From: John Hudson (john@tiro.ca)
Date: Fri Feb 16 2007 - 10:48:25 CST
Lokesh Joshi wrote:
> If i compare that with hindi where u keep on typing vowels or any
> dependent characters, one shld place a dotted circle blow that, that
> will make possible to insert some consonant before that. This is
> somewhat common to indic languages which is more complex than thai, is
> amy assumption incorrect ?
Referring back to my earlier point about the *general rules of a script*, I would say that
there is not a parallel between applying a dependent vowel sign to another dependent vowel
sign in Devanagari, which is contrary to the general rules of the script, and applying a
secondary mark such as thanthakhat to a particular vowel sign in Thai, which we know is
not contrary to the general rules of the script -- even if it is contrary to the
particular orthography of the Thai language -- because thanthakhat is regularly applied to
some other vowel marks.
In the case of Devanagari, dependent vowel signs belong to a class of characters that
cannot be applied to each other.
In the case of Thai, thanthakhat belongs to a class of characters that can be applied to a
vowel. To say that it can be applied to some vowels but not to others is a linguistic and
orthographic rule pertaining to the writing of a particular language, not a rule of the
script.
John Hudson
-- Tiro Typeworks www.tiro.com Vancouver, BC tiro@tiro.com Do not begin to paddle unless you intend always to paddle. - St Jean de Brébeuf, instructions for missionaries, 1637
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