GIST Speaks a Universal Language

The pioneering work undertaken by the dynamic GIST team of C-DAC has enabled it to carve a niche for itself in this fast growing area especially in the web enabled world. A letter of appreciation received from Håkan and Helene Davidsson who have been using some of the GIST products perhaps, sums up the sentiments of a number of other GIST product users.

We have spent 14 years working with the Asian languages, developing fonts, hyphenation algorithms and keyboard methods. After having worked on the proprietary system for some years, we came to work with the C-DAC group in Pune. We found that the combination of technical, artistic and linguistic expertise that they achieve produces a package that is of high quality. These are some reasons:

l The first reason is the excellent quality fonts. The standard of calligraphy is high. The fonts are designed with each of the scripts characteristics in view and are appealing to the Indian eye. The users we work with find them appealing.

l Additionally, the many (and at times much debated) conjuncts in the scripts are simplified (to use only a few complex conjuncts have been provided.) The selection was made in connection with years of study. This gives us the confidence that these are well-founded decisions.

l Even though the keyboards are totally reworked compared to the typewriters, they are easily introduced. This is because the logic is linguistically based, with each of the Vargas logically grouped. Likewise the long and short vowels are logically positioned. This is a very easy method to teach. Within a week of typing most of the users are well up in speed. Additionally, an interesting observation is that the phonetic method of typing follows the line of thought easier, as the users do not have to think about the positioning of the characters but rather the sounds.

l The concept of hyphenation is one that is totally unfamiliar to many of the Indian readers and therefore very little understood. However, any modern printing using the computer as a tool will require better methods than the manual one. Anything is better! We are therefore pleased to know that this concept is stressed and that a better understanding of the syllable formations is stressed. This is something, which we hope can be developed further.

These are our general comments. Interestingly, after introducing the Sinhala fonts and keyboard in production we found that this brought us years ahead, as software development in that language has been slow. This enabled our office in Sri Lanka to efficiently use Sinhala for their translation and office needs. They also appreciate the keyboard method, as it is an easy one to use.

Sincerely,

Håkan and Helene Davidsson
Watchtower Bible and Tract Society,
New York.