Attaching the first line of text in the sample SVG file
'symbol_font_bug2.svg' as seen in the preview of the stock font selector
of GTK+ (2.24.10) from gtk-demo, once with the font 'Symbol' and once
with the font 'Arial'.
Since the font chooser previews the text with the same symbols as
Inkscape renders it on-canvas, I'd say this is an issue outside of Inkscape.
Attaching the first line of text in the sample SVG file font_bug2. svg' as seen in the preview of the stock font selector
'symbol_
of GTK+ (2.24.10) from gtk-demo, once with the font 'Symbol' and once
with the font 'Arial'.
Since the font chooser previews the text with the same symbols as
Inkscape renders it on-canvas, I'd say this is an issue outside of Inkscape.