Orthography Tools

HTML Entity Codes

The table below provides the character entity codes to transcribe Dene characters in HTML documents without the need for the Unicode characters which can increase the load times and sizes of files significantly.

Fonts

The following fonts have been evaluated and found to satisfactorily implement diacritical marks and the Latin Extended A and B character sets that include Dene characters. While the placement of diacritics continues to present challenges (e.g., cramped positioning above capitals, misplaced location of accents, failure to double stack on top of characters, etc.), these fonts will do a reasonable job for most text in Microsoft Word and Outlook (results vary for other applications). They are free to download and use. Instructions have also been provided on how to use these fonts on websites. Note that appearance of the fonts may vary from computer to computer, with the most modern browsers and operating systems displaying the diacritical mark placements with the most fidelity.

Note that larger file sizes impact page load time for websites. As such, it is suggested that only required font styles are used in the stylesheet of each page.

Fonts developed by Language Geek

Language Geek (Chris Harvey of the Indigenous Languages Institute) offers font sets that contain full support for Canadian Indigenous languages including Syllabics. Other fonts, as well as keyboarding and orthography tips, have been made available. Recently, Chris has prepared a lightweight multipurpose Roman font called Omnes which is small enough to pack with websites through a CSS @font-face call.

Fonts developed by SIL International

The SIL group, a pioneer in multilingual font and keyboard development for literacy, has recently released two attractive multilingual fonts, Gentium Plus and Andika, which reliably represent Dene diacritics. SIL also revised their popular Charis and Doulos typefaces for Unicode compliance. These sets are perhaps the most reliable in terms of phonetic symbols and the correct placement of diacritical marks.

Fonts available through Google

For the last few years, Google has offered websites the ability to use their collection of beautiful Unicode fonts for general site typography. While most have limited character sets, some fonts include the necessary characters from the Latin Extended Sets A and B to transcribe Dene text. However, combining diacritic forms give varying results leading to the need to tweak character representations. Recently, two new fonts, Noto and Arimo, have been developed to accommodate multiple languages, with compatible character heights and diacritic positioning. They can also be downloaded for personal computer use.

Legacy Text to Unicode Converter

The following tool will allow you to convert legacy text composed in Vowel First Dene or in the WinMac series of Dene fonts to the international standard Unicode. Simply paste your text into the top text area, click the appropriate converter button, and obtain the updated text in the bottom area, with or without the removal of the dot over the ‘i’ as preferred in some regions. You can also convert the output text to HTML-ready code or try out the new text in different fonts that are known to fully represent the requisite characters on most systems.

Macros and Mods

Unicode Conversion Macros

Two Microsoft Word macros have been developed by Jim Stauffer and Rajiv Rawat to facilitate the conversion of legacy text composed in the popular Vowel First Dene and WinMac series of Dene fonts to the international standard Unicode. The zipped package contains instructions on how to install the Macros and their source code.

• Unicode Conversion Word Macros

AutoCorrect and Dictionary Updater Macros

Last updated: August 22, 2017

Two simple macros have been developed to install commonly used Indigenous NWT place names in the AutoCorrect tables of the Microsoft Office Suite and update the Custom Dictionary with the same (Windows Only). This allows for the automatic placement of correct diacritical marks over characters without needing to type them in manually and the recognition of place names by the spelling checker. The script can be run as is on Windows systems or as a macro by opening the Word template file on Windows or OSX system (the Dictionary Updater only runs on Windows). Suggestions for the inclusion of other commonly used words is greatly appreciated.

• AutoCorrect Macro

Press and Hold Mod for Mac

Press and Hold is a relatively new feature on Macs that allows for quick access to character variants by a sustained press of a key. By installing the accompanying file in the specified System package, these variants can be tailored for Dene and other roman orthography.

• Press and Hold Mod for Mac

Keyboards

In addition to the keyboards you can find at denefont.com and languagegeek.com tailored for each specific language, general purpose integrated keyboards have been developed for the entry of pan-NWT diacritics and glyphs.

• Integrated Indigenous NT Keyboard for PC
• Integrated Indigenous NT Keyboard for Mac

A Keyman version of this keyboard is also available. Please note that both the macros and keyboards listed on this page are being provided freely “as is” for public trial without warranty of any kind. Feedback on their utility is most welcome, but they should be considered purely experimental.

Speaking the Dene Way – www.gudeh.com

Handheld Apps

In recent years, the increasing use of handheld devices has provided an impetus for the development of individualized multimedia language tools. Some recent examples include:

Yati Dictionary App

Tłı̨chǫ has benefited from an ongoing partnership with the Department of Linguistics at the University of Victoria. Over the last decade, the university has worked with the Tłı̨chǫ Community Services Agency on an online Tłı̨chǫ dictionary that was converted into an iPhone App in 2012.

Multi-Language Apps

Also in 2012, language Apps for each the Dene languages were successfully released in the NWT. Incorporating flipcards, word practice, and quizzes, the Apps were geared towards basic literacy education.

Dene K’ę́ę́ Gúdeh

In 2011, the Deh Cho Friendship Centre sponsored the development of the Dene K’ę́ę́ Gúdeh DVD-ROM, an animated, interactive introduction to Dene Zhatie geared towards children. With funding from the GNWT, Government of Canada, and the Dehcho Divisional Education Council, the DVD was later adapted in 2013 as a website, an iPhone App, and standalone downloads for both Windows and Mac platforms.

CD-ROM

Theytus Books (BC) has been packaging interactive multimedia CDs with a book series on Tłı̨chǫ legends for the last half decade. The CDs provide a language primer by highlighting words alongside English and Tłı̨chǫ narration of a Tłı̨chǫ story.

• Yamozha and His Beaver Wife
• The Legend of Caribou Boy
• How the Fox Got His Crossed Legs
• How the Fox Saved the People

Online Resources

The South Slave Divisional Education Council has developed a number of online tools and materials to teach Indigenous languages in their region, including dictionaries, bibliographies, and animated storybooks.

Acknowledgements

The information aggregated here has benefited from the input of many community experts . A big thanks goes to Jim Stauffer, a Whatı̀ based veteran community educator, and Chris Harvey of the Indigenous Languages Institute, both of whom pioneered and supported font development for Dene languages. The advice of the ECE Official Languages bureau, Deb Simmons, Betty Harnum, and Kristi Benson was also key to bringing this compilation to fruition.

Links

• Aboriginal Language Resources and Policies at the NWT Department of Education, Culture, and Employment
• Languages Commissioner of the NWT
• NWT Literacy Council
• Mackenzie Valley Review Board Aboriginal Language Glossaries

Dictionaries and Glossaries

• Dëne Dédlıné Yatıé Ɂerehtł’ı́scho Denı́nu Kuę́ Yatıé – Chipewyan Dictionary. Fort Smith, N.W.T.: South Slave Divisional Education Council, 2012.
• English-Chipewyan Dictionary. Prince Albert, Sask: Northern Canada Evangelical Mission, 1981.
• Gwichyah ts’at Teetl’it Gwich’in Ginjik Gwi’dinehtl’ee’ – Gwich’in Language Dictionary. Gwich’in Social and Cultural Institute, 2003.
• Sahtúot’įne Dictionary Délįne Kǝdǝ́ – Dialect of the North Slavey Language. Norman Wells, N.W.T.: Sahtu Divisional Education Council, 1986.
• K’ashógot’ı̨ne Dictionary – Radı̨lı̨h Kǫ́ę́ Dialect of the K’ashógot’ı̨ne xədǝ́. Norman Wells, N.W.T.: Sahtu Divisional Education Council, 1986.
• Shúhtaǫt’ine Dictionary – Tulita Dialect of the North Slavey Language. Norman Wells, N.W.T.: Sahtu Divisional Education Council, 1986.
• Dene Yatié K’éé Ahsíi Yats’uuzi Gha Edįhtatł’éh Kátł’odehche – South Slavey Topical Dictionary: Kátł’odehche Dialect. Fort Smith, N.W.T.: South Slave Divisional Education Council, 2009.
• Tłįchǫ Yatiì Enįhtł’è – Dogrib Dictionary. Rae-Edzo, N.W.T.: Dogrib Divisional Board of Education, 1996.
• Tłı̨chǫ K’ę̀ę̀ Ets’eetł’èe xè Enı̨htł’è K’e Yats’ehtıı – Reading and Writing in Tłı̨chǫ Yatıı̀. Behchokǫ̀, N.W.T.: Tłı̨chǫ Community Services Agency, 2007.

• Species at Risk (NWT) Terminology Translation Workshop – Report and glossary of translations in Inuvialuktun. Yellowknife, N.W.T.: Species at Risk Secretariat, 2011.
• Protected Areas and Science terminology. Yellowknife, N.W.T.: Protected Areas Strategy, 2006.

Reports

• Keeping our minds strong : a discussion paper on revitalizing Aboriginal languages in the NWT. Yellowknife, NT: Office of the Languages Commissioner, 2002.
• Revitalizing, enhancing, and promoting Aboriginal languages : strategies for supporting Aboriginal languages. Yellowknife, NT: Northwest Territories. Dept. of Education, Culture and Employment, 2001.
• Languages of the land : a resource manual for aboriginal language activists. Yellowknife, NT: NWT Literacy Council, 1999.