Expansion: Ubuntu Font should support pIqaD (Klingon)

[Jonathan Carter]

Binary package hint: ttf-ubuntu-font-family

While we don't have a huge Klingon community in Ubuntu (at least not according to the Klingon Translations Team[1]), it would still be nice to at least be able to display the Wikipedia Klingon Language page[2] properly without having the subtitle display as blocks. Also, it would be a nice exercise for the font designers and having at least some support for an obscure constructed language does allow some bragging rights.

Having just a few glyphs initially would maybe inspire some Klingon speakers to get involved and develop some more glyphs.

Also, when the Khitomer Accords will be signed in 2267 and the Klingons join the Federation, it will be nice to introduce them to Ubuntu and show them that their language is already fully supported, and may strengthen early relations. Some might note that this is against the Temporal Prime Directive, but technically that only takes effect in the 24th century[3].

[1] https://translations.launchpad.net/~ubuntu-l10n-tlh
[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klingon_language
[3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prime_Directive#Temporal_Prime_Directive

[Paul Sladen (sladen)]

My understanding is that spoken Klingon (tlhIngan Hol) is most frequently written using the Latin script, for which the Ubuntu Font Family already provides (nearly) full glyph coverage.

A less common written script (than Latin) is pIqaD , which was proposed for inclusion into Unicode in Unicode Plane 1 range, but eventually was reject at the time, 9-1 against, on the second attempt. In the meantime, there is an unofficial (but quasi-standard) mapping used within the top end of the Private Use Area (U+F8D0 to U+F8FF):

  http://unicode.org/alloc/nonapprovals.html (second rejection, 2001, L2/01-212)
  http://www.evertype.com/standards/csur/klingon.html (PUA U+F8D0 to U+F8FF)

The original first application/rejection (1997, L2/97-273):

  http://std.dkuug.dk/jtc1/sc2/wg2/docs/n1643/n1643.htm (U+1CDD0 to U+1CD7F)

Both of these ranges remain unassigned to other specific purposes. In total there are 26 letters, 10 digits, 2 punctuation and 1 symbol. There is no requirement for specialised features or OpenType support, and all that is needed is possibly some simple kerning. The glyph outines themselves are curvaceous, being closer to Tibetan with the freeness of early Phoenician.

Ubuntu's aim is focused on more than merely global domination; Ubuntu harbours aspirations for enabling libre computer interaction across the Milky Way. Communication is very important contributor to survival during pan-galactic usurpation and all readers and writes should be able to use Ubuntu in their own languge. I ask the Klingon/pIqaD community to find a pair of type designers who will be able to take the process of research, testing and final design and harmonisation forward. Monospace, styles, and multiple weights will need to be created.

Slots to focus on individual scripts are likely to be assigned on a two-month basis following completion of the initial bootstrapped coverage of Latin, Cyrillic, Greek, Arabic and Hebrew. I would encourage being ready and prepared with initial designers, layouts and variations presented by the type designers during mid-2011 to ensure a early slot. The initial work should demonstrably harmonise with those scripts already about of the Ubuntu Font Family.

[Mark Shuttleworth (sabdfl)]

On screen!

[Scott James Remnant (Canonical) (canonical-scott)]

One thing to bear in mind is that there's no point simply copying existing
pIQad glyphs, since coverage for those is provided by other fonts already -
and it's not clear that the pIQad glyphs are modifiable.

On Wed, Sep 29, 2010 at 12:56 AM, Launchpad Bug Tracker <
<email address hidden>> wrote:

> You have been subscribed to a public bug by Jonathan Carter (jonathan):
>
> Binary package hint: ttf-ubuntu-font-family
>
> While we don't have a huge Klingon community in Ubuntu (at least not
> according to the Klingon Translations Team[1]), it would still be nice
> to at least be able to display the Wikipedia Klingon Language page[2]
> properly without having the subtitle display as blocks. Also, it would
> be a nice exercise for the font designers and having at least some
> support for an obscure constructed language does allow some bragging
> rights.
>
> Having just a few glyphs initially would maybe inspire some Klingon
> speakers to get involved and develop some more glyphs.
>
> Also, when the Khitomer Accords will be signed in 2267 and the Klingons
> join the Federation, it will be nice to introduce them to Ubuntu and
> show them that their language is already fully supported, and may
> strengthen early relations. Some might note that this is against the
> Temporal Prime Directive, but technically that only takes effect in the
> 24th century[3].
>
> [1] https://translations.launchpad.net/~ubuntu-l10n-tlh
> [2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klingon_language
> [3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prime_Directive#Temporal_Prime_Directive
>
> ** Affects: ubuntu-font-family-sources (Ubuntu)
> Importance: Wishlist
> Status: New
>
> --
> Ubuntu Font should support Klingon
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/650729
> You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu
> Klingon Translators, which is a direct subscriber.
>

--
Have you ever, ever felt like this?
Had strange things happen? Are you going round the twist?

[Paul Sladen (sladen)]

Scott: I've had a look, there appears to be a reasonable amount of flexibility (from calligraphy to simple line hand-writing):

  http://klingonska.org/piqadpic.html (multiple sampler-sheets from different writers)
  http://klingonska.org/piqad/ (three variants of each)

Jonathan: could you outline the state of Klingdon translation work; is this using Latin or pIqaD?

[Jonathan Carter (jonathan)]

Hey Paul, nice links. There are currently no pIqaD tranlations in Ubuntu itself. However, I still think it would be great if it could display the language in the native script on the Wikipedia page in the subtitle, which is why I filed the bug :)

[Paul Sladen (sladen)]

Lack of pIqaD test material in Ubuntu to test this against, or readers who can validate it. If somebody is prepared to get in contact with the:

  Klingon Language Institute
  http://www.kli.org/

and get a body of people who can validate the design *and* a type-designer who is prepared to lead the design work then we can restart this.

[Felix Malmenbeck (felixm)]

I am a member of the Klingon Language Institute and avid user of the pIqaD alphabet.

I'm not a very experienced Ubuntu user (I mostly use it for schoolwork), so I'm not sure how much I can help with development, but I'd be more than happy to help with composing and reviewing texts!

[Andrew Cross (shitgoesboom)]

i would like to use the official pIqaD fonts and locales because i am trying to make a new Klingon distro of ubuntu and i would like to know if there is some waty to create my own font for use with ubuntu using the kli glyphs so that way i can move on because the kahless font is fun but not truly klingon and the bernyklingon font is not truly klingon either when this gets resolved let me know at <email address hidden>. the windows font pIqaD installed but displays as a standard font type (not sure which font) i have the langpack for thl installed but i cant set it as a defalt language due to being an incomplete locale trust me when i say there are more klingons using ubuntu than there are osx and the only reason anyone uses windows is for compatability and conveiniece. also if anyone knows how to get ahold of this "Chris" guy who made the other Thlingbuntu it would be nice to know that as well.
--Qa'Pla'--
Andrew C Cross
      A.K.A.
Pyro The Wicked

[Andrew Cross (shitgoesboom)]

I found font forge we will see what i can do if i can get it to work i will submit the files required
--Qa'Pla'--
Andrew C Cross
      A.K.A.
Pyro The Wicked