A computer represents an alphabet [technically called language script] using a number code. The coding scheme which is currently used (
ASCII) however only represents the English alphabet and numerals and some special characters.
Unicode is a new encoding scheme which represents all alphabets in all languages in the world. In Unicode, Malayalam first letter ‘a’ (അ) is given the code number 3333. Similarly, different numbers are given for rest of Malayalam alphabets. The fonts that understand this new encoding scheme are called Unicode fonts.
To read and type Malayalam properly in your computer you have to use Unicode Malayalam fonts.[The same also applies to other languages; to read and type a particular language you need to have the Unicode font of that language.]
To work using a Unicode font of a language, we also need,
- The Operating System support for displaying that language script [in our case support for displaying malayalam]. This is technically called font rendering support. If the OS has no proper support, we may still be able to view the language but there will be errors. In Malayalam we usually have problems like ‘Chillu’ and ‘diacritics’ [കേ, കൊ] etc.
- A system for inputting the language script to the computer. Operating Systems usually support keyboard layouts for different languages. Once enabled, we could use the normal keyboard for inputting. For example, typing button ‘K’ inputs malayalam script ‘ക’ (ka).
- Applications supporting Unicode scheme. Like notepad, IE, Word, Firefox etc. Almost all of the programs of the latest Operating systems support Unicode.
Using unicode, you can read and create malayalam text and websites, blog and chat in malayalam, and even search google in malayalam, See here for an example of searching
google in malayalam .
Now lets see how this can be accomplished in various Operating systems,
Windows 7
Windows 7 has by default support for reading and typing Malayalam.
You can view Malayalam webpages without doing anything special. Just check it out
here.
If you like, you may install more Malayalam fonts like, AnjaliOldLipi, Raghu etc from
here. Here is apicture of the fonts listed.
For typing,
1. Enable Malayalam typing by,
Control panel > ‘Change Keyboard or other Input methods’ (under section ‘Clock, Languages and Region’) > ‘Keyboard and Languages’ tab > Change keyboards… > General tab > click Add and choose Malayalam.
The layout for the Malayalam keyboard is the same Inscript layout shown here.
Now you can type Malayalam directly into any application.
Also check the ‘Language Bar’ tab. You can add a button on the taskbar for switching between Malayalam and English typing.
2. You can use
Google transliteration IME to input Malayalam letters using the Mozhi scheme directly to any application. It has features like word completion.
3. You can use web based Google transliteration service , to type Malayalam in the transliteration scheme of Mozhi, and it will be converted to Malayalam automatically, Then you can copy paste it into your programs. Google transliteration service is also used in Orkut to input Malayalam.
The advantage of this method is that you can test typing, right after you setup viewing.
4. The options listed for Windows XP, like the Mozhi keyman, Varamozhi editor etc may work for windows 7 (I’ve not tested it).
Windows 95/98/Me/NT and 2000
These OS’s have no proper support for Malayalam script rendering.
Fortunately IE has good support and you can use it.
Install a Malayalam unicode font like
AnjaliOldLipi. Download it from
here.
Go to
Control Panel > Fonts. Choose
File > Install font and browse to your font and click
OK.
And use IE (ver 6 is good) to view malayalam pages, although the display may not be perfect.
On Internet Explorer 6: Go to Tools -> Internet Options. Click Fonts and Choose Malayalam and setAnjaliOldLipi as the font.
To type Malayalam
They do not have direct support for inputting malayalam.
1. Try using the Inscript keyboard layout program from CDAC, Govt of India.
Download it from
here. Unzip and doubleclick
Setup.exe to install.
An icon should come at the taskbar which enables you to switch, keyboards. The key map is here.
[Please confirm if you have success in using this]
2. You could also try the methods specified for ‘typing Malayalam’ in Windows XP/2003, [except method 1].
Please see below.
Windows XP/2003
Windows XP SP2 and 2003 has default support for rendering Malayalam.
To enable it,
Go to Start > Control Panel.
If you are in “Category View” select the icon that says Date, Time, Language and Regional Options and then select Regional and Language Options.
If you are in “Classic View” select the icon that says Regional and Language Options.
Select the Languages tab and make sure the option saying Install files for complex script and right-to-left languages (including Thai) is checked. Click OK.
A confirmation message should now appear – press OK on this confirmation message to allow the OS to install necessary files from the Windows XP CD and then reboot if prompted.
You should install
AnjaliOldLipi font in any case. The default font provided by XP called ‘
karthika‘ is not good and small.
Install
AnjaliOldLipi malayalam unicode font.
Download from
here.
Go to
Control Panel > Fonts. Choose
File > Install font and browse to your font and click
OK.
Enable firefox and IE to use this font.
For Firefox Go to Tools > Options > Content.
You can see the Fonts & Colors section. Take Advanced.
Choose Malayalam from the Fonts for dropdown menu.
Now set AnjaliOldLipi in each of the dropdown list. Click Ok and Ok.
For IE, Go to Tools > Internet Options.
Click Fonts and Choose Malayalam form the Language Script dropdown menu
Set the font as AnjaliOldLipi in the below list box.
See IE, FF and notepad displaying malayalam in my windows XP, using the default font karthika. You can also see the keyboard layout switcher in the taskbar near system tray.
To type Malayalam1. Windows XP SP2 and 2003 has default support for typing malayalam. This is the Inscript keyboard layout from CDAC, Govt of India.
To enable it, Choose
Regional and Language Options from
Control Panel. On
Languages tab click
Details.
Click the
Add button and Choose
Malayalam(India). Click
Apply.
Now Click
Language bar… button and check
Show Language bar… and
Show additional language bar…A menu will appear in the taskbar which allows you to select the malayalam keyboard. The key map is
here.
Now you can type Malayalam directly into any application.
2. Use a keyboard mapper called
Mozhi Keyman to type Malayalam directly into the computer in transliteration scheme[eg typing english keys 'ithu' will output malayalam 'ഇതു'.]
Download
Mozhi keyman here and install it. Once it is installed you will see its icon(letter K) in system-tray. Click on it and choose ‘Mozhi’ to enable it. The icon will now change to malayalam (ക)
Use this mozhi scheme to type.
3. You can use a software called Varamozhi, This software allows text inputting in same transliteration scheme of Mozhi, and once you are done export it to unicode file. Download and install Varamozhi
here. Visit
varamozhi site for details on how to use it
4. You can use web based
Google transliteration service , to type Malayalam in the transliteration scheme of Mozhi, and it will be converted to malayalam automatically, Then you can copy paste it into your programs. Google transliteration service is also used in Orkut to input malayalam.
The advantage of this method is that you can test typing, right after you setup viewing.
Some more key mappers and web based services are listed
hereWindows Vista
Windows Vista has default support for reading and typing malayalam. Check the section for Windows 7, the steps are almost similar.
GNU/Linux
GNOME and KDE both has good support for malayalam script rendering.
You will only need to install malayalam unicode font.
To install AnjaliOldLipi,
Download from
here. To install, open your File Manager, type
fonts:/// in the addressbar and hit
enterand paste fonts in that folder.
OR you could install the distribution specific fonts by commands,
Redhat, Cent OS, RHEL , Fedora etc – yum install fonts-malayalam
Debian, Ubuntu etc – apt-get install ttf-malayam-fonts
Restart X-server by logging out and logging in back.
Usually Firefox is capable of detecting the malayalam font to display. If not,
Go to Tools > Options > Content.
You can see the Fonts & Colors section. Take Advanced.
Choose Malayalam from the Fonts for dropdown menu.
Now set AnjaliOldLipi in each of the dropdown list. Click Ok and Ok.
See firefox displaying malayalam in my Cent OS 5.3. The only error i could see is for the rendering of ‘nte’ as in “എന്റെ”
This article is created by Muhammed Usama
