Writing with an Accent
Posted By Kevin Gaugler on October 11, 2008
In a recent post I wrote about the magic of Firefox plugins. I particularly praised a plugin called ZombieKeys which allows one to enter diacritical marks with the same keystrokes as Microsoft Word. I wanted to follow up on that post with more tips on keyboarding international characters particularly since ZombieKeys currently has not been updated to work with the latest version of Firefox. I’m always looking for an easy way to type in Spanish while in a browser and am disappointed that ZombieKeys is currently, well, dead.
If one uses a Mac, there is no need for ZombieKeys since the same key combinations work no matter the software you use. With a PC the issue is a bit more complex, since one can configure the keyboard for multilingual computing but the process depends on the operating system. The steps for XP are not the same as the steps for Windows 2000. Nor is it the same for Windows Vista. If you are a Linux fan, you probably have toyed with your computer enough that international character settings for your keyboard are a breeze. Since methods do vary so much in Windows-based programs, let’s spend a little more time discussing it.
The “full-proof method” for Windows users, or what I call the old-school number keypad method, seems to still be the preferred method of many. However, with more and more people using laptops that do not include a separate number keypad, it’s essential that one knows how to manipulate their keyboard with the number lock key in order to use this function. If one is using a laptop, pressing the number lock button, the alt key and then a four digit code to enter a simple é seems a bit much to ask of any bilingual/tech savvy writer.
It’s unclear to me why the shortcuts created for Microsoft Word don’t work in PowerPoint or in a browser. I know many of you will write to urge me to simply change my Windows configurations to a Spanish keyboard. However, what if I want use a computer at my public library or in a campus laboratory? What if it’s not my computer? What is the easiest solution to this issue for language students who jump from computer to computer all day?
What’s more, what if I want to write in a foreign language in a flash-based web tool? Try, for instance, writing a message in any language other than English with a tool like Scrapblog. These are tough issues for teachers who want to use shinny new tools on the Internet only to discover that students cannot enter certain characters.
Given the global marketplace in which we live and work, typing in multiple languages should be extremely simple. Unfortunately, it’s not, so I’m going to make a plea with Microsoft and the entrepreneurs of the new web and ask that they standardize the process for entering international characters. Until we all get an email announcing such a groundbreaking decree, let me provide those who have already upgraded to Windows Vista with a video on how to configure their keyboard.
What is your preferred method for typing in multiple languages? Do you know of any Web 2.0 tools that have really thought through the multiple languages issue? We would love for you to share your experiences by commenting on this post.
For some great resources on international characters visit:
Typing Spanish Accented Characters
YouTube video on writing in multiple languages with the iPhone
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