Getting Started
Keywrite provides pre-made input methods for various Ethiopic languages. These follow the mnemonic principles outlined in the GFF Ethiopic Keyboard Specification: http://keyboards.ethiopic.org/specification/
Ethiopic script is an ancient writing system used by multiple languages in the Horn of Africa, primarily in Ethiopia and Eritrea. The script is syllabic, meaning each character (called a syllograph) represents a consonant-vowel combination rather than individual letters.
Available Input Methods
The following input methods correspond to the specifications defined in the GFF Ethiopic Keyboard Specification:
| Input Method | Name | Supported Regions |
|---|---|---|
am-ET | Amharic | am-ET |
awn-ET_byn-ER_xan-ET | Awngi, Blin, Xamtanga | awn-ET, byn-ER, xan-ET |
bcq-ET | Bench | bcq-ET |
mym-ET_muz-ET_suq-ET_mdx-ET | Dizi, Me'en, Mursi, Suri | mym-ET, muz-ET, suq-ET, mdx-ET |
gez-ET_gez-ER | Ge'ez | gez-ET, gez-ER |
har-ET | Harari | har-ET |
sgw-ET | Sebatbeit | sgw-ET |
xst-ET | Silt'e | xst-ET |
ti-ER | Tigrinya (Eritrean) | ti-ER |
ti-ET | Tigrinya (Ethiopia) | ti-ET |
ET | Ethiopic (Language Neutral) | ET |
Installation
yarn install @keywrite/ethiopic-input-methods
Ethiopic Input Method Principles
The Ethiopic input methods follow these key principles:
1. Phonological Continuity
Letters map between scripts based on phonetic correspondence:
s→ስ(both 's' sound)m→ም(both 'm' sound)
2. Character Class Continuity
- Letters map to letters
- Numbers map to numbers
- Punctuation maps to punctuation
3. Ergonomic Design
Frequently occurring characters require fewer keystrokes:
e→እ(common, single key)ee→ዕ(less common, double key)