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ALGONQUIAN KEYBOARD LAYOUTS FOR LANGUAGES USING ROMAN ORTHOGRAPHY

Syllabics Keyboards are available

While some Algonquian languages, especially in Northern Canada, use a syllabics orthography, many others employ a Roman based writing system. Algonquian languages tend to have a rather small sized set of distinctive sounds, and consequently, do not have nearly as many special symbols as Dene or West-Coast languages. However, some do contain unusual glyphs which require special keyboards. Also, historians and philologists who want to include excerpts from old documents may require a larger group of symbols. Where a language uses only a selection of the standard twenty-six alphabetic letters, no special keyboard has been included.

Many of these languages have a relatively newly developed “practical alphabet” which differs significantly from the orthography commonly used by linguists. Where possible and applicable, several keyboards will be available for each language. For more details, see the keyboard maps or language pages.

Each language will be provided with two keyboards, one for Windows and one for Macs. Older keyboards layouts which were available on this page in the past are always available if you contact me directly via email.

Multi-lingual keyboards keep the standard A–Z keys while the special characters used by the languages are mapped to punctuation keys. These keyboards allow for easy typing in both English and the Native langauge at the same time. Accents are typed after the base letter.

All keyboards (unless otherwise noted) on this site are designed to work with Unicode fonts, and as such, will only work with certain software (e.g. Windows XP, MS Word). See Unicode links page for Unicode friendly software.

I have included keyboards for all the languages whose orthography I am relatively certain, all others show the “at work” graphic. However, the community’s orthographies could be modified by the local authorities in the future.

How The Keyboards Work

The multi-lingual keyboards place accents and special letters only on punctuation keys, so as not to interfere with letters required by English. This way borrowed words or proper names can be typed in a Native language text without switching keyboard layouts. Unless otherwise indicated, accents are typed after the letter they modify. Where a punctuation key has been altered, the original value is typed by holding down the RIGHT-ALT (on Windows) or one of the OPTION keys (on Macs) and hitting the punctuation key.

Keyboard Downloads and Maps

Central Canadian Algonquian
Western Algonquian
Other Algonquian Languages


Central Canada

Mac Download — Windows Download
Mac Installation InstructionsWindows Installation Instructions

Anicinapemiȣin/Anishinàbemiwin (Algonquin)
Keymap (pdf)
Atikamekw (Atikamekw)
Keymap (pdf)
Ilnu/Innu Aimun (Montagnais)
Keymap (pdf)

Nēhiyāwēwin/Ininīmowin/...

(Cree)

Keymap (pdf)
Anishinaabemowin Ojibwe/Odawa No Special Keyboard Required

Western Algonquian

Mac Download — Windows Download
Mac Installation InstructionsWindows Installation Instructions

’Ɔ’ɔ́ɔ́ɔ́níííh (White Clay, Gros Ventre, Atsina)
Keymap (pdf)
Etse̊hesenestse (Ring accent) Cheyenne
Keymap (pdf)
Etsėhesenestse (Dot Accent) Cheyenne
Keymap (pdf)

Cheyenne

Southern Orthography

Keymap (pdf)
Hinóno’eitíít (Arapaho)
Keymap (pdf)
Piikani-Kainaa-Siksika (Blackfoot)
No special keyboard required.
Syllabics keyboards are available.

Other Algonquian Languages

If you are having trouble with your layout in Windows 7, please let me know and I will fix it

Specific Orthography
Keyboard Map
Windows Download
Mac Download
Kiikaapoatowaachiki (Kickapoo)
Keymap (pdf)
•Windows Keyboard
•Mac Keyboard 
Menominee (updated Feb 2011)
View Keymap
•Windows Keyboard
•Mac Keyboard
Meskwaki
 
Asakiwaki (Sauk)
View Keymap (pdf)
•Windows Keyboard (v2)
•Mac Keyboard 
Bodéwadminwen / Nishnabémwen (Potawatomi)
View Keymap
•Windows Keyboard (v2)
•Mac Keyboard 
Miami
 
Shawnee
 
 
Wôbanakiôdwawôgan (Western Abenaki)
View Keymap
•Windows Keyboard
•Mac Keyboard 
Maleseet
No special keyboard required
 
Passamaquoddy
No special keyboard required
 
Mi'gmaq/Míkmaq/Mi:kmaq
View Keymap
•Windows Keyboard
•Mac Keyboard 
Lënapei Èlixsuwakàn (Lenape, Delaware)
View Keymap (pdf)
•Windows Keyboard
 
Lunáapeewi-hulŭniixsuwáakan (Lenape, Delaware)
View Keymap (pdf)
•Windows Keyboard
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Last Update: April 18, 2008