1 Unicode support 1 Unicode support
2 =============== 2 ===============
3 3
4 Last update: 2005-01-17, vers 4 Last update: 2005-01-17, version 1.4
5 5
6 Note: The original version of this document, w !! 6 This file is maintained by H. Peter Anvin <unicode@lanana.org> as part
7 lanana.org as part of the Linux Assigned Names !! 7 of the Linux Assigned Names And Numbers Authority (LANANA) project.
8 (LANANA) project, is no longer existent. So, !! 8 The current version can be found at:
9 mainline Linux kernel is now the maintained ma !! 9
>> 10 http://www.lanana.org/docs/unicode/admin-guide/unicode.rst
10 11
11 Introduction 12 Introduction
12 ------------ 13 ------------
13 14
14 The Linux kernel code has been rewritten to us 15 The Linux kernel code has been rewritten to use Unicode to map
15 characters to fonts. By downloading a single 16 characters to fonts. By downloading a single Unicode-to-font table,
16 both the eight-bit character sets and UTF-8 mo 17 both the eight-bit character sets and UTF-8 mode are changed to use
17 the font as indicated. 18 the font as indicated.
18 19
19 This changes the semantics of the eight-bit ch 20 This changes the semantics of the eight-bit character tables subtly.
20 The four character tables are now: 21 The four character tables are now:
21 22
22 =============== ============================== 23 =============== =============================== ================
23 Map symbol Map name 24 Map symbol Map name Escape code (G0)
24 =============== ============================== 25 =============== =============================== ================
25 LAT1_MAP Latin-1 (ISO 8859-1) 26 LAT1_MAP Latin-1 (ISO 8859-1) ESC ( B
26 GRAF_MAP DEC VT100 pseudographics 27 GRAF_MAP DEC VT100 pseudographics ESC ( 0
27 IBMPC_MAP IBM code page 437 28 IBMPC_MAP IBM code page 437 ESC ( U
28 USER_MAP User defined 29 USER_MAP User defined ESC ( K
29 =============== ============================== 30 =============== =============================== ================
30 31
31 In particular, ESC ( U is no longer "straight 32 In particular, ESC ( U is no longer "straight to font", since the font
32 might be completely different than the IBM cha 33 might be completely different than the IBM character set. This
33 permits for example the use of block graphics 34 permits for example the use of block graphics even with a Latin-1 font
34 loaded. 35 loaded.
35 36
36 Note that although these codes are similar to 37 Note that although these codes are similar to ISO 2022, neither the
37 codes nor their uses match ISO 2022; Linux has 38 codes nor their uses match ISO 2022; Linux has two 8-bit codes (G0 and
38 G1), whereas ISO 2022 has four 7-bit codes (G0 39 G1), whereas ISO 2022 has four 7-bit codes (G0-G3).
39 40
40 In accordance with the Unicode standard/ISO 10 41 In accordance with the Unicode standard/ISO 10646 the range U+F000 to
41 U+F8FF has been reserved for OS-wide allocatio 42 U+F8FF has been reserved for OS-wide allocation (the Unicode Standard
42 refers to this as a "Corporate Zone", since th 43 refers to this as a "Corporate Zone", since this is inaccurate for
43 Linux we call it the "Linux Zone"). U+F000 wa 44 Linux we call it the "Linux Zone"). U+F000 was picked as the starting
44 point since it lets the direct-mapping area st 45 point since it lets the direct-mapping area start on a large power of
45 two (in case 1024- or 2048-character fonts eve 46 two (in case 1024- or 2048-character fonts ever become necessary).
46 This leaves U+E000 to U+EFFF as End User Zone. 47 This leaves U+E000 to U+EFFF as End User Zone.
47 48
48 [v1.2]: The Unicodes range from U+F000 and up 49 [v1.2]: The Unicodes range from U+F000 and up to U+F7FF have been
49 hard-coded to map directly to the loaded font, 50 hard-coded to map directly to the loaded font, bypassing the
50 translation table. The user-defined map now d 51 translation table. The user-defined map now defaults to U+F000 to
51 U+F0FF, emulating the previous behaviour. In 52 U+F0FF, emulating the previous behaviour. In practice, this range
52 might be shorter; for example, vgacon can only 53 might be shorter; for example, vgacon can only handle 256-character
53 (U+F000..U+F0FF) or 512-character (U+F000..U+F 54 (U+F000..U+F0FF) or 512-character (U+F000..U+F1FF) fonts.
54 55
55 56
56 Actual characters assigned in the Linux Zone 57 Actual characters assigned in the Linux Zone
57 -------------------------------------------- 58 --------------------------------------------
58 59
59 In addition, the following characters not pres 60 In addition, the following characters not present in Unicode 1.1.4
60 have been defined; these are used by the DEC V 61 have been defined; these are used by the DEC VT graphics map. [v1.2]
61 THIS USE IS OBSOLETE AND SHOULD NO LONGER BE U 62 THIS USE IS OBSOLETE AND SHOULD NO LONGER BE USED; PLEASE SEE BELOW.
62 63
63 ====== ====================================== 64 ====== ======================================
64 U+F800 DEC VT GRAPHICS HORIZONTAL LINE SCAN 1 65 U+F800 DEC VT GRAPHICS HORIZONTAL LINE SCAN 1
65 U+F801 DEC VT GRAPHICS HORIZONTAL LINE SCAN 3 66 U+F801 DEC VT GRAPHICS HORIZONTAL LINE SCAN 3
66 U+F803 DEC VT GRAPHICS HORIZONTAL LINE SCAN 7 67 U+F803 DEC VT GRAPHICS HORIZONTAL LINE SCAN 7
67 U+F804 DEC VT GRAPHICS HORIZONTAL LINE SCAN 9 68 U+F804 DEC VT GRAPHICS HORIZONTAL LINE SCAN 9
68 ====== ====================================== 69 ====== ======================================
69 70
70 The DEC VT220 uses a 6x10 character matrix, an 71 The DEC VT220 uses a 6x10 character matrix, and these characters form
71 a smooth progression in the DEC VT graphics ch 72 a smooth progression in the DEC VT graphics character set. I have
72 omitted the scan 5 line, since it is also used 73 omitted the scan 5 line, since it is also used as a block-graphics
73 character, and hence has been coded as U+2500 74 character, and hence has been coded as U+2500 FORMS LIGHT HORIZONTAL.
74 75
75 [v1.3]: These characters have been officially 76 [v1.3]: These characters have been officially added to Unicode 3.2.0;
76 they are added at U+23BA, U+23BB, U+23BC, U+23 77 they are added at U+23BA, U+23BB, U+23BC, U+23BD. Linux now uses the
77 new values. 78 new values.
78 79
79 [v1.2]: The following characters have been add 80 [v1.2]: The following characters have been added to represent common
80 keyboard symbols that are unlikely to ever be 81 keyboard symbols that are unlikely to ever be added to Unicode proper
81 since they are horribly vendor-specific. This 82 since they are horribly vendor-specific. This, of course, is an
82 excellent example of horrible design. 83 excellent example of horrible design.
83 84
84 ====== ====================================== 85 ====== ======================================
85 U+F810 KEYBOARD SYMBOL FLYING FLAG 86 U+F810 KEYBOARD SYMBOL FLYING FLAG
86 U+F811 KEYBOARD SYMBOL PULLDOWN MENU 87 U+F811 KEYBOARD SYMBOL PULLDOWN MENU
87 U+F812 KEYBOARD SYMBOL OPEN APPLE 88 U+F812 KEYBOARD SYMBOL OPEN APPLE
88 U+F813 KEYBOARD SYMBOL SOLID APPLE 89 U+F813 KEYBOARD SYMBOL SOLID APPLE
89 ====== ====================================== 90 ====== ======================================
90 91
91 Klingon language support 92 Klingon language support
92 ------------------------ 93 ------------------------
93 94
94 In 1996, Linux was the first operating system 95 In 1996, Linux was the first operating system in the world to add
95 support for the artificial language Klingon, c 96 support for the artificial language Klingon, created by Marc Okrand
96 for the "Star Trek" television series. This e 97 for the "Star Trek" television series. This encoding was later
97 adopted by the ConScript Unicode Registry and 98 adopted by the ConScript Unicode Registry and proposed (but ultimately
98 rejected) for inclusion in Unicode Plane 1. T 99 rejected) for inclusion in Unicode Plane 1. Thus, it remains as a
99 Linux/CSUR private assignment in the Linux Zon 100 Linux/CSUR private assignment in the Linux Zone.
100 101
101 This encoding has been endorsed by the Klingon 102 This encoding has been endorsed by the Klingon Language Institute.
102 For more information, contact them at: 103 For more information, contact them at:
103 104
104 http://www.kli.org/ 105 http://www.kli.org/
105 106
106 Since the characters in the beginning of the L 107 Since the characters in the beginning of the Linux CZ have been more
107 of the dingbats/symbols/forms type and this is 108 of the dingbats/symbols/forms type and this is a language, I have
108 located it at the end, on a 16-cell boundary i 109 located it at the end, on a 16-cell boundary in keeping with standard
109 Unicode practice. 110 Unicode practice.
110 111
111 .. note:: 112 .. note::
112 113
113 This range is now officially managed by the 114 This range is now officially managed by the ConScript Unicode
114 Registry. The normative reference is at: 115 Registry. The normative reference is at:
115 116
116 https://www.evertype.com/standards/csu 117 https://www.evertype.com/standards/csur/klingon.html
117 118
118 Klingon has an alphabet of 26 characters, a po 119 Klingon has an alphabet of 26 characters, a positional numeric writing
119 system with 10 digits, and is written left-to- 120 system with 10 digits, and is written left-to-right, top-to-bottom.
120 121
121 Several glyph forms for the Klingon alphabet h 122 Several glyph forms for the Klingon alphabet have been proposed.
122 However, since the set of symbols appear to be 123 However, since the set of symbols appear to be consistent throughout,
123 with only the actual shapes being different, i 124 with only the actual shapes being different, in keeping with standard
124 Unicode practice these differences are conside 125 Unicode practice these differences are considered font variants.
125 126
126 ====== ====================================== 127 ====== =======================================================
127 U+F8D0 KLINGON LETTER A 128 U+F8D0 KLINGON LETTER A
128 U+F8D1 KLINGON LETTER B 129 U+F8D1 KLINGON LETTER B
129 U+F8D2 KLINGON LETTER CH 130 U+F8D2 KLINGON LETTER CH
130 U+F8D3 KLINGON LETTER D 131 U+F8D3 KLINGON LETTER D
131 U+F8D4 KLINGON LETTER E 132 U+F8D4 KLINGON LETTER E
132 U+F8D5 KLINGON LETTER GH 133 U+F8D5 KLINGON LETTER GH
133 U+F8D6 KLINGON LETTER H 134 U+F8D6 KLINGON LETTER H
134 U+F8D7 KLINGON LETTER I 135 U+F8D7 KLINGON LETTER I
135 U+F8D8 KLINGON LETTER J 136 U+F8D8 KLINGON LETTER J
136 U+F8D9 KLINGON LETTER L 137 U+F8D9 KLINGON LETTER L
137 U+F8DA KLINGON LETTER M 138 U+F8DA KLINGON LETTER M
138 U+F8DB KLINGON LETTER N 139 U+F8DB KLINGON LETTER N
139 U+F8DC KLINGON LETTER NG 140 U+F8DC KLINGON LETTER NG
140 U+F8DD KLINGON LETTER O 141 U+F8DD KLINGON LETTER O
141 U+F8DE KLINGON LETTER P 142 U+F8DE KLINGON LETTER P
142 U+F8DF KLINGON LETTER Q 143 U+F8DF KLINGON LETTER Q
143 - Written <q> in standard Okrand Latin 144 - Written <q> in standard Okrand Latin transliteration
144 U+F8E0 KLINGON LETTER QH 145 U+F8E0 KLINGON LETTER QH
145 - Written <Q> in standard Okrand Latin 146 - Written <Q> in standard Okrand Latin transliteration
146 U+F8E1 KLINGON LETTER R 147 U+F8E1 KLINGON LETTER R
147 U+F8E2 KLINGON LETTER S 148 U+F8E2 KLINGON LETTER S
148 U+F8E3 KLINGON LETTER T 149 U+F8E3 KLINGON LETTER T
149 U+F8E4 KLINGON LETTER TLH 150 U+F8E4 KLINGON LETTER TLH
150 U+F8E5 KLINGON LETTER U 151 U+F8E5 KLINGON LETTER U
151 U+F8E6 KLINGON LETTER V 152 U+F8E6 KLINGON LETTER V
152 U+F8E7 KLINGON LETTER W 153 U+F8E7 KLINGON LETTER W
153 U+F8E8 KLINGON LETTER Y 154 U+F8E8 KLINGON LETTER Y
154 U+F8E9 KLINGON LETTER GLOTTAL STOP 155 U+F8E9 KLINGON LETTER GLOTTAL STOP
155 156
156 U+F8F0 KLINGON DIGIT ZERO 157 U+F8F0 KLINGON DIGIT ZERO
157 U+F8F1 KLINGON DIGIT ONE 158 U+F8F1 KLINGON DIGIT ONE
158 U+F8F2 KLINGON DIGIT TWO 159 U+F8F2 KLINGON DIGIT TWO
159 U+F8F3 KLINGON DIGIT THREE 160 U+F8F3 KLINGON DIGIT THREE
160 U+F8F4 KLINGON DIGIT FOUR 161 U+F8F4 KLINGON DIGIT FOUR
161 U+F8F5 KLINGON DIGIT FIVE 162 U+F8F5 KLINGON DIGIT FIVE
162 U+F8F6 KLINGON DIGIT SIX 163 U+F8F6 KLINGON DIGIT SIX
163 U+F8F7 KLINGON DIGIT SEVEN 164 U+F8F7 KLINGON DIGIT SEVEN
164 U+F8F8 KLINGON DIGIT EIGHT 165 U+F8F8 KLINGON DIGIT EIGHT
165 U+F8F9 KLINGON DIGIT NINE 166 U+F8F9 KLINGON DIGIT NINE
166 167
167 U+F8FD KLINGON COMMA 168 U+F8FD KLINGON COMMA
168 U+F8FE KLINGON FULL STOP 169 U+F8FE KLINGON FULL STOP
169 U+F8FF KLINGON SYMBOL FOR EMPIRE 170 U+F8FF KLINGON SYMBOL FOR EMPIRE
170 ====== ====================================== 171 ====== =======================================================
171 172
172 Other Fictional and Artificial Scripts 173 Other Fictional and Artificial Scripts
173 -------------------------------------- 174 --------------------------------------
174 175
175 Since the assignment of the Klingon Linux Unic 176 Since the assignment of the Klingon Linux Unicode block, a registry of
176 fictional and artificial scripts has been esta 177 fictional and artificial scripts has been established by John Cowan
177 <jcowan@reutershealth.com> and Michael Everson 178 <jcowan@reutershealth.com> and Michael Everson <everson@evertype.com>.
178 The ConScript Unicode Registry is accessible a 179 The ConScript Unicode Registry is accessible at:
179 180
180 https://www.evertype.com/standards/c 181 https://www.evertype.com/standards/csur/
181 182
182 The ranges used fall at the low end of the End 183 The ranges used fall at the low end of the End User Zone and can hence
183 not be normatively assigned, but it is recomme 184 not be normatively assigned, but it is recommended that people who
184 wish to encode fictional scripts use these cod 185 wish to encode fictional scripts use these codes, in the interest of
185 interoperability. For Klingon, CSUR has adopt 186 interoperability. For Klingon, CSUR has adopted the Linux encoding.
186 The CSUR people are driving adding Tengwar and 187 The CSUR people are driving adding Tengwar and Cirth into Unicode
187 Plane 1; the addition of Klingon to Unicode Pl 188 Plane 1; the addition of Klingon to Unicode Plane 1 has been rejected
188 and so the above encoding remains official. 189 and so the above encoding remains official.
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