shhaa	ஷா
f	்	 La	 ள	  ho  ஹொ   mi  மி	sh	்	 xi	 க்ஷி  JNe ஞெ   Tuu டூ	maa	மா	 shh ஷ்	  ~nA  ஞா	dnyo ஜ்ஞொ  shhai	ஷை
g	்	 Le	 ளெ	  hu  ஹு   mo  மொ	si	ஸி	 xo	 க்ஷொ  JNi ஞி   chA சா	mai	மை	 sii ஸீ	  ~nE  ஞே	dnyu ஜ்ஞு  shhau	ஷௌ
h	ஹ்	 Li	 ளி	  ii  ஈ	   mu  மு	so	ஸொ	 xu	 க்ஷு  JNo ஞொ   chE சே	mau	மௌ	 suu ஸூ	  ~nI  ஞீ	ldaa ளா	  shhii	ஷீ
i	இ	 Lo	 ளொ	  jA  ஜா   nA  நா	su	ஸு	 yA	 யா	  JNu ஞு   chI சீ	mii	மீ	 taa தா	  ~nO  ஞோ	ldai ளை	  shhuu	ஷூ
j	ஜ்	 Lu	 ளு	  jE  ஜே   nE  நே	tA	தா	 yE	 யே	  Jaa ழா   chO சோ	muu	மூ	 tai தை	  ~nU  ஞூ	ldau ளௌ
k	க்	 NA	 ணா	  jI  ஜீ	   nI  நீ	tE	தே	 yI	 யீ	  Jai ழை   chU சூ	naa	நா	 tau தௌ	  ~na  ஞ	ldii ளீ
l	ல்	 NE	 ணே	  jO  ஜோ   nO  நோ	tI	தீ	 yO	 யோ	  Jau ழௌ   cha ச	nai	நை	 tii தீ	  ~ne  ஞெ	lduu ளூ
m	ம்	 NI	 ணீ	  jU  ஜூ   nU  நூ	tO	தோ	 yU	 யூ	  Jii ழீ	   che செ	nau	நௌ	 tuu தூ	  ~ni  ஞி	nhaa னா
n	ந்	 NO	 ணோ	  ja  ஜ	   na  ந	tU	தூ	 ya	 ய	  Juu ழூ   chh ்		nhA	னா	 vaa வா	  ~no  ஞொ	nhai னை
o	ஒ	 NU	 ணூ	  je  ஜெ   ne  நெ	ta	த	 ye	 யெ	  Laa ளா   chi சி	nhE	னே	 vai வை	  ~nu  ஞு	nhau னௌ
p	ப்	 N^	 ங்	  jh  ்	   nh  ன்	te	தெ	 yh	 ்	  Lai ளை   cho சொ	nhI	னீ	 vau வௌ	  GYaa ஜ்ஞா	nhii னீ
q	்	 Na	 ண	  ji  ஜி   ni  நி	th	்	 yi	 யி	  Lau ளௌ   chu சு	nhO	னோ	 vii வீ	  GYai ஜ்ஞை	nhuu னூ
r	ர்	 Ne	 ணெ	  jo  ஜொ   no  நொ	ti	தி	 yo	 யொ	  Lii ளீ	   dny ஜ்ஞ்	nhU	னூ	 vuu வூ	  GYau ஜ்ஞௌ	rhaa றா
s	ஸ்	 Ni	 ணி	  ju  ஜு   nu  நு	to	தொ	 yu	 யு	  Luu ளூ   haa ஹா	nha	ன	 waa வா	  GYii ஜ்ஞீ	rhai றை

KEY BINDINGS FOR TRANSLATION
----------------------------
key             binding
---             -------

C-@				quail-select-current
C-b				quail-prev-translation
C-f				quail-next-translation
C-h				quail-translation-help
TAB				quail-completion
C-n				quail-next-translation-block
C-p				quail-prev-translation-block
C-SPC			quail-select-current
<down>			quail-next-translation-block
<kp-enter>		quail-select-current
<left>			quail-prev-translation
<mouse-2>		quail-mouse-choose-completion
<right>			quail-next-translation
<tab>			quail-completion
<up>			quail-prev-translation-block

Re: Switching non-English keyboard layouts and using Emacs shortcuts

[Yuri Khan]

On Wed, May 13, 2015 at 10:35 AM, Shakthi Kannan <shakthimaan@gmail.com> wrote:

> I am using GNU Emacs 24.3.1 on Ubuntu 14.10. I use the following to
> switch between Dvorak and Tamil (native language) keyboard layouts
> respectively:
>
>   $ setxkbmap us -variant dvorak
>   $ setxkbmap -layout in -variant tam_unicode

You might prefer e.g. this:

$ setxkbmap us,in dvorak,tam_unicode grp:caps_toggle

This way, you will be able to switch layouts instantly by pressing
Caps Lock. See your /usr/share/X11/xkb/rules/evdev file for other ways
of switching groups if Caps Lock is precious to you.

> #2 How do other people who use non-English layouts use Emacs shortcuts
> with their native language input method?

I use this snippet which I lifted I don’t remember where:

===
(require 'cl)
(loop
  for from across
"\эуеицчксдзшщьяаожгтнвмюйыёфхпрлб\ЭУЕИЦЧКСДЗШЩЬЯАОЖГТНВМЮЙЫЁФХПРЛБ"
  for to   across
"\\wfpgjluy;[]arstdhneiozxcvbkm,./\\WFPGJLUY;[]ARSTDHNEIOZXCVBKM,./"
  do
  (eval `(define-key key-translation-map (kbd ,(concat "C-" (string from)))
                                         (kbd ,(concat "C-" (string to)))))
  (eval `(define-key key-translation-map (kbd ,(concat "M-" (string from)))
                                         (kbd ,(concat "M-" (string to)))))
  (eval `(define-key key-translation-map (kbd ,(concat "C-M-" (string from)))
                                         (kbd ,(concat "C-M-" (string to))))))
===

It is inelegant but makes life halfway bearable. (Non-C-M-modified
keys such as those in dired stay untranslated.)

Re: Switching non-English keyboard layouts and using Emacs shortcuts

[Richard Wordingham]

On Wed, 13 May 2015 09:37:22 +0200
"Gian Uberto Lauri" <saint@eng.it>  wrote:

> 2) use custom layout with a special sequence that changes the layout
>    on the fly without using the setxkbmap command explicitly. I should
>    ask my wife how to do this - she did it when she studied Arabic and
>    Turkish;

In many X implementations one can combine up to 4 keyboards and choose
commands to cycle through them.  I still find it awkward to bracket
each Emacs command or shortcut by cycling commands. 

> 3) use an Emacs input method (tamil-inscript or tamil-itrans)

> I think that 2) is a bit 'heaveier' than 3) as for Emacs commands, but
> 2) is much better than 3) for entering a long text.

How is (2) better than (3) for long text?  Are you saying the input
methods are too slow? I don't see any such problem for methods with one
(modified) keystroke = one input character, which is the X paradigm.
(X does exhort programs to support a specific set of dead keys.)

Richard.

Re: Switching non-English keyboard layouts and using Emacs shortcuts

[Shakthi Kannan]

Hi,

--- On Wed, May 13, 2015 at 10:54 AM, Richard Wordingham
<richard.wordingham@ntlworld.com> wrote:
| As a result, I switched to using a quail keyboard, and
| that avoids the problem you report.  The quail keyboard is simply
| ignored when entering the shortcuts.  Unfortunately, a few commands
| also ignore the quail keyboard for command input - one of these days
| I'll investigate, fix and report.
\--

I have added the quail keyboard setup in my TODO list. Thanks for your inputs!

SK

-- 
Shakthi Kannan
http://www.shakthimaan.com

Re: Switching non-English keyboard layouts and using Emacs shortcuts

[Shakthi Kannan]

Hi,

--- 2015-05-13 13:07 GMT+05:30 Gian Uberto Lauri <saint@eng.it>:
| 3) use an Emacs input method (tamil-inscript or tamil-itrans)
\--

I use neither of them, but, there are many more layouts available. I
am a native speaker of the language and learnt to type using a Tamil
typewriter, and so transliteration is not useful for me. I use the
Unicode layout with a computer though.

  http://www.shakthimaan.com/ta/downloads/computer/tamil-keyboard-unicode.png

Thanks for your reply,

SK

-- 
Shakthi Kannan
http://www.shakthimaan.com

Re: Switching non-English keyboard layouts and using Emacs shortcuts

[Shakthi Kannan]

Hi,

--- On Wed, May 13, 2015 at 2:32 PM, Yuri Khan <yuri.v.khan@gmail.com> wrote:
| You might prefer e.g. this:
|
| $ setxkbmap us,in dvorak,tam_unicode grp:caps_toggle
\--

I can live with the above for now. Instead of caps, I used lwin (for
the left Windows key). Toggling with a single key is fine.

Thanks a lot!

SK

-- 
Shakthi Kannan
http://www.shakthimaan.com

Re: Switching non-English keyboard layouts and using Emacs shortcuts

[Shakthi Kannan]

Hi,

Replying to my own-post:

--- On Wed, May 20, 2015 at 3:08 PM, Shakthi Kannan
<shakthimaan@gmail.com> wrote:
| I have added the quail keyboard setup in my TODO list. Thanks for your inputs!
\--

I now have the tamil-dvorak.el written as a quail package, and have it
working with GNU Emacs 24.5.1. The source is at:

  https://github.com/shakthimaan/cask-dot-emacs/blob/master/lib/tamil-dvorak.el

I have re-mapped and added few special characters which are not in the
original layout, and use C-x RET C-\ to select the keyboard layout.
Keying in native Tamil characters, and also using GNU Emacs buffer
commands is a pleasure now.

Regards,

SK

-- 
Shakthi Kannan
http://www.shakthimaan.com

Re: Switching non-English keyboard layouts and using Emacs shortcuts

[Thien-Thi Nguyen]

[-- Attachment #1: Type: text/plain, Size: 773 bytes --]

() Shakthi Kannan <shakthimaan@gmail.com>
() Thu, 8 Oct 2015 23:19:40 +0530

   I now have the tamil-dvorak.el written as a quail package,
   and have it working with GNU Emacs 24.5.1. The source is at:

     https://github.com/shakthimaan/cask-dot-emacs/blob/master/lib/tamil-dvorak.el

I think it would be cool to add a proper license notice
(consult any .el file distributed w/ Emacs for an example),
and post this to gnu-emacs-sources (at usual gnu domain).

-- 
Thien-Thi Nguyen -----------------------------------------------
  (if you're human and you know it) read my lisp:
    (defun responsep (type via)
      (case type
        (technical (eq 'mailing-list via))
        ...))
---------------------------------------------- GPG key: 4C807502

[-- Attachment #2: signature.asc --]
[-- Type: application/pgp-signature, Size: 197 bytes --]

Re: Switching non-English keyboard layouts and using Emacs shortcuts

[Shakthi Kannan]

Hi,

--- On Mon, Oct 19, 2015 at 1:20 AM, Thien-Thi Nguyen <ttn@gnu.org> wrote:
| I think it would be cool to add a proper license notice
| (consult any .el file distributed w/ Emacs for an example),
| and post this to gnu-emacs-sources (at usual gnu domain).
\--

Is this better?

  https://github.com/shakthimaan/cask-dot-emacs/blob/master/lib/tamil-dvorak.el

SK

-- 
Shakthi Kannan
http://www.shakthimaan.com

Re: Switching non-English keyboard layouts and using Emacs shortcuts

[Thien-Thi Nguyen]

[-- Attachment #1: Type: text/plain, Size: 945 bytes --]

() Shakthi Kannan <shakthimaan@gmail.com>
() Tue, 20 Oct 2015 23:28:47 +0530

   Is this better?

     https://github.com/shakthimaan/cask-dot-emacs/blob/master/lib/tamil-dvorak.el

Yes, the form is much improved, but unfortunately it is still
inaccurate, AFAICT: The file is not yet part of Emacs, so saying
that it is, is not true.

Luckily, the remaining steps are very easy:

- s/is part of/is released under the terms of/
- Post the result to gnu-emacs-sources (w/ usual gnu domain).

I think the Emacs maintainers will be happy to take it from there.

Thank you for taking these steps to expand the Free Software world.

-- 
Thien-Thi Nguyen -----------------------------------------------
  (if you're human and you know it) read my lisp:
    (defun responsep (type via)
      (case type
        (technical (eq 'mailing-list via))
        ...))
---------------------------------------------- GPG key: 4C807502

[-- Attachment #2: signature.asc --]
[-- Type: application/pgp-signature, Size: 197 bytes --]

Re: Switching non-English keyboard layouts and using Emacs shortcuts

[Shakthi Kannan]

Hi,

--- On Fri, Oct 23, 2015 at 1:10 AM, Thien-Thi Nguyen <ttn@gnu.org> wrote:
| - s/is part of/is released under the terms of/
\--

Done.

---
| - Post the result to gnu-emacs-sources (w/ usual gnu domain).
\--

Done. Thanks!

SK

-- 
Shakthi Kannan
http://www.shakthimaan.com