Re: Bopomofo keyboards in Taiwan

At 22:30 -0400 2005-09-01, Peter T. Daniels wrote:

> > Learning the values of 26 letters isn't learning a language, but I
>> mean, come ON. To type the euro sign, I have to type alt-2. Is that
>> "natural" in any meaningful way?
>
>What does that have to do with learning phonological segmentation?

It has to do with learning that a series of keystrokes can be used to
enter a character of some sort. Sometimes those keystrokes may be
logical. Sometimes they may be arbitrary.

> > I don't think that monoglot Vai speakers will get very far with
>> computers if they don't learn the Latin script. I don't think that it
>> is unfair or unreasonable to expect them to understand the advantages
>> of the Latin script with regard to computers. And it isn't "cultural
>> imperialism", but simple realism that is behind this view. Even if
>
>Yes, it most certainly is cultural imperialism. You assume that the way
>you do it (you and your employers) is the best way to do it.

I said nothing about "best". Maybe it would be "better" for Vais if
Toshiba made 150-key laptops engraved in Vai. But that isn't, I
think, ever going to happen, and the practical Vai will use the
hardware and software which is available.
--
Michael Everson * http://www.evertype.com