The Linux kernel code has been rewritten to use Unicode to map
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The Linux kernel code has been rewritten to use Unicode to map
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characters to fonts. By downloading a single Unicode-to-font table,
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characters to fonts. By downloading a single Unicode-to-font table,
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both the eight-bit character sets and UTF-8 mode are changed to use
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both the eight-bit character sets and UTF-8 mode are changed to use
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the font as indicated.
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the font as indicated.
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This changes the semantics of the eight-bit character tables subtly.
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This changes the semantics of the eight-bit character tables subtly.
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The four character tables are now:
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The four character tables are now:
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Map symbol Map name Escape code (G0)
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Map symbol Map name Escape code (G0)
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LAT1_MAP Latin-1 (ISO 8859-1) ESC ( B
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LAT1_MAP Latin-1 (ISO 8859-1) ESC ( B
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GRAF_MAP DEC VT100 pseudographics ESC ( 0
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GRAF_MAP DEC VT100 pseudographics ESC ( 0
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IBMPC_MAP IBM code page 437 ESC ( U
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IBMPC_MAP IBM code page 437 ESC ( U
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USER_MAP User defined ESC ( K
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USER_MAP User defined ESC ( K
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In particular, ESC ( U is no longer "straight to font", since the font
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In particular, ESC ( U is no longer "straight to font", since the font
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might be completely different than the IBM character set. This
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might be completely different than the IBM character set. This
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permits for example the use of block graphics even with a Latin-1 font
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permits for example the use of block graphics even with a Latin-1 font
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loaded.
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loaded.
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In accordance with the Unicode standard/ISO 10646 the range U+F000 to
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In accordance with the Unicode standard/ISO 10646 the range U+F000 to
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U+F8FF has been reserved for OS-wide allocation (the Unicode Standard
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U+F8FF has been reserved for OS-wide allocation (the Unicode Standard
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refers to this as a "Corporate Zone", since this is inaccurate for
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refers to this as a "Corporate Zone", since this is inaccurate for
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Linux we call it the "Linux Zone"). U+F000 was picked as the starting
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Linux we call it the "Linux Zone"). U+F000 was picked as the starting
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point since it lets the direct-mapping area start on a large power of
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point since it lets the direct-mapping area start on a large power of
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two (in case 1024- or 2048-character fonts ever become necessary).
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two (in case 1024- or 2048-character fonts ever become necessary).
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This leaves U+E000 to U+EFFF as End User Zone.
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This leaves U+E000 to U+EFFF as End User Zone.
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The Unicodes in the range U+F000 to U+F1FF have been hard-coded to map
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The Unicodes in the range U+F000 to U+F1FF have been hard-coded to map
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directly to the loaded font, bypassing the translation table. The
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directly to the loaded font, bypassing the translation table. The
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user-defined map now defaults to U+F000 to U+F1FF, emulating the
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user-defined map now defaults to U+F000 to U+F1FF, emulating the
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previous behaviour. This range may expand in the future should it be
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previous behaviour. This range may expand in the future should it be
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warranted.
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warranted.
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Actual characters assigned in the Linux Zone
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Actual characters assigned in the Linux Zone
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--------------------------------------------
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--------------------------------------------
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In addition, the following characters not present in Unicode 1.1.4 (at
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In addition, the following characters not present in Unicode 1.1.4 (at
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least, I have not found them!) have been defined; these are used by
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least, I have not found them!) have been defined; these are used by
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the DEC VT graphics map:
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the DEC VT graphics map:
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U+F800 DEC VT GRAPHICS HORIZONTAL LINE SCAN 1
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U+F800 DEC VT GRAPHICS HORIZONTAL LINE SCAN 1
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U+F801 DEC VT GRAPHICS HORIZONTAL LINE SCAN 3
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U+F801 DEC VT GRAPHICS HORIZONTAL LINE SCAN 3
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U+F803 DEC VT GRAPHICS HORIZONTAL LINE SCAN 7
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U+F803 DEC VT GRAPHICS HORIZONTAL LINE SCAN 7
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U+F804 DEC VT GRAPHICS HORIZONTAL LINE SCAN 9
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U+F804 DEC VT GRAPHICS HORIZONTAL LINE SCAN 9
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The DEC VT220 uses a 6x10 character matrix, and these characters form
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The DEC VT220 uses a 6x10 character matrix, and these characters form
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a smooth progression in the DEC VT graphics character set. I have
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a smooth progression in the DEC VT graphics character set. I have
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omitted the scan 5 line, since it is also used as a block-graphics
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omitted the scan 5 line, since it is also used as a block-graphics
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character, and hence has been coded as U+2500 FORMS LIGHT HORIZONTAL.
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character, and hence has been coded as U+2500 FORMS LIGHT HORIZONTAL.
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However, I left U+F802 blank should the need arise.
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However, I left U+F802 blank should the need arise.
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Klingon language support
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Klingon language support
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------------------------
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------------------------
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Unfortunately, Unicode/ISO 10646 does not allocate code points for the
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Unfortunately, Unicode/ISO 10646 does not allocate code points for the
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language Klingon, probably fearing the potential code point explosion
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language Klingon, probably fearing the potential code point explosion
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if many fictional languages were submitted for inclusion. There are
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if many fictional languages were submitted for inclusion. There are
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also political reasons (the Japanese, for example, are not too happy
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also political reasons (the Japanese, for example, are not too happy
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about the whole 16-bit concept to begin with.) However, with Linux
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about the whole 16-bit concept to begin with.) However, with Linux
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being a hacker-driven OS it seems this is a brilliant linguistic hack
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being a hacker-driven OS it seems this is a brilliant linguistic hack
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worth supporting. Hence I have chosen to add it to the list in the
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worth supporting. Hence I have chosen to add it to the list in the
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Linux Zone.
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Linux Zone.
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Several glyph forms for the Klingon alphabet has been proposed.
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Several glyph forms for the Klingon alphabet has been proposed.
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However, since the set of symbols appear to be consistent throughout,
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However, since the set of symbols appear to be consistent throughout,
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with only the actual shapes being different, in keeping with standard
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with only the actual shapes being different, in keeping with standard
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Unicode practice these differences are considered font variants.
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Unicode practice these differences are considered font variants.
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Klingon has an alphabet of 26 characters, a positional numeric writing
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Klingon has an alphabet of 26 characters, a positional numeric writing
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system with 10 digits, and is written left-to-right, top-to-bottom.
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system with 10 digits, and is written left-to-right, top-to-bottom.
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Punctuation appears to be only used in Latin transliteration; it is
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Punctuation appears to be only used in Latin transliteration; it is
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appears customary to write each sentence on its own line, and
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appears customary to write each sentence on its own line, and
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centered. Space has been reserved for punctuation should it prove
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centered. Space has been reserved for punctuation should it prove
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necessary.
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necessary.
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This encoding has been endorsed by the Klingon Language Institute.
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This encoding has been endorsed by the Klingon Language Institute.
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For more information, contact them at:
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For more information, contact them at:
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http://www.kli.org/
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http://www.kli.org/
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Since the characters in the beginning of the Linux CZ have been more
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Since the characters in the beginning of the Linux CZ have been more
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of the dingbats/symbols/forms type and this is a language, I have
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of the dingbats/symbols/forms type and this is a language, I have
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located it at the end, on a 16-cell boundary in keeping with standard
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located it at the end, on a 16-cell boundary in keeping with standard
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Unicode practice.
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Unicode practice.
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U+F8D0 KLINGON LETTER A
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U+F8D0 KLINGON LETTER A
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U+F8D1 KLINGON LETTER B
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U+F8D1 KLINGON LETTER B
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U+F8D2 KLINGON LETTER CH
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U+F8D2 KLINGON LETTER CH
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U+F8D3 KLINGON LETTER D
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U+F8D3 KLINGON LETTER D
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U+F8D4 KLINGON LETTER E
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U+F8D4 KLINGON LETTER E
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U+F8D5 KLINGON LETTER GH
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U+F8D5 KLINGON LETTER GH
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U+F8D6 KLINGON LETTER H
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U+F8D6 KLINGON LETTER H
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U+F8D7 KLINGON LETTER I
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U+F8D7 KLINGON LETTER I
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U+F8D8 KLINGON LETTER J
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U+F8D8 KLINGON LETTER J
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U+F8D9 KLINGON LETTER L
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U+F8D9 KLINGON LETTER L
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U+F8DA KLINGON LETTER M
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U+F8DA KLINGON LETTER M
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U+F8DB KLINGON LETTER N
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U+F8DB KLINGON LETTER N
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U+F8DC KLINGON LETTER NG
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U+F8DC KLINGON LETTER NG
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U+F8DD KLINGON LETTER O
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U+F8DD KLINGON LETTER O
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U+F8DE KLINGON LETTER P
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U+F8DE KLINGON LETTER P
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U+F8DF KLINGON LETTER Q
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U+F8DF KLINGON LETTER Q
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- Written in standard Okrand Latin transliteration
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- Written in standard Okrand Latin transliteration
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U+F8E0 KLINGON LETTER QH
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U+F8E0 KLINGON LETTER QH
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- Written in standard Okrand Latin transliteration
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- Written in standard Okrand Latin transliteration
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U+F8E1 KLINGON LETTER R
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U+F8E1 KLINGON LETTER R
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U+F8E2 KLINGON LETTER S
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U+F8E2 KLINGON LETTER S
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U+F8E3 KLINGON LETTER T
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U+F8E3 KLINGON LETTER T
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U+F8E4 KLINGON LETTER TLH
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U+F8E4 KLINGON LETTER TLH
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U+F8E5 KLINGON LETTER U
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U+F8E5 KLINGON LETTER U
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U+F8E6 KLINGON LETTER V
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U+F8E6 KLINGON LETTER V
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U+F8E7 KLINGON LETTER W
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U+F8E7 KLINGON LETTER W
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U+F8E8 KLINGON LETTER Y
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U+F8E8 KLINGON LETTER Y
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U+F8E9 KLINGON LETTER GLOTTAL STOP
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U+F8E9 KLINGON LETTER GLOTTAL STOP
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U+F8F0 KLINGON DIGIT ZERO
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U+F8F0 KLINGON DIGIT ZERO
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U+F8F1 KLINGON DIGIT ONE
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U+F8F1 KLINGON DIGIT ONE
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U+F8F2 KLINGON DIGIT TWO
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U+F8F2 KLINGON DIGIT TWO
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U+F8F3 KLINGON DIGIT THREE
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U+F8F3 KLINGON DIGIT THREE
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U+F8F4 KLINGON DIGIT FOUR
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U+F8F4 KLINGON DIGIT FOUR
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U+F8F5 KLINGON DIGIT FIVE
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U+F8F5 KLINGON DIGIT FIVE
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U+F8F6 KLINGON DIGIT SIX
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U+F8F6 KLINGON DIGIT SIX
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U+F8F7 KLINGON DIGIT SEVEN
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U+F8F7 KLINGON DIGIT SEVEN
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U+F8F8 KLINGON DIGIT EIGHT
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U+F8F8 KLINGON DIGIT EIGHT
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U+F8F9 KLINGON DIGIT NINE
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U+F8F9 KLINGON DIGIT NINE
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Other Fictional and Artificial Scripts
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Other Fictional and Artificial Scripts
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--------------------------------------
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--------------------------------------
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Since the assignment of the Klingon Linux Unicode block, a registry of
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Since the assignment of the Klingon Linux Unicode block, a registry of
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fictional and artificial scripts has been established by John Cowan,
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fictional and artificial scripts has been established by John Cowan,
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. The ConScript Unicode Registry is accessible at
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. The ConScript Unicode Registry is accessible at
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http://locke.ccil.org/~cowan/csur/; the ranges used fall at the bottom
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http://locke.ccil.org/~cowan/csur/; the ranges used fall at the bottom
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of the End User Zone and can hence not be normatively assigned, but it
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of the End User Zone and can hence not be normatively assigned, but it
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is recommended that people who wish to encode fictional scripts use
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is recommended that people who wish to encode fictional scripts use
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these codes, in the interest of interoperability. For Klingon, CSUR
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these codes, in the interest of interoperability. For Klingon, CSUR
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has adopted the Linux encoding.
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has adopted the Linux encoding.
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H. Peter Anvin
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H. Peter Anvin
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