Denshi Jisho — Online Japanese dictionary

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    •  
      CommentAuthorKim
    • CommentTimeJul 25th 2008
     # 1

    I've been thinking about romaji to kana conversion lately and have been upgrading the algorithm used in Denshi Jisho.

    However, I have hit upon a problem where I could use some input since I'm not a Windows user.

    To write small kana, you can use both "xa" and "la" for ぁ in Windows. How common is the "la" usage? On macs typing "la" will produce ら, which I think is more consistent.

    Do most Windows users use the "la" for small kana convention? Or is this simply an obscure input convention? A quick web search seems to indicate that this is commonly known, which makes me wonder if I should change the Denshi Jisho behavior to reflect this.

    I make Denshi Jisho.
    •  
      CommentAuthorasmodai
    • CommentTimeJul 25th 2008
     # 2

    Hej Kim,

    based on my use both la and xa are known. See also http://www.sljfaq.org/html/ms_ime.html for an overview. The IME 2007 is similar still.
    So given both exist (just like on my Canon Wordtank) I cannot say whether one is preferred over the other.

    Also in UIM both la and xa are available. I think you should just support both. Makes typing easier, at times I find myself typing la and then follow up with xo since it allows you to use both hands instead of two finger in rapid succession of one hand.

    Yes, I am a bluntly honest type.
    • CommentAuthorTobberoth
    • CommentTimeJul 25th 2008
     # 3

    Personally I've never even once used l to make a small kana.. but then again, I found out recently it's even possible so I don't know how others do it.