--- In qalam@yahoogroups.com, Michael Everson <everson@...> wrote:

>
> "Some can't" is nonsense, except for dyslexics. Human beings can
> learn all sorts of things. It isn't rocket science to teach people
> that you press the
>
> The Ethiopic "standard" keyboard is "alphabetic". Deadkeys where

the

> first key is a consonant followed by a vowel.
>
> So much for the unfairness of alphabetic input for syllabic

scripts.

I believe that you are ignoring research to the contrary.

On other points, have you read Scribner and Cole, The Psychology of
Literacy, 1981.

Few Vai are biliterate in English and Vai. Fewer still can read Vai
in the English alphabet. However, the Vai literates have little
access to electricity so they won't be likely to use a computer for
Vai at all. Then who will write Vai - one supposes English literates
who have learned to use the English alphabet for Vai and can now
input Vai roman orthography and have it appear as Vai script.


"Table 6.2 classifies male survey informants by script knowledge
according to their performance on our reading tests. The greater
number are monoliterate, in descending frequency from Vai script to
Arabic to English; close to one-third are literate in two scripts;
and a few individuals have achieved mastery of all three writing
systems. Biliterates overwhelmingly represent the combination of Vai
syllabary-Arabic learning. Considering all Vai script literates,
better than 40% know Arabic as well; or, considering all Arabic
literates,nearly one-half, (49%) also know Vai script. In contrast,
co-occurence of either Vai script or Arabic with English is rare.
Going to an English school seems to represent a cutting point, an
educational choice that turns the individual away from participation
in learning either of the two traditional scripts. Exclusivity of
English and Arabic is understandable, since both literacies require
extended daily study during roughly the same age period. The rupture
between English and Vai script rests on less apparent factors. Vai
script does not require an extended periond of study and is
customarily learned in adulthood. Our conjecture is that youth who
attain English literacy in school are drawn to pursue opportunities
in the cash economy, thus cutting themselves off from available Vai
script tutors as well as the cultural supports fostering interest in
the script." p. 64

"Reading Vai in the English alphabet" is "an uncommon skill
exclusive to a few men in the sample..." p. 100

Table 6.2 Script knowledge among Vai men. (N=290)

Total number of literates 191
Vai script only 53 27%
Arabic only 38 20%
English only 32 17%
Vai-Arabic 47 25%
Vai-Arabic-English 5 3%
Vai-English 6 3%
English-Arabic 6 3%
English-other (e.g. French) 4 2%

All Vai script 111 58%
All Arabic script 96 50%
All English script 53 28%

Suzanne

> --
> Michael Everson * http://www.evertype.com