Thai on Zaurus Project

My hobbies include learning the Thai language. This project is about using my Sharp Zaurus to help me make notes, keep records and interact with day to day things using the Thai language.

Using Thai on a Zaurus should be no problem because QT/embedded uses Unicode representations for all internal data. However there are a few things that would make it easier, as detailed below.

Goals

  1. Make it easy to read Thai files on a Zaurus: Done.
  2. Make it easy to enter Thai words on a Zaurus: Done.
  3. Build useful applications specific to Thai language: Done.

Screenshots

TIM Thai Keyboard plugin TIM Thai Keyboard plugin TIM Thai Keyboard plugin
Reviewing the Todo List Appointments in the 1 day view Editing a note

Install

Please see the Thai on Zaurus Installation Guide.

Using Thai Fonts on Zaurus

Please see my Thai Zaurus Fonts page: I have converted some Thai TrueType fonts (TTF) to Qtopia Prerendered Font (QPF) format.

Entering Thai Letters on Zaurus

TIM is a virtual keyboard for the Zaurus. It would also be possible to write a Thai keymap for the physical keys or even a handwriting recognition algorithm. The Qtopia Palmtop Environment makes it easy to write a plugin input method for typing Thai letters.

Thai Dictionaries

I have built some Thai dictionaries that are intended to be used on Zaurus. They are in a standard format so can easily be converted for use with other programs.

Other Useful Thai Language Applications for Zaurus

I have already implemented the main applications I need in order to use Thai on my Zaurus. There a few other apps that would be useful but I have no serious plans for them yet.

thaiconv

If you want to use Thai plain text files on the Zaurus, they should be in UTF-8 format. My thaiconv program is available for the ARM platform (as well as other architectures). It can be used to convert TIS-620 coded text files (a common format for Thai plain text) or HTML Unicode into UTF-8 and back.

thaicheck

You can verify that plain text files are valid Thai letter order using this tool. thaicheck examines files and looks for letters that cannot go together e.g. tone markers in impossible places. Everything on Zaurus is Unicode so you will have to convert to TIS-620 using thaiconv first

Recover Thai Email in Japan

If you receive a cross coded email in Thai while in Japan, you may need my tool jax2th to recover it.

Thai Glossaries

These are glossary files for toMOTko. Note, these files are using the format for toMOTko 0.10.0.

Installing: Download the file and transfer it to your Zaurus. From toMOTko choose "Import..." from the Actions menu.

Alphabet

This file covers the 42 Thai consonants (akson thai) that some might call the Thai alphabet. Note that each letter is shown with it's counterpart word, i.e. similar to "a is for apple", that are commonly used in Thailand. Also shown next to the English is the transliteration for when the consonant is in the initial or final position in the word. You can also find which classification the letter is in the comments field.

Screenshot: toMOTko glossary

Download: Thai Alphabet.zip.

Numbers

Numbers, exceptions, larger numbers, mathematical operators, a lot, a little, many, classifiers for counting, etc.

Download: Thai numbers.zip.

Time

Telling the time (12/24 hour clock), basic time questions, days, months, now, soon, etc.

Download: Thai time.zip.

Everyday Phrases

I feel good, I feel ill, are you hungry, hello, thank you, where is, etc. The user should think for themselves about adding polite particles (krap/ka) to the end of each phrase.

Download: Thai everyday phrases.zip.


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