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Greek Polytonic Unicode Keyboard Help

Keyboard © 2002 David J. Perry


Overview
Using this Keyboard
Keyboard Layout
Quickstart
Examples
Keyboard Details
Complete Typing Chart
Troubleshooting
Further Resources
Related Keyboard Layouts
Technical Information
Authorship

Overview

This keyboard layout is designed for Polytonic Greek, the standard writing system of the Greek language (Ancient and Modern) before 1976.

This keyboard has a fixed positional layout. That means that the arrangement of the letters in this layout is fixed - it will not change depending on the order of keys on your actual keyboard.

This keyboard mimics the modern Greek layout. It uses standard Unicode fonts.

Note: This keyboard makes use of AltGr or CTRL+ALT keys. It is also possible to activate Keyman's "Simulate AltGr with Ctrl+Alt" option. This can be done in Keyman Configuration / Options / General. This must be done in order for the CTRL+ALT keystrokes to produce the correct output.

Click here to see other keyboards for Greek.

Using this Keyboard

Keyboard Layout

Quickstart

This keyboard mimics the modern Greek layout. Most Greek letters are in the same place as the equivalent English letters on an English (QWERTY) keyboard. For example, type <^vm'ega to get ὧμέγα.

As you can see, accents and breathing marks are typed before the vowel. They can be typed in any order. For example, is typed :'y or ':y.

When you type an accent or breathing mark followed by a space, you will get a standard keystroke instead of an accent. For example, typing / will give you / not ¯.

Though the basic accented letters in this keyboard are precomposed, it is possible to type with combining diacritics. To type with combining diacritics, type a letter first and then type an accent using AltGr or Ctrl+Alt. For example, to get ϊ with combining diacritics, type i[CA:.

Examples

Keyboard Details

Letters

The Greek Polytonic Unicode keyboard adds polytonic accents to a modern Greek layout. Most Greek letters are in the same place as the equivalent English letters on an English (QWERTY) keyboard.

Example: typing r produces ρ.

Example: typing m produces μ.

Some characters are in a different place and may need to be memorized.

Example: typing c produces ψ.

Example: typing u produces θ.

Final sigma (ς) is not automatic. It must be typed as an independent letter.

Example: typing w produces ς.

Example: typing shw produces σης.

Capital letters are typed using shift, as in English.

Example: typing [Sd] produces Δ.

Example: typing [Sv] produces Ω.

The keyboard also includes a selection of archaic Greek and Coptic letters, e.g. digamma (ϝ). These can be typed with AltGr or Ctrl+Alt combinations.

Example: typing [Aw] produces ϝ.

Example: typing [SAq] produces Ϙ.

Accents and Other Diacritics

The Greek Polytonic Unicode keyboard uses two different systems to handle accented characters:

  • Precomposed letters
  • Combining diacritics

Precomposed Letters

All of the basic accented characters can be typed with precomposed letters. Precomposed letters look like an accent+vowel, but they are actually a single symbol. When you delete a precomposed letter, you delete the entire letter, not just the accent.

Use the following keystrokes to type diacritics for precomposed letters.

Diacritics for Precomposed Letters
CharacterKeystrokeEnglish NameGreek Name
<rough breathingdasia
᾿>smooth breathingpsili
[CAiiota subscriptypogegrammeni/
prosgegrammeni
¨:diaeresisdialytika
`grave accentvaria
'acute accent
(Classical Greek)
oxia
΄;acute accent
(Modern Greek)
tonos
^or ~circumflex accentperispomeni
 ̆?breve accentvrachy
¯/macronmacron

All precomposed letters are typed with accents first (before the letter). Accents can be typed in any order, except iota subscript, which must come last. Iota subscript can be typed with AltGr or Ctrl+Alt. It is also possible to activate Keyman's "Simulate AltGr with Ctrl+Alt" option. This can be done in Keyman Configuration / Options / General.

Example: typing :'y or ':y produces .

Example: typing ~>[CAi]a or ^>[CAi]a or >~[CAi]a or >^[CAi]a produces .

Vowels and the letter rho (ρ) can be typed as precomposed letters.

Example: typing `h produces .

Example: typing <R produces .

Some combinations are not possible with precomposed letters, usually becuase they do not exist in Greek.

Example: you cannot type capital rho with smooth breathing.

Example: you cannot type capital omega with circumflex.

Combining Diacritics

Use of combining diacritics is not recommended. They make searching documents harder, and most fonts display Greek combining diacritics badly.

Accented characters can also be typed with combining diacritics. However, this keyboard includes an underdot which can only be typed using combing diacritics.

These vowel+accent combinations do not form a single symbol. When you delete a letter with a combining diacritical mark, you delete the diacritic first and then the letter.

Use the following keystrokes to type combining diacritics.

Combining Diacritics
CharacterKeystrokeEnglish NameGreek Name
.[CA.combining underdot
[CA<]rough breathingdasia
᾿[CA>]smooth breathingpsili
[CAIiota subscriptypogegrammeni/
prosgegrammeni
¨[CA:]diaeresisdialytika
[CA`grave accentvaria
[CA'acute accentoxia or tonos
[CA~perispomeni
^[CA^circumflex accent
 ̆[CA?breve accentvrachy
¯[CA/macronmacron

All combining diacritics are typed after the letter. They can be typed with AltGr or Ctrl+Alt. Accents will display differently based on the order in which they are typed. Typing breathing mark or diaeresis, then accent, then iota-subscript usually achieves the best result.

Example: typing i[CA:][CA'] produces .

Example: typing v[CA>][CA~][CAI] produces .

Punctuation

Most punctuation on the Greek Polytonic Unicode keyboard is typed exactly as on the English (QWERTY) keyboard.

Example: typing . produces ..

Example: typing ( produces (.

The Greek semicolon (ano teleia) and the Greek question mark are the only exceptions

Example: typing Q produces ·.

Example: typing q produces ;.

See the Complete Typing Chart for full details on how to type all the letters, diacritics, and punctuation of the Greek Polytonic Unicode keyboard.

Troubleshooting

If the characters you type or those on the On Screen Keyboard do not appear to display correctly, please read the KeymanWeb troubleshooting guide.

For any other questions, contact us.

Further Resources

Technical Information

System Requirements

It is recommended that you use an English QWERTY hardware keyboard with this keyboard.

Unicode Version

This keyboard complies with Unicode 5.1

Keyboard Authorship

This keyboard was created by David J. Perry. Tavultesoft graciously acknowledges the contribution made by the author in developing this keyboard and making it freely available for use with Keyman Desktop and KeymanWeb. His effort has assisted greatly in enabling people to communicate in Polytonic Greek.

All Documentation Versions

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