On Thu, 17 May 2012 23:16:10 +0200 Philippe Verdy <[email protected]> wrote:
> > OK, OK.... So this looks like there's an 'x'-like letter in the Lao > > script. But why should it be the Latin letter with all its allowed > > variations, its dual case, its cursive joining, its serifs ? May be > > the letter x was chosen because it has the property of a letter and > > not a mere symbol. But then this means that the Lao script needs a > > new letter of its own. > > Correction: the Shift state of this keyboard is used only for some > rare Lao letters, but the rest is filled by punctuation and other math > symbols. When looking at the keyboard map, I actually don't see an x > letter but effectively a multiplication sign (just like there's a plus > sign two rows above). That's what I originally thought - but every implementation I've investigated comes up with the letter 'x'. I have seen 'x' with serifs in lists of Lao vowels, but I'm not sure that the Lao vowels were actually typed. I must say 'x' works very well as a bearer for SE Asian combining marks. I originally raised the issue because I am not sure what having a letter reclassified as common would do to the definition of CLDR tailorings. The Garshuni writing system could have an interesting one - Syriac consonants with Arabic marks - but I suspect Arabic vowels being primary ignorables prevents any ridiculous results. Richard.
