Baraha Kannada IME Keyboard Help
Type Kannada using Latin letters. The keyboard converts what you type into Kannada script as you go, following the Baraha transliteration scheme. For example, namaskAra becomes ನಮಸ್ಕಾರ.
This project intends to extend the Baraha transliteration functionality of the Mac OS app Lipika-IME to other operating systems (e.g. Windows, Linux).
How to type
Type each Kannada word the way it sounds. The text changes into Kannada as you type: k shows ಕ್, then a turns it into ಕ, and another a makes it ಕಾ.
- Capital letters matter. t is ತ but T is ಟ; e is ಎ but E is ಏ.
- ಒತ್ತಕ್ಷರಗಳು (ottakSharas) form automatically. Type consonants one after another: kSh gives ಕ್ಷ, dr gives ದ್ರ್.
- Word endings. A word ending in a consonant shows a virama (್) until you type the final vowel: raam is ರಾಮ್, raama is ರಾಮ.
- Separating letters. Type an apostrophe between letters that would otherwise combine: k'ha gives ಕ್ಹ instead of ಖ.
Examples
| Type | Result |
|---|---|
| namaskAra | ನಮಸ್ಕಾರ |
| kannaDa | ಕನ್ನಡ |
| beMgaLUru | ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು |
| caMdra | ಚಂದ್ರ |
| kRuShNa | ಕೃಷ್ಣ |
| j~jAna | ಜ್ಞಾನ |
Vowels
| Type | Vowel | Type | Vowel |
|---|---|---|---|
| a | ಅ | A, aa | ಆ |
| i | ಇ | I, ii, ee | ಈ |
| u | ಉ | U, uu, oo | ಊ |
| Ru | ಋ | ||
| e | ಎ | E | ಏ |
| ai | ಐ | ||
| o | ಒ | O | ಓ |
| au | ಔ | ||
| M | ಂ | H | ಃ |
After a consonant, vowels attach as vowel signs: ki is ಕಿ, kU is ಕೂ, kai is ಕೈ.
Consonants
| k ಕ | kh ಖ | g ಗ | gh ಘ | ~g ಙ |
| c ಚ | ch ಛ | j ಜ | jh ಝ | ~j ಞ |
| T ಟ | Th ಠ | D ಡ | Dh ಢ | N ಣ |
| t ತ | th ಥ | d ದ | dh ಧ | n ನ |
| p ಪ | ph, f ಫ | b ಬ | bh ಭ | m ಮ |
| y ಯ | r ರ | l ಲ | v, w ವ | sh ಶ |
| Sh ಷ | s ಸ | h ಹ | L ಳ | kSh, x ಕ್ಷ |
Punctuation
| Type | Result | |
|---|---|---|
| | | । | danda |
| || | ॥ | double danda |
| " | “ ” | curly quotes; opening or closing is chosen automatically |
Other punctuation (. , ? ! : ;) types as usual.
