Stenography

From The Toaq Wiki
Revision as of 20:11, 19 December 2023 by Laqme (talk | contribs) (example)

This page describes a machine stenography layout for Toaq, created by User:Lynn. This lets you write Toaq words one syllable at a time using a steno keyboard and software like Plover.

How it works

Keyboard layout
S T P H a e m 3
K W R o u q 2 1
  + O   E U  

The layout is built for writing one raku at a time. The leftmost seven keys write initial consonants:

b c ch d f g h j k l m n nh p r s sh t z
PW KR KH TK TP TKPW H SKWR K HR PH TPH KWR P R S SH T W KW

The thumbs write the first vowel of the raku, but never falling diphthongs.

a e ı o u
(nothing) E EU O U

The right-hand vowels labeled in lowercase are used for writing diphthongs.

-a -e -o -u ao
a e eu o u aoeu ao ae ou

Some examples:

ka ke kıa kaı koe keo keı kıe kıeı koao
K KE KEU KEUa Kaoeu KOe KEo Kae KEUe KEUae KOao

The + key suppresses a space before syllable, allowing you to write compounds: HU/P+EU is hupı.

The q and m keys add a coda to the syllable.

The right pinky chooses the tone: 2 adds rising tone and 3 adds glottal tone. Pressing them both adds hiatus tone.

Pressing 1 adds a grave accent (à) for use with the prefix reform.

To write the syllable a, press a.

To add an underdot beneath the syllable you just typed, press u. A more convenient way to write prefixes involves briefs, like PW*E for bẹ.

Example

Zaı , ꝡä foaq toakaı súq chôq da .
KWaoeu SKWREU2 KWuq W3 TPOaq TOa/K+aoeu SUq2 KHOq32 TPHEU2 TK TPem
KW-FRPB SKWREUS KW-BG W-T TPOFG TOF/KAFRPB SUGS KHOGTS TPHEUS TK- TP-PL

How to use it

The layout is implemented as a Plover dictionary, where the English -FRPBLGTSZ keys represent the Toaq -aoeumq321 keys. The -D key isn't used.

For Plover users: install the plover-python-dictionary plugin from the Plugin Manager, then add toaq-steno.py.

Embedded steno users can install the JSON version. You won't be able to write underdots unless you use briefs.

Briefs

You can add your own briefs on top of the theory. Here's a small example to get you started.

{
    "TP-PL": "{.}",
    "TP-BG": "{!}",
    "KW-PL": "{?}",
    "KW-BG": "{,}",

    "WR*": "{&ꝡ}",
    "WR*P": "{&Ꝡ}",
    "PH*U": "mụ{^}",
    "PW*U": "bụ{^}",
    "PW*E": "bẹ{^}",
    "KWR-F": "nhána",
    "STPHAG": "níchaq"
}

Toggling languages

For Plover users:

  1. Add toaq-briefs.json at the very top of your dictionary stack, and toaq.py just below it.
  2. Install the plover-dict-commands plugin from the Plugins Manager in Plover.
  3. In the "Add Translation" TKUPT dialog, add an entry like so:
    • Dictionary: user.json
    • Strokes: PHRAOPBG
    • Translation: {PLOVER:TOGGLE_DICT:!toaq.py,!toaq-briefs.json}

Now you can switch between Toaq and English using PHRAOPBG. (Plover + Toaq = Ploang! 🎉)