Preliminary talking points for UTC, Cupertino, Nov 2009.


1) Talk about spacing characters, ZWNJ, ZWJ.

2000-2006 en/em spaces - obviously not
2007 figure space - same
2008 punctuation space - same 
205f medium mathematical space - obviously not.
3000 ideographic space - same

0020 space - no distinction between word and syllable
00a0 no-break space - same
2009 thin space - 
200a hair space
202f narrow no-break space

200b zero width space - see discussion
feff zero width no break space - same

6.2 "[ZWSP] functions primarily to indicate word boundaries in writing systems that do not actually use orthographic spaces to separate words in text." 16.2 "the zero-width spaces are not to be confused with the zero-width joiner characters. ZWNJ and ZWJ have no effect on word boundaries, and ZWNBSP and ZWSP have no effect on joining or linking behavior. In other words, the zero width joiner characters should be ignored when determining word boundaries; ZWSP should be ignored when determining cursive joining behavior."

2060 word joiner

16.2 "insterting a word joiner between two characters has no effect on their ligating and cursive joining behavior"


2) Shorthand Control and Stenographic Characters block

Overlaps and downward control is not specific to Duployan based systems - Pitman/Munson, and Cross are known to do both. Stenographic characters function as words/signs in shorthands, but are based on other characters in the standard that have mathematical rather than verbal properties, or have a distinctly different form in stenographic writing systems than in other writing systems.


3) Shorthand Control characters. Overlap and vertical flow are essential to proper rendering, have semantic value, and can be contrastive. Only other option is to expand block ~4x.


4) Discuss combining diacritics vs precomposed in terms of function.


5) Sloan Combining R. Need 3 columns to accomodate R-forms. This seems like a good way.


6) Chinook numbers using Combining Enclosing Circle (U+20dd) - should we get a new one? Romanian numbers with Left and Right dots - Use H/mid-dot? New Combining dots?


7) Current state of font: font works in common circumstances, working on full functionality. Uses contextual substitution and anchor/cursive attachment. Keyboard layout facing technical obstacles in English version of Vista (sorry Peter). Working on layouts for just French Duployan, Chinook, Pernin, Sloan, and Romanian.


8) Timeline, what do we need to have done to get this completed to be approved at next UTC?
