Kannada Unicode Design Guide
(Version 1.0/March 2002)
Resource Center for Indian Language Technology Solutions - Kannada
Department of Management Studies
Indian Institute of Science
Bangalore 560 012
Sponsored by
Technology Development for Indian Languages Mission
Ministry of Communications and Information Technology
Government of India
Kannada Unicode Design Guide
(Version 1.0)
Abstract: This document provides general information about the Kannada language and conventions
of its usage in computers. It provides information about the Input, Storage, Display and Printing of
Kannada Characters. We strongly feel that this information gathered from various standards is
necessary for the correct usage of the language in various applications of Kannada Language
Computing. It also includes the sorting sequence for Kannada in Unicode.
Electronic version of this document will also be made available on the following websites:
–
http://www.kannudi.org/ilts
–
http://mgmt.iisc.ernet.in/~nanitha/
Note 1: This document contains Unicode characters and can be viewed using MS Office XP on
Windows XP or equivalent
Note 2: The Convention followed in Unicode (Version 3.0) Chapter 9 (South and Southeast Asian
Scripts) is used in this document and might differ from the notation commonly used in the Kannada
Script.
Contact Information:
Chief Investigator
Resource Centre for Indian Language Technology Solutions- Kannada
Department of Management Studies
Indian Institute of Science
Bangalore – 560 012
Phone : 91-80-346 6022 / 394 2377 (Dir)
91-80-394 2378 / 394 2567
Fax
: 91-80-346 6022 / 3600683 / 3600085
Email : root@iltwebserver.mgmt.iisc.ernet.in
Kannada Unicode Design Guide
Version 1.0/ March 2002
Table of Contents
1. History of Kannada Language
5
1.1 Description of Kannada Language
5
1.2 Brief introduction to Kannada language
6
1.2.1 Vowels
6
1.2.2 Anuswaras
6
1.2.3 Visarga
6
1.2.4 Avagraha
6
1.2.5 Consonants
6
1.2.6 Basic Language Rule in Kannada
7
2. Technical Characteristics
2.1 Kannada Alphabet Characteristic
9
9
2.1.1 Consonant Letters
9
2.1.2 Independent Vowel Letters
9
2.1.3 Dependent Vowel Signs
9
2.1.4 Virama (Halant)
11
2.1.5 Consonant Conjuncts
11
2.1.6 Visarg
12
2.1.7 Avagrah
12
2.1.8 Numerals
12
2.1.9 Punctuation Marks
12
2.1.10 Ancient Signs
12
2.2 Fonts
2.2.1 Font developing Tools
12
12
2.3 Keyboard
13
2.4 Presentation and Storage Considerations
14
2.5 Rendering Rules
14
2.5.1 Dead Consonant Rule
15
2.5.2 Consonant RA Rules
15
2.5.3 Ligature Rules
16
2.6 Sorting issues in Kannada
17
2.6.1 Sorting of Nukta characters
17
2.6.2 Sorting the data records containing anuswara and visarga
17
2.6.3 Sorting of words with dead consonants
18
2.6.4 Sorting of Conjuncts having two different display forms
19
2.6.5 Sorting of Diacritic characters
19
2.6.6 Conclusion
19
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3. References
20
Appendix 1: Unicode chart and the Collation chart if deletion and relocation are not allowed
21
Appendix 2: Unicode chart and the Collation chart if deletion and relocation are allowed
24
Appendix 3: Output from FontLab displaying all glyphs in the glyph set standardised by KGP
27
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Kannada Unicode Design Guide
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1. History of Kannada Language
Kannada is a south Indian language spoken in Karnataka state of India.Kannada is originated from
the Dravidian Language. Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam are the other South Indian Languages originated
from Dravidian Language. Kannada and Telugu have almost the same script. Malayalam and Tamil
have resemblance. Kannada as a language has undergone modifications since BCs. It can be
classified into four typesPurva Halegannada (from the beginning till 10th Century)
Halegannada (from 10th Century to 12th Century)
Nadugannada (from 12th Century to 15th Century)
Hosagannada (from 15th Century)
1.1 Description of Kannada Script
Kannada script is the visual form of Kannada language. It originated from southern Bramhi lipi of
Ashoka period. It underwent modifications periodically in the reign of Sathavahanas, Kadambas,
Gangas, Rastrakutas, and Hoysalas. Even before seventh-Century, the Telugu-Kannada script was
used in the inscriptions of the Kadambas of Banavasi and the early Chalukya of Badami in the west.
From the middle of the seventh century the archaic variety of the Telugu-Kannada script developed a
middle variety. The modern Kannada and Telugu scripts emerged in the thirteenth Century. Kannada
script is also used to write Tulu, Konkani and Kodava languages.
Kannada along with other Indian language scripts shares a large number of structural features. The
writing system of Kannada script encompasses the principles governing the phonetics and a syllabic
writing systems, and phonemic writing systems (alphabets). The effective unit of writing Kannada is
the orthographic syllable consisting of a consonant and vowel (CV) core and optionally, one or more
preceding consonants, with a canonical structure of ((C) C) CV. The orthographic syllable need not
correspond exactly with a phonological syllable, especially when a consonant cluster is involved, but
the writing system is built on phonological principles and tends to correspond quite closely to
pronunciation. The orthographic syllable is built up of alphabetic pieces, the actual letters of Kannada
script. These consist of distinct character types: Consonant letters, independent vowels and the
corresponding dependent vowel signs. In a text sequence, these characters are stored in logical
phonetic order.
The Kannada block of Unicode Standard (0C80 to 0CFF) is based on ISCII-1988 (Indian Standard
Code for Information Interchange). The Unicode Standard (Version 3) encodes Kannada characters
in the same relative positions as those coded in the ISCII-1988 standard.
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1.2 Brief introduction to Kannada language
1.2.1 Vowels (Swaras) Vowels are the independently existing letters which are called Swaras. They
are-
ಅ ಆ ಇ ಈ ಉಊಋಎ ಏ ಐ ಒ ಓ ಔ
There are two types of Swaras depending on the time used to pronounce. They are Hrasva Swara
and Deerga Swara.
Hrasva Swara
A freely existing independent vowel which can be pronounced in a single matra time (matra kala) also
called as a matra. They are-
ಅ ಇ ಉ ಋಎ ಐ ಒ ಔ
Deergha Swara A freely existing independent vowel which can be pronounced in two matras. They are-
ಆ ಈ ಊಏ ಓ
1.2.2 Anuswaras
1.2.3 Visarga
ಅಂ
ಅಃ
1.2.4 Avagraha Also called as Plutha, which is used for the third matra either in a consonant or a
vowel.
1.2.5 Consonants (Vyanjanas) These are dependent on vowels to take a independent form of the
Consonant.These can be divided into Vargeeya and Avargeeya.
Vargeeya Vyanjanas
ಕ್ ಖ್ ಗ್ ಘ್ ಙ್
ಚ್ ಛ್ ಜ್ ಝ್ ಞ್
ತ್ ಥ್ ದ್ ಧ್ ನ್
ಟ್ ಠ್ ಡ್ ಢ್ ಣ್
ಪ್ ಫ್ ಬ್ ಭ್ ಮ್
Avargeeya Vyanjanas
ಯ್ ರ್ ಲ್ ವ್ ಶ್ ಷ್ ಸ್ ಹ್ ಳ್
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1.2.6 Basic Language Rule in Kannada
When a dependent consonant combines with an independent vowel, a Akshara is formed.
Consonant (Vyanjana) + Vowel (matra) ---> Letter (Akshara)
Example:
ಕ್
+ ಅ
--->
ಕ
Based on this rule we can combine all the Consonants (Vyanjanas) with the existing Vowels (matra)
to form Kagunitha for Kannada alphabet.
ಕ ಕಾ ಕಿ ಕಿೀ ಕು ಕೂ ಕೃ ಕೆ ಕೆೀ ಕೆೈ ಕೊ ಕೊೀ ಕೌ ಕಂ ಕಃ
ಖ ಖಾ ಖಿ ಖಿೀ ಖು ಖೂ ಖೃ ಖೆ ಖೆೀ ಖೆೈ ಖೊ ಖೊೀ ಖೌ ಖಂ ಖಃ
ಗ ಗಾ ಗಿ ಗಿೀ ಗು ಗೂ ಗೃ ಗೆ ಗೆೀ ಗೆೈ ಗೊ ಗೊೀ ಗೌ ಗಂ ಗಃ
ಘ ಘಾ ಘಿ ಘಿೀ ಘೃ ಘೆ ಘೆೀ ಘೆೈ ಘೊ ಘೊ ಘೊೀ ಘೌ ಘಂ ಘಃ
ಙ ಙಾ ಙಿ ಙಿೀ ಙು ಙೂ ಙೃ ಙ ೆ ಙ ೆೀ ಙ ೆೈ ಙ ೆೊ ಙ ೆೊೀ ಙೌ ಙಂ ಙಃ
ಚ ಚಾ ಚಿ ಚಿೀ ಚು ಚೂ ಚೃ ಚೆ ಚೆೀ ಚೆೈ ಚೊ ಚೊೀ ಚೌ ಚಂ ಚಃ
ಛಾ ಛಿ ಛಿೀ ಛು ಛೂ ಛೃ ಛೆ ಛೆೀ ಛೆೈ ಛೊ ಛೊೀ ಛೌ ಛಂ ಛಃ
ಜ ಜಾ ಜಿ ಜಿೀ ಜು ಜೂ ಜೃ ಜೆ ಜೆೀ ಜೆೈ ಜೊ ಜೊೀ ಜೌ ಜಂ ಜಃ
ಝ ಝಾ ಝಿ ಝಿೀ ಝು ಝೂ ಝೃ ಝೆ ಝೆೀ ಝೆೈ ಝೊ ಝೊೀ ಝೌ ಝಂ ಝಃ
ಞ ಞಾ ಞಿ ಞಿೀ ಞು ಞೊ ಞೃ ಞ ೆ ಞ ೆೀ ಞ ೆೈ ಞ ೆೊ ಞ ೆೊೀ ಞೌ ಞಂ ಞಃ
ತ ತಾ ತಿ ತಿೀ ತು ತೂ ತೃ ತೆ ತೆೀ ತೆೈ ತೊ ತೊೀ ತೌ ತಂ ತಃ
ಥ ಥಾ ಥಿ ಥಿೀ ಥು ಥೂ ಥೃ ಥೆ ಥೆೀ ಥೆೈ ಥೊ ಥೊೀ ಥೌ ಥಂ ಥಃ
ದ ದಾ ದಿ ದಿೀ ದು ದೂ ದೃ ದೆ ದೆೀ ದೆೈ ದೊ ದೊೀ ದೌ ದಂ ದಃ
ಧ ಧಾ ಧಿ ಧಿೀ ಧು ಧೂ ಧೃ ಧೆ ಧೆೀ ಧೆೈ ಧೊ ಧೊೀ ಧೌ ಧಂ ಧಃ
ನ ನಾ ನಿ ನಿೀ ನು ನೂ ನೃ ನೆ ನೆೀ ನೆೈ ನೊ ನೊೀ ನೌ ನಂ ನಃ
ಟ ಟಾ ಟಿ ಟಿೀ ಟು ಟೂ ಟೃ ಟೆ ಟೆೀ ಟೆೈ ಟೊ ಟೊೀ ಟೌ ಟಂ ಟಃ
ಠ ಠಾ ಠಿ ಠಿೀ ಠು ಠೂ ಠೃ ಠೆ ಠೆೀ ಠೆೈ ಠೊ ಠೊೀ ಠೌ ಠಂ ಠಃ
ಡ ಡಾ ಡಿ ಡಿೀ ಡು ಡೂ ಡೃ ಡೆ ಡೆೀ ಡೆೈ ಡೊ ಡೊೀ ಡೌ ಡಂ ಡಃ
ಡ ಢಾ ಢಿ ಢಿೀ ಢು ಢೂ ಢೃ ಢೆ ಢೆೀ ಢೆೈ ಢೊ ಢೊೀ ಢೌ ಢಂ ಢಃ
ಣ ಣಾ ಣಿ ಣಿೀ ಣು ಣೂ ಣೃ ಣೆ ಣೆೀ ಣೆೈ ಣೊ ಣೊೀ ಣೌ ಣಂ ಣಃ
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ಪ ಪಾ ಪಿ ಪಿೀ ಪು ಪೂ ಪೃ ಪೆ ಪೆೀ ಪೆೈ ಪೊ ಪೊೀ ಪೌ ಪಂ ಪಃ
ಫ ಫಾ ಫಿ ಫಿೀ ಫು ಫೂ ಫೃ ಫೆ ಫೆೀ ಫೆೈ ಫೊ ಫೊೀ ಫೌ ಫಂ ಫಃ
ಬ ಬಾ ಬಿ ಬಿೀ ಬು ಬೂ ಬೃ ಬೆ ಬೆೀ ಬೆೈ ಬೊ ಬೊೀ ಬೌ ಬಂ ಬಃ
ಭ ಭಾ ಭಿ ಭಿೀ ಭು ಭೂ ಭೃ ಭೆ ಭೆೀ ಭೆೈ ಭೊ ಭೊೀ ಭೌ ಭಂ ಭಃ
ಮ ಮಾ ಮಿ ಮಿೀ ಮು ಮೂ ಮೃ ಮೆ ಮೆೀ ಮೆೈ ಮೊ ಮೊೀ ಮೌ ಮಂ ಮಃ
ಯ ಯಾ ಯಿ ಯಿೀ ಯು ಯೂ ಯೃ ಯೆ ಯೆೀ ಯೆೈ ಯೊ ಯೊೀ ಯೌ ಯಂ ಯಃ
ರ ರಾ ರಿ ರಿೀ ರು ರೂ ರೃ ರೆ ರೆೀ ರೆೈ ರೊ ರೊೀ ರೌ ರಂ ರಃ
ಲ ಲಾ ಲಿ ಲಿೀ ಲು ಲೂ ಲೃ ಲೆ ಲೆೀ ಲೆೈ ಲೊ ಲೊೀ ಲೌ ಲಂ ಲಃ
ವ ವಾ ವಿ ವಿೀ ವು ವೂ ವೃ ವೆ ವೆೀ ವೆೈ ವೊ ವೊೀ ವೌ ವಂ ವಃ
ಶ ಶಾ ಶಿ ಶಿೀ ಶು ಶೊ ಶೃ ಶೆ ಶೆೀ ಶೆೈ ಶೆೊ ಶೆೊೀ ಶೌ ಶಂ ಶಃ
ಷ ಷಾ ಷಿ ಷಿೀ ಷು ಷೂ ಷೃ ಷೆ ಷೆೀ ಷೆೈ ಷೊ ಷೊೀ ಷೌ
ಸ ಸಾ ಸಿ ಸಿೀ ಸು ಸೂ ಸೃ ಸೆ ಸೆೀ ಸೆೈ ಸೊ ಸೊೀ ಸೌ ಸಂ ಸಃ
ಹ ಹಾ ಹಿ ಹಿೀ ಹು ಹೂ ಹೃ ಹೆ ಹೆೀ ಹೆೈ ಹೊ ಹೊೀ ಹೌ ಹಂ ಹಃ
ಳ ಳಾ ಳಿ ಳಿೀ ಳು ಳೂ ಳೃ ಳೆ ಳೆೀ ಳೆೈ ಳೊ ಳೊ ೀ ಳೌ ಳಂ ಳಃ
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2. Technical Characteristics
Note: The Convention followed from this section of the document is same as the Unicode Chapter 9
(South and Southeast Asian Scripts) and might not be grammatically correct.
2.1 Kannada Alphabet Characteristic
2.1.2 Consonant Letters
Each of the consonant represents a single consonantal sound but also has the peculiarity of having
inherent vowel, generally the short vowel
ಅ (U+0C85). Thus, U+0C95 Kannada letter KA represents
not just K (ಕಕ) but KA (ಕ ). In the presence of the dependent vowel, however, the inherent vowel
associated with a consonant letter is overridden by the dependent vowel. The different Consonants in
Kannada are:
ಕ ಖಗ ಘಙ
ಚ ಛ ಜ ಝಞ
ತಥದಧನ
ಟಠಡಢಣ
ಪಫಬಭಮ
ಯರ ಲ ವ
ಶಷಸಹಳ
2.1.3 Dependent Vowel Signs (Matras)
The dependent vowels, also known as Swaras in Kannada, serve as the common manner of writing
non-inherent vowels and are generally referred to as Swara Chinhas in Kannada or Matras in
Sanskrit. The dependent vowels do not appear stand-alone; rather, they are visibly depicted in
combination with a base-letter form (generally a consonant). A single consonant or a consonant
cluster may have a dependent vowel applied to it to indicate the vowel quality of the syllable, when it
is different from the inherent vowel. Explicit appearance of a dependent vowel in a syllable overrides
the inherent vowel ಆ (U +0C85) of a single consonant letter.
There are several variations with which the dependent vowels are applied to the base letterforms.
Most of them appear as non-spacing dependent vowels signs when applied to base letterforms;
above to the right side of a consonant letter or a consonant cluster. The following are the exceptions
and variations for the above rule:

The two dependent vowel signs (U+0CCC3 & U+0CC4) appear one level below and to the right
of the consonant or the consonant cluster, separated by a small white space.
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Kannada Unicode Design Guide

Version 1.0/ March 2002
Each of the five dependent vowels (U+0CC0, U+0CC7, U+0CC8, U+0CCA & U+0CCB) are
depicted
by two or three glyph components (two part or three part vowel signs ) with one
component appearing with a space to the right of the consonant or the consonant cluster.
i) In the case o f three the above-mentioned two/three-part dependent vowels (at U+0CC0,
U+0CC7, U+0CCB), the non-spacing components of each of them is (are) the same as the
vowel sign(s) of the corresponding preceding short vowels. The spacing component for each
of these dependent vowels is the same ‘length mark U+0CD5 given in Unicode version 3.
The logic for this is that these dependent vowels are nothing but the long forms (independent
and phonetically distinct) of the preceding short vowels.
ii) The first component of the dependent vowel (U+0CC8) mentioned above, is the same as
the dependent vowel (ೆೆ, U+0CC6) with the second component
(U+0CD6) defined
independently in Unicode version 3. The second part appears slightly below and to the right
of the consonant or the consonant clusters.

In view of this, it is important to note that the two glyphs (the length mark and the second
component of
ೆೆೈ) represent with the codes at U+0CD5 and U+0CD6 in Unicode version 3 have
no independent existence and do not play any part as independent codes in the collation
algorithm.

Unlike Devanagari, the Kannada script does not have any character with a left-side dependent
vowel sign.

A one-to-one correspondence exists between independent vowels and dependent vowel signs.
The Matras are-
ೆಾ ೆಿ ೆಿೀ ೆು ೊ ೆೃ ೆೆ ೆೆೀ ೆೆೈ ೆೊ ೆೊೀ ೆೌ ೆಂ ೆಃ
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2.1.4 Virama (Halant)
Like Devanagari, Kannada script also employs a sign known as Halant or vowel omission sign. A
halant sign (ೆ , U+0CCD) nominally serves to cancel (or kill) the inherent vowel of the consonant to
which it is applied. It functions as a combining character. When a consonant has lost its inherent
vowel by the application of halant, it is known as a dead consonant. The dead consonants are the
presentation forms used to depict the consonants without an inherent vowel. Their rendered forms in
Kannada resemble the full consonant with vertical stem replaced by the halant sign, which marks a
character core. The stem glyph (U+0CBB) is graphically and historically related to the sign denoting
the inherent /a/ (ಅ ) vowel (U+0C85). In contrast, a live consonant is a consonant that retains its
inherent vowel or is written with an explicit dependent vowel sign. The dead consonant is defined as a
sequence consisting of a consonant letter followed by a halant. The default rendering for a dead
consonant is to position the halant as a combining mark bound to the consonant letterform. The
Halant in Kannada is ೆ
2.1.5 Consonant Conjuncts
Like any other Indian script, Kannada is also noted for a large number of consonant conjunct forms
that serve as orthographic abbreviations (ligatures) of two or more adjacent forms. This abbreviation
takes place only in the context of a consonant cluster. An orthographic consonant cluster is defined
as a sequence of characters that represent one or more dead consonants (denoted by Cd) followed
by a normal live consonant (denoted by Cl).
Corresponding to each Kannada consonant, there exists a separate and unique glyph, which is
specially used to represent the corresponding consonant in a consonant cluster. Most of these
conjunct consonant glyphs resemble their original consonant forms (many without the implicit vowel
sign, wherever applicable).
In Kannada, there is only one type of conjunct formation (consonant cluster) and it is depicted as
follows:

The first consonant of the consonant cluster is rendered with the implicit or a different
dependant vowel appearing as the terminal element of the consonant cluster.

The remaining consonants (consonants in between the first consonant and the terminal
vowel element) appear in conjunct consonant glyph forms in the phonetic order. They are
generally depicted directly below or sometimes below but to the right of the first consonant.
Thus, the systematically designed Kannada script font contains the conjunct glyph components, but
they are not encoded as Unicode characters, because they are the resultant of ligation of distinct
letters. Kannada script rendering software must be able to map appropriate combinations of
characters in context to the appropriate conjunct glyphs in fonts.
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2.1.6 Visarg
Comes after a vowel sound and represents a sound similar to /h/.
2.1.7 Avagraha
Avagraha sign is a spacing mark used while rendering Sanskrit text. This is located at U+0CBD.
2.1.8 Numerals
Kannada numerals are located from U+0CE6 to U+0CEF
2.1.9 Punctuation Marks
All Punctuation mark in Kannada is borrowed from English.
These characters are not included in the range for Kannada in the Unicode Character set.
2.1.10 Ancient Signs
Some of he Halegannada characters are placed at U+0C8C, U+0CB1, U+0CE1.
2.2 Fonts
There are a number of TrueType fonts available for Kannada among which some of them follow an
encoding standard (like ISCII) and others do not follow any encoding standard and is tied to a
proprietary encoding. The Kannada Ganaka Parishat has standardised the glyph set to be used by all
the Software that support Kannada. Annexure-1 displays the glyphs standardised by KGP. Microsoft
has released an OpenType font (with TrueType outlines) for Kannada – “Tunga.ttf”
that follows
Unicode as its encoding standard.
2.2.1 Font Developing Tools
The OpenType font format is an extension of the TrueType font format, adding support for PostScript
font data.The following tools can be used for designing of the OpenType Font.

FontLab version 4.0 (A trial version for Windows is available for download at
http://www.fontlab.com/html/fontlab.html#downloads)

Font Creator Program version 3.0 (A trial version is available for download at
http://www.high-logic.com/download.htm)

Fontographer version 4.1 (No trial version is available. For more information http://www.macromedia.com/software/fontographer/)

Microsoft Visual OpenType Layout Tool "VOLT" provides an easy-to-use graphical user
interface to add OpenType layout tables to fonts with TrueType outlines. It is licensed free
and
can
be
downloaded
from
the
online
community
http://communities.msn.com/MicrosoftVOLTuserscommunity
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2.3 Keyboard
Inputting Kannada or any other Indian language needs Keyboard driver / Input Method, which is a
Software Component that interprets user operations such as typing keys. There are many Keyboard
Drivers/Input Methods available in the market for Windows Operating Systems like Baraha, Sreelipi,
Akruthi, Kalitha etc. They follow different encoding methods (glyph codes) and support different
keyboard layouts like INSCRIPT, English Phonetic, Typewriter 1, and Typewriter 2.
Microsoft supports Input Methods for nine Indian languages (including Kannada) in Office XP on
Windows XP with INSCRIPT keyboard layout, which is common to all Indian languages and uses
Unicode as the encoding Standard.
Government of Karnataka (Kannada Ganaka Parishat) has proposed a Standard Keyboard layout for
Kannada. In this layout only 26 keys which are painted with English characters on a Keyboard can be
used to represent 51 basic alphabets and special symbols in Kannada (13 swaras, 34 consonants
and 4 special symbols). This is possible as each key has a dual function of representing the small
case (normal key) and Capital case (Shift key) letters in English, as shown in the figure 2.1
Fig. 2.1: Keyboard Layout proposed by Kannada Ganaka Parishath.
Since the 51 keys have been used while the keyboard provides 52 possibilities, that option (key X is
not assigned) can be used to represent foreign sounds such as combination of Nukta and
Besides, there is a need to represent the old
ಫ.
ಱ . The combination of X with consonant ರ yields ಱ .
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2.4 Presentation and Storage Considerations
The order for storage of plain text in Kannada generally follows the phonetic order, that is, a CV
syllable with a dependant vowel is always encoded as a consonant letter C followed by a vowel sign
V in the memory representation. This order is employed by the ISCII standard and corresponds with
phonetic and keying order of textual data. Unlike Devanagari and some other Indian scripts, all the
dependent vowels in Kannada are depicted to the right of their consonant letters. Hence there is no
need to reorder the elements in mapping from the logical (character) store to the presentation (glyph)
rendering and vice versa.
Character order
Glyph order
KA + I
KA + I
ಕ
+ ಇ
ಕಿ
Further, Kannada script does not allow half-consonants, ligatures and half ligature forms.
2.5 Rendering Rules
(Based on Microsoft Uniscribe-OpenType implementation of the UNICODE Rendering Rules)
2.5.1 Notation. In the next set of rules, the following notation applies:
Cn
Nominal glyph form of a consonant C as it appears in the code charts.
Cl
A live consonant, depicted identically to Cn.
Cd
Glyph depicting the dead consonant form of a consonant C.
Ch
Glyph depicting the half-consonant form of a consonant C.
Ln
Nominal glyph form of a conjunct ligature consisting of two or more component
consonants. A conjunct ligature composed of two consonants X and Y is also
denoted by X.Yn.
RAsub
A non-spacing combining mark glyph form positioned below the base glyph form.
Vvs
Glyph depicting the dependent vowel sign form of a vowel V.
Viraman
The nominal glyph form non-spacing combining mark depicting U+0CCD Kannada
sign Virama.
A virama character is not always depicted; when it is depicted, it adopts this non-spacing mark form.
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2.5.1 Dead Consonant Rule. The following rule logically precedes the application of any other rule to
form a dead consonant. Once formed, a dead consonant may be subject to other rules described
next.
R0: When a consonant Cn precedes a VIRAMAn, it is considered to be a dead consonant Cd. A
consonant Cn that does not precede VIRAMAn is considered to be live consonant Cl.
TAn + VIRAMAn
TAd
ತ+ ್
ತ್
(Based on Microsoft Uniscribe-OpenType implementation of the UNICODE Rendering Rules)
2.5.2 Consonant RA Rules:
R1: If the dead consonant RAd precedes either a consonant or an independent vowel, then it is
replaced by the postscript ARKAVATTU, which is positioned so that it applies to the logically
subsequent element in the memory representation.
RAd + KAl
KAl + ARKAVATTU
ರ್ + ಕ
ಕ +ARKAVATTU
Displayed Output
ಕಕ
R2: Except for the dead consonant RAd, when a dead consonant Cd precedes the live consonant
RAl, then Cd is replaced with its nominal form Cn , and RA is replaced by the subscript non-spacing
mark RAsub , which is positioned so that it applies to Cn.
THAd + RAl
THAn + RAsub
ಠ್ + ರ
ಠ +
RAsub
Displayed Output
ಠರ
R3: If a dead consonant (other than RAd) precedes RAd, then the substitution of RA for RAsub is
performed as described above; however, the VIRAMA that formed RAd remains so as to form a dead
consonant conjunct form. A dead consonant conjunct form that contains an absorbed RAd may
subsequently combine to form a multipart conjunct form.
TAd + RAd
TAn + RAsub + VIRAMAn
ತ್ + ರ್
ತ + RAsub + ್
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T.RAd
ತ್ರ
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A dead consonant conjunct form that contains an absorbed RAd may subsequently combine
to form a multipart conjunct form.
T.RAd + YAl
T.R.YAn
ತ್ರ + ಯ
ತರಯ
Ligature Rules: Subsequent to the application of the rules just described, a set of rules governing
ligature formation apply. The precise application of these rules depends on the availability of glyphs in
the current font(s) being used to display text.
R4: If a dead consonant immediately precedes another dead consonant or a live consonant, then the first
dead consonant may join the subsequent element to form a two-part conjunct ligature form.
JAd
+
NYAl
J.NYAn
ಜ್ + ಞ
ಜ್ಞ
R5: A conjunct ligature form can itself behave as a dead consonant and enter into further, more complex
ligatures.
SAd + TAd + KAl
S.T.KAn
ಸ್ + ತ್ + ಕ
ಸ್ತ್ಕ
R6: If a nominal consonant or conjunct ligature form precedes RAsub as a result of the application of rule
R2, then the consonant or ligature form may join with RAsub to form a multipart conjunct ligature (see rule
R2 for more information).
KAl
+ RAd
ಕ + ರ್
K.RAn
ಕರ
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R7: In some cases, other combining marks will also combine with a base consonant, either attaching at a
nonstandard location or changing shape. In minimal rendering there are only two cases, RAl with Uvs or
UUvs .
RAl + Uvs
RUn
RAl + UUvs
RUUn
ರ
ರ
ರ
ರ
+
್
+
್
R8: When the dependent vowel Ivs is used to override the inherent vowel of a syllable, it is always written
to the extreme left of the orthographic syllable. If the orthographic syllable contains a consonant cluster,
then this vowel is always depicted to the left of that cluster.
THAd + RAl + Ivs
ತ್
+
ರ
+
T.RIn
್
ತ್ರರ
2.6 Sorting issues in Kannada
The sorting sequence for Kannada Unicode is as per the collation chart given as an annexure.
However, the following are some important issues, which have to be addressed separately for proper
sorting of data in Kannada.
ISCII – 91 provides direct sorting through its codes. It is the natural sorting method just based on
code values. There are no special algorithms for language specific issues for sorting the data. This
results in non-conventional sorting in some specific cases. The scholars in Kannada have specified
the sorting standards in Kannada. These standards are being followed in all dictionaries and other
documents in Kannada. With this in view, the following four special cases have been identified.
2.6.1 Sorting of Nukta characters
The modifying mark or Nukta located at U+0CBC and included in the collation table is enough to take
care of the sorting issues of characters
ಜ + (U+0CBC) (modified ಜ ) and ಫ + (U+0CBC) (modified
ಫ ). It also takes care of any other consonant, which may be modified using Nukta.
2.6.2 Sorting the data records containing anuswara and visarga
In case of sorting a data set containing words terminating with anuswara, visarga together with other
words, words without terminating dependent vowels are placed in wrong positions.

Sorting sequence as per the Unicode is according to the specified standards if the anuswara
and visarga appear within a word.
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2.6.3 Sorting of words with dead consonants

Sorting of words terminating with dead consonants
Sorting in this case also violates the sorting rules of Kannada. The Unicode sorting places the
word terminating with the dead consonant at the end of the list. The following list compares
the sorting of a sample data using Unicode table and the acceptable sorting for this case.

Sorted data as per Unicode
Acceptable sorting
ರಾಕ
ರಾಕ್
ರಾಕ್
ರಾಕ
ರಾಗ
ರಾಗ್
ರಾಗ ೋ
ರಾಗ
ರಾಗ್
ರಾಗ ೋ
Dead consonants within words
Proper sorting of data with such words can be achieved by using the invisible zero width
consonant just after the dead consonant.
To circumvent unacceptable situations mentioned in 2.6.2 and 2.6.3 above, the Unicode Standard
character U+200C (Zero width Non-Joiner) can be used appropriately in the preprocessor and
collation algorithms.
2.6.4 Sorting of Conjuncts having two different display forms
Two such conjuncts are rendered in Kannada at present.

Conjuncts with (U+0CB0) as the first consonant
This has been explained at an earlier section as Consonant RA rules (section 2.5.2)
Words containing both the display forms of the same consonant cluster with ರ (U+0CB0) as the first
consonant of the cluster had to be sorted as follows. Even though the display rendering are different,
both are identical in all respects. It is therefore natural that they should appear at consecutive
positions. Even though a separate glyph and a corresponding glyph code are present in the
display/storage codes such an arrangement in Unicode will not render for proper sorting.
The only alternative is to represent both the display forms by the same set of codes with a
distinguishing code (U+0CF5) within the string for the second display form. In Unicode form, the
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distinguishing code value within the string of the consonant sorting. This can be achieved through
preprocessing software, with specific functions to generate proper glyph codes, storage codes and
Unicode at different levels. Such a situation–specific code representation guarantees proper sorting
of data containing consonant clusters with two different display forms by ignoring the code U+0CF5
for . This condition has to be incorporated at the appropriate place in the sorting algorithm.

The second case of rendering a same character in two different display forms is the dead
consonant ನ್. It is also written in a second form as U+0CF5. Sorting issue in regards to this case
is also dealt with the same way as in the previous case.
The zero width Non-Joiner at U+200C cannot be used instead of (U+0CF5),as the same sequence of
characters appear both with Zero width Non-Joiner and with U+0CF5, the two sequences
representing two different syllables (conjuncts).
2.6.5 Sorting of Diacritic characters
Diacritic characters formed using symbols located at 0CD1, 0CD2, 0CD3, 0CD4 and 0CF9 to render
accents to consonants, are considered to be equivalent to the corresponding consonants for sorting
purposes and hence the above procedure can be adopted in such cases also.
2.6.6 Conclusion
The sorting issues mentioned above may have multiple solutions. Similar issues might have been
solved by different methods in respect of other Indian languages. Hence, it is desirable to evolve
uniform procedures for issues common to all Indian languages. However, solutions for sorting
problems mentioned here with respect Kannada have been obtained by considering all consonants
from U+0C95 to U+0CB9 and the consonant U+0CDE when they appear independently in a data field
as pure consonants (i.e. as two part coded[Ex:0C95=(0C95,0CBB)]). The sorting of a data field is
achieved by the indexing method. All these can be elaborated to give the actual algorithms and floe
charts, if need be.
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References:
1. “South and South East Asian Scripts”, Chapter 9 of The Unicode Standard (Version 3.0),
http://www.unicode.org/
2. “Creating and Supporting Open Type Fonts for Indic Scripts”,
http://www.microsoft.com/typography
3. “Unicode for Kannada Script” (written by Dr. CV Srinatha Sastry), Directorate of Information
Technology, Government of Karnataka
4. “User-Friendly Keyboard Layout for Kannada”, Kannada Ganaka Parishat
5. “Standards for Kannada in Computers prescribed by the Government of Karnataka”, Kannada
Ganaka Parishat.
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Appendix – 1
Unicode Chart and Collation if the suggested deletion and relocation of
characters are not allowed
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0C8
0C9
0CA
0CB
0CC
0CD
0CE
0CF
0
▓▓
ಐ
ಠ
ರ
ೆಿೀ
▓▓
ೠ
▓▓
1
▓▓
▓▓
ಡ
ಱ
ೆು
ೡ
▓▓
2
ೆಂ
ಒ
ಢ
ಲ
ೊ
▓▓
▓▓
3
ೆಃ
ಓ
ಣ
ಳ
ೆೃ
▓▓
▓▓
4
▓▓
ಔ
ತ
▓▓
▓▓
▓▓
▓▓
5
ಅ
ಕ
ಥ
ವ
▓▓
ೆೀ
▓▓
6
ಆ
ಖ
ದ
ಶ
ೆೆ
ೆೈ
0
▓▓
7
ಇ
ಗ
ಧ
ಷ
ೆೆೀ
▓▓
೧
▓▓
8
ಈ
ಘ
ನ
ಸ
ೆೆೈ
▓▓
೨
▓▓
9
ಉ
ಙ
▓▓
ಹ
▓▓
▓▓
೩
A
ಊ
ಚ
ಪ
ೆೊ
▓▓
೪
▓▓
B
ಋ
ಛ
ಫ
ೆೊೀ
▓▓
೫
▓▓
ಜ
ಬ
ೆೌ
▓▓
೬
▓▓
ೆ
▓▓
೭
▓▓
೮
▓▓
೯
▓▓
C
D
▓▓
ಝ
ಭ
E
ಎ
ಞ
ಮ
ೆಾ
▓▓
F
ಏ
ಟ
ಯ
ೆಿ
▓▓
▓▓
Suggested Unicode for Kannada if deletion and relocation of Characters are not allowed
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Column 1
Column 2
Column 3
Column 4
Column 5
0C82
ೆಂ
0CCD
ೆ
0C96
ಖ
0CA6
ದ
0CB9
ಹ
0C83
ೆಃ
0CBB
0C97
ಗ
0CA7
ಧ
0CB3
ಳ
0C85
ಅ
0CBE
ೆಾ
0C98
ಘ
0CA8
ನ
0CB4
0C86
ಆ
0CBF
ೆಿ
0C99
ಙ
0CAA
ಪ
0CBC
0C87
ಇ
0CC0
ೆಿೀ
0C9A
ಚ
0CAB
ಫ
0C88
ಈ
0CC1
ೆು
0C9B
ಛ
0CAC
ಬ
0C89
ಉ
0CC2
ೊ
0C9C
ಜ
0CAD
ಭ
0C8A
ಊ
0CC3
ೆೃ
0C9D
ಝ
0CAE
ಮ
0C8B
ಋ
0CC4
ೆ
0C9E
ಞ
0CAF
ಯ
0CE0
ೠ
0CC6
ೆೆ
0C9F
ಟ
0CB0
ರ
0C8E
ಎ
0CC7
ೆೆೀ
0CA0
ಠ
0CB1
ಱ
0C8F
ಏ
0CC8
ೆೆೈ
0CA1
ಡ
0CB2
ಲ
0C90
ಐ
0CCA
ೆೊ
0CA2
ಢ
0CB5
ವ
0C92
ಒ
0CCB
ೆೊೀ
0CA3
ಣ
0CB6
ಶ
0C93
ಓ
0CCC
ೆೌ
0CA4
ತ
0CB7
ಷ
0C94
ಔ
0C95
ಕ
0CA5
ಥ
0CB8
ಸ
Collating sequence of Kannada Unicode characters, if additions and relocations are not
allowed. The sequence is column wise, top to bottom
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Appendix – 2
Unicode Chart and Collation if the suggested deletion and relocation of
characters are allowed
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0C8
0C9
0CA
0CB
0CC
0CD
0CE
0CF
0
▓▓
ಐ
ಠ
ರ
ೆಿೀ
▓▓
ೠ
▓▓
1
▓▓
▓▓
ಡ
ಱ
ೆು
▓▓
▓▓
2
ೆಂ
ಒ
ಢ
ಲ
ೊ
▓▓
▓▓
3
ೆಃ
ಓ
ಣ
ಳ
ೆೃ
▓▓
▓▓
4
▓▓
ಔ
ತ
▓▓
▓▓
▓▓
▓▓
5
ಅ
ಕ
ಥ
ವ
▓▓
▓▓
▓▓
6
ಆ
ಖ
ದ
ಶ
ೆೆ
▓▓
0
▓▓
7
ಇ
ಗ
ಧ
ಷ
ೆೆೀ
▓▓
೧
▓▓
8
ಈ
ಘ
ನ
ಸ
ೆೆೈ
▓▓
೨
▓▓
9
ಉ
ಙ
▓▓
ಹ
▓▓
▓▓
೩
A
ಊ
ಚ
ಪ
ೆೊ
▓▓
೪
▓▓
B
ಋ
ಛ
ಫ
ೆೊೀ
▓▓
೫
▓▓
C
▓▓
ಜ
ಬ
ೆೌ
▓▓
೬
▓▓
D
▓▓
ಝ
ಭ
ೆ
▓▓
೭
▓▓
E
ಎ
ಞ
ಮ
ೆಾ
▓▓
▓▓
೮
▓▓
F
ಏ
ಟ
ಯ
ೆಿ
▓▓
▓▓
೯
▓▓
Suggested Unicode for Kannada if deletions and relocation of characters are allowed
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Column 1
Column 2
Column 3
Column 4
Column 5
0C82
ೆಂ
0CCD
ೆ
0C96
ಖ
0CA6
ದ
0CB9
ಹ
0C83
ೆಃ
0CBB
0C97
ಗ
0CA7
ಧ
0CB3
ಳ
0C85
ಅ
0CBE
ೆಾ
0C98
ಘ
0CA8
ನ
0CB4
0C86
ಆ
0CBF
ೆಿ
0C99
ಙ
0CAA
ಪ
0CBC
0C87
ಇ
0CC0
ೆಿೀ
0C9A
ಚ
0CAB
ಫ
0C88
ಈ
0CC1
ೆು
0C9B
ಛ
0CAC
ಬ
0C89
ಉ
0CC2
ೊ
0C9C
ಜ
0CAD
ಭ
0C8A
ಊ
0CC3
ೆೃ
0C9D
ಝ
0CAE
ಮ
0C8B
ಋ
0CC4
ೆ
0C9E
ಞ
0CAF
ಯ
0CE0
ೠ
0CC6
ೆೆ
0C9F
ಟ
0CB0
ರ
0C8E
ಎ
0CC7
ೆೆೀ
0CA0
ಠ
0CB1
ಱ
0C8F
ಏ
0CC8
ೆೆೈ
0CA1
ಡ
0CB2
ಲ
0C90
ಐ
0CCA
ೆೊ
0CA2
ಢ
0CB5
ವ
0C92
ಒ
0CCB
ೆೊೀ
0CA3
ಣ
0CB6
ಶ
0C93
ಓ
0CCC
ೆೌ
0CA4
ತ
0CB7
ಷ
0C94
ಔ
0C95
ಕ
0CA5
ಥ
0CB8
ಸ
Collating sequence of Kannada Unicode characters, if additions and relocations are allowed. The
sequence is column wise, top to bottom.
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Appendix – 3
Output from FontLab displaying all glyphs in the glyph set standardised by KGP
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