i18n@... wrote:

>
> Just came across this article that addresses efforts that happen in the
> real world to bridge local use of less-common writing systems with
> modern communication tools. (The description of Unicode as a font
> standard is a little off, but the overall point and effort are
> interesting to me)
>
> Best,
>
> Barry
> --------------------------------------------------------
>
> Computer translation brings Inuktitut one step closer to language of
> government
>
> Microsoft to roll out local language-based Windows operating system
>
> SARA MINOGUE
>
> A giant project is underway to make computing much more friendly for
> Inuit - not by fixing any bugs and technical glitches, but by
> translating the entire Windows operating system into Inuktitut.
>
> Iqaluit's Pirurvik Centre has been working on the translation since
> early last year, when a Microsoft employee approached the language and
> cultural centre about working with them to create the first Inuktitut
> operating system.
>
> The project is part of Microsoft's Local Language Program, launched in
> March, 2004. The program is partly charitable, and partly a way to
> guarantee future customers, though in this case, the market is tiny.
>
> But Gavin Nesbitt, who runs the Pirurvik Centre along with Leena Evic,
> thinks the impact could be huge.
>
> "What do you need to make Inuktitut the working language of government?
> Well, you need to be able to work in Inuktitut," Nesbitt says.
>
> [snip, full article: http://www.nunatsiaq.com/news/nunavut/50422_09.html%5d

Well, if Inuktitut is an official language of Nunavut, it certainly
makes sense! But don't hold your breath waiting for the Syllabics
version to come along.
--
Peter T. Daniels grammatim@...