8.
Distribution Issues
ISER distributes the downloadable fonts using a Linux server.
The link on the web page that allows the font to be downloaded
connects the URL of the font on the Linux server. This connection
eliminates the problem of corruption of Mac fonts if they
are saved on a Windows system, i.e. do not plan to have a
Mac font be downloaded from a Win NT/2000 server.
The font files tend to be very small so they are fast to download
and install. Sometimes people are reluctant to download and
install a font if they haven't previously installed a new
font. To help, we have provided detailed download/installation
instructions on Alaskool. Demonstrating how to download and
install the font correctly is important, as well as encouraging
those who are familiar with the process to pass along the
information.
9. Use & File Sharing Issues
The Iñupiaq font is available for use in word processing,
producing web pages, and communicating via e-mail. Once the
font is installed on a computer, it is used like any of the
other fonts -- you can select and use it in many programs.
It is important to note that for a web page or an e-mail written
in Iñupiaq to be viewable on a different computer, the receiving
computer must also have the same font installed.
Checking Font Installation: We include a page for checking
the success of the font installation -- (http://www.alaskool.org/language/inupiaqpb/ipbstart.htm)
We opted for showing a table containing two Iñupiaq phrases.
One phrase (top) contains an actual picture of
the words (this will not change whether the font is installed
or not), and a typed version of the same phrase (bottom).
If the font is not properly installed on a computer (assuming
the phrase includes characters that are unique to that font)
then the two phrases will not appear the same. At this point,
the viewer is urged to start at the beginning of the instructions
by clicking the link to download and install the font again.
Using a Native Language Font with E-mail: The e-mail
program should include the capability of sending as "html"
(Netscape terminology) or sending "styled" (Eudora terminology).
The e-mail must be written using the appropriate font. The
recipient of the e-mail has to use an e-mail program that
allows them to receive the sent e-mail with the same font.
The recipient of the e-mail is also required to install the
same font onto their computer.
10. Typing Shortcuts
We include a useful character translation chart (that show
the special characters) and typing instructions on (http://www.alaskool.org/language/inupiaqpb/wordproc.htm)
for the Iñupiaq font. These little tables have been spotted
taped to the side of more than one computer monitor!
11. Internet and Web Page Issues
When creating a web page using a Native font such as the Iñupiaq
font, the html tags require a specific format needed in order
to result in a web page that appears correctly for both Macs
and PCs.
Font
Tags: An example of this format is: ... text ... It is
important to have both parts of the font face tag included.
In this case that is "InupiaQ, InupiaqNormal". The first part
of this font tag (InupiaQ) is the name of the font the PC
sees, the second, (InupiaqNormal) is the part that the Mac
sees. If you leave out "InupiaQ" and only use "InupiaqNormal"
then anyone looking at your web page using a PC will see the
page using the default font. Thus they will see the default
font (perhaps Times or Arial) and see only regular keyboard
characters that were substituted for the special characters
in the Native font.
The book Maniilaq is presented on the Alaskool web site and
includes the text in Iñupiaq, streaming audio of the Iñupiaq
and the text in English. (http://www.alaskool.org/Language/Maniilaq/webhtm/Maniilaq_Intro.htm).
The top of the Maniilaq introduction illustrates our attempt
to get people to download the Iñupiaq font, i.e., using red
and capitalizing "there are no X's in Iñupiaq!"
