Windows Vista: An Expanded View of Internationalization

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Display and Creation of Text in Different Languages

Input of Text Methods Updated and New Ones Created

Keyboard Layouts

Input Method Editors (IMEs)

Handwriting Recognition

Speech Recognition

Display Format for Dates, Time, Numbers, Currency, Etc.

Unattended Setup for Locales

Access to Multiple Languages for the User Interface

Different Functionality for Different Regions

What about Developers?

Summary

Display and Creation of Text in Different Languages

The first thing that Windows Vista users will notice is that, out of the box, all languages and scripts are enabled. No longer will you need to turn on the support for East Asian languages (Chinese, Japanese, and Korean) and Complex Script languages (Arabic, Hebrew, Indic, Thai, etc.). These languages will just be there. Included in this is support for seven new complex scripts.

Also, three non-complex scripts are supported.

To support these scripts, several new fonts have been added. Note that the naming syntax in the following table is font name (language it supports),

* Kartika and Vrinda shipped in Windows XP SP2

Note that five of these fonts are created for use as East Asian UI fonts. They are:

• Chinese Simplified: Microsoft YaHei
• Chinese Traditional: Microsoft JhengHei
• Japanese: Meiryo
• Korean: Malgun Gothic
• Uighur: Arabic Microsoft Uighur

Along with the new fonts, updates to fonts for earlier supported scripts have been added:

• Core fonts (like Arial, Microsoft Sans Serif, Tahoma, and Times New Roman) now support Unicode 4.1 for Latin, Greek, Cyrillic, Arabic and Hebrew. Tahoma and Microsoft Sans Serif fonts also have updated Unicode 4.1 support for Thai.

• Chinese, Japanese and Korean (CJK) fonts:

  • Chinese fonts
  • Support Unicode supplementary characters (extension-B)
  • Expand code page coverage (GB18030, CNS 11643)
  • Japanese fonts
  • Expand code page coverage (JIS X 0213, JIS90S, Japanese publishing standard glyphs, IBM extension characters)

• Overhauled Indic fonts as well as the Uniscribe shaping engine:

  • Added Latin character support
  • Corrected how several glyphs are displayed

  Unicode Code Point	Old	New
  U+0915
  U+0925
  U+0935
  U+0b9a
  U+0bb4

  Examples of several corrected glyphs

• Correct punctuation positioning

Old positioning	New positioning

• Revised fonts for Bengali, Malayalam, Telugu and Oriya to scale better when used with other Indic fonts.
• OpenType expanded upon to allow for locale-specific typographic conventions
• This allows the use of different glyphs for certain characters used in more than one language (e.g., Indic digits used between Arabic and Urdu)

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Input of Text Methods Updated and New Ones Created

Windows 2000 was the first version of the Windows operating system that allowed for multiple language input on any version of the OS. That meant that you could enter Japanese, Chinese, Russian, Arabic, and Thai text using different language keyboard layouts and Input Method Editors (IMEs) on an English version of Windows 2000. Windows Vista enhances this feature by adding and updating keyboard layouts and IMEs for existing and newly-supported languages.

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Keyboard Layouts

Below is a table of all the new keyboard layouts added to Windows Vista:

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Input Method Editors (IMEs)

IMEs are used to enter the many thousand characters of Chinese, Japanese and Korean using a standard keyboard. In Windows Vista, many major enhancements have been added to make their use even easier.

Chinese Simplified IMEs

For Windows Vista, Simplified Chinese input is unified into a single input platform with multiple styles, although there still is access to several Windows XP IMEs. The platform is the Microsoft PinYin IME (MSPY), and it has three styles:

• Classic Input Style

• Sentence-based input. Using the Classic Input style, a pinyin syllable is converted into a Chinese character automatically when you start typing the next one. This style is the same style used in previous versions of MSPY.

• Natural Input Style

• Phrase-based input. While using this style, couples of unconverted pinyin syllables display simultaneously in the Reading window. MSPY converts these into Chinese characters automatically, eliminating the reading window flicker.

• ABC Input

• Word-based input. This style is designed on the basis of the Intelligent ABC Input Method, developed under the lead of Professor Zhu Shoutao at Peking University. When using the ABC input style, there is no auto-conversion from pinyin to Chinese characters. Instead, the candidates are selected by pressing SPACE or ENTER

Besides these three input styles there are four other input methods available. They are:

• IME Pad – Character Search Applet (CSA)

• Chinese character input – You can search for a character by its basic radical and the number of strokes.

• Symbol Input – Allows quick access in table form to punctuation and other symbols (like math, tables, units, etc.).

• Internal Code Input – Allows the input of characters using their hexadecimal code for the following encodings:

• Unicode

• GB18030

Chinese Traditional IMEs

The IMEs for Chinese Traditional input has added a new addition to the Intelligent IMEs (New Quick) as well as enhancing the Intelligent IMEs rich typing features. These enhancements for New Phonetic, New ChangJie, and Quick IMEs are:

• Input status feedback

• Indicates the IME conversion status and highlights unexpected change

• Instant 3-in-1 code input

• Code input without changing input method by utilizing leading input

• Extend code input to BIG5, Unicode and Scalar Code input

• Support CNS 11643 and HKSCS 2004 input sequence

• Enhanced conversion accuracy

• Updated language model

• Improved learning algorithm

• New user phrase tool – Allows user to add often used phrases or proper names to the IME phrase library. This reduces the inconvenience of modifying characters all the time.

• Make typing easier

• Fuzzy reading input (New Phonetic IME only) – Sometimes it is difficult to distinguish retroflexs, non-retroflexs, nasals and non-nasals when using Phonetic input. The Fuzzy reading function helps select the correct Chinese characters and strings with similar sound without the need of retyping.

• Toneless input (New Phonetic IME only) – Allows the use of the <SPACE> key to input continuously without entering any tone marks.

• Wildcard support (New ChangJie IME, New Quick IME) – If a radical of certain character is unknown, when using New ChangJie IME or New Quick IME, one can use the “Z” key as a wildcard instead.  If the character displayed is not what is wanted, pressing the DOWN arrow opens the Candidate list, which will list all possible characters to choose from.

• Improved punctuation input – Two new methods

• Office-like punctuation input: <Ctrl>+Punctuation

• Leading key input: `+Punctuation

• New Phonetic IME only Features

• Intelligent Auto Input Switch – Reduces the need to switch conversion modes between Chinese and alphanumeric modes

• Show input reading in candidate list

• Supported formats:  Phonetic, Taiwan pinyin, Hanyu pinyin and Secondary Phonetic Pinyin

• Support 3 Pinyin keyboards

• Taiwan pinyin, Hanyu pinyin and Secondary Phonetic Pinyin

As an added way to enter characters, all IMEs have access to the IME Pad.  The IME pad allows the input of characters by one of four ways:

• Hand Writing – Useful if you only remember how to write a character, but do not remember its phonetic readings or radicals



• Strokes – Search for a character using the total number of strokes it takes to render it

• Radical – Search for a character using its base radicals

• Symbols – Search for a character in a given range of like characters

Japanese IMEs

In the past, there have been two Japanese IMEs: the Standard and Natural Input styles. Windows Vista has unified both the Standard and Natural Input style into one single IME. It is called the Microsoft IME, but the good thing is that it keep both the Standard and Natural Input functionality.Along with unification, the following features have also been added:

• JIS 2004 support

• Unicode supplementary characters (Surrogate pairs) support

• Enhanced Character List Applet in IME Pad

• Allows user to input all JIS/Unicode characters



• Enhanced Candidate UI

• Can expand Candidate UI from one column to many columns with the <Tab> key



• Users can submit words not found in the IME to Microsoft for possible use in later updates.

Korean IME

A majority of the work done for the Windows Vista’s Korean IME was in the area of Hangul (the Korean alphabet) to Hanja (Ideographic characters) conversion.  The new or updated functions of the Korean IME are:

• Hangul to Hanja word conversion (only character by character conversion was supported in XP)



• User Dictionary updated to support Hangul to Hanja Word conversion



• Stroke input for Hanja added to IME Pad

• Radical input for Hanja added to IME Pad

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Handwriting Recognition

Besides keyboard layouts and East Asian IMEs, Windows Vista has added handwriting recognition as a built-in tool. Not only is this available for Tablet PCs, but is also found in the desktop and laptop versions of the operating system. Thus if you have some type of pen input device, you have access to handwriting input. In fact, you can use your mouse as rudimentary input device for Windows Vista.

Every version of Vista has access to the following handwriting recognition engines:

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Speech Recognition

Windows Speech Recognition, a new feature in Windows Vista, lets you interact with your computer using your voice. It was designed for people who want to use their mouse and keyboard less, while maintaining—or even increasing—their overall productivity. It allows you to dictate documents and e-mails in commonly used programs, and use voice commands to start and switch between applications, control the operating system, and even fill out forms on the web.

Windows Speech Recognition adapts to your speaking style and vocabulary, so the accuracy with which Windows Vista recognizes your speech improves each time you use it. Windows Vista supports speech recognition in a number of languages:

All of the speech recognition engines do not come with all language versions of Windows Vista. They are only available on their corresponding language version of Windows Vista.

Besides speech recognition, Windows Vista has a text-to-speech program (or basic screen reader) called the Narrator. Narrator reads menus without leaving the active window. Individuals who use Narrator will find a more pleasant, natural sounding voice in Windows Vista than the Windows XP technology. Not only does the Narrator read English it can also read Simplified Chinese text, but this feature only comes on the Simplified Chinese version of Windows Vista.

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Display Format for Dates, Time, Numbers, Currency, Etc.

Besides the scripts and fonts, locale support (sort tables, format for dates, time, numbers, currency) for 35 new locales has been added to Windows Vista. These locales can be accessed via the Control Panel’s Clock, Language and Region section.

Note that the naming syntax in the following table uses this format: language ([script,] country/region).

Not only does Windows Vista introduce these new locales, it also includes all of the post Windows XP support mentioned above for 36 more locales added to Windows XP via Service Pack 2 (25 locales) and an update to Service Pack 2 (11 locales):

These locales are available as part of the Windows XP SP2 download.

These locales are available as part of the SP2 Update to Windows XP.

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Unattended Setup for Locales

One other way the access to locales has been expanded in Windows Vista is via the Unattended Regional and Language Options component. This allows network administrators to set and change regional and language options without using the Control Panel. Although earlier versions of Windows had a limited number of international settings for previous versions of Windows, see http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=289125, this new Windows Vista component opens up more access to locale information. With this feature you can:

• Change and customize formats of numbers, currency, time, dates, and sorting.

• Change display language preference.

• Change location preference.

• Add and remove keyboards.

• Add and remove input method editors.

• Change language for non-Unicode programs (system locale).

• Copy the international settings to Reserved Accounts (local service, network service, local system, and new users).

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Access to Multiple Languages for the User Interface

Multilingual User Interface (MUI)

As stated at the beginning of this article, one of the main international features of Windows Vista is its ability to allow the text of the operating system to be displayed in multiple languages. This allows large corporations to roll out the same worldwide image with a single install job. Local users can then select the user interface language or it can be set by Group Policy for Organizational Units.

It also allows different language users to share the same workstation or roaming users to take their localized user interface from one workstation to another. For instance, one user might choose to see system menus, dialogs and other text in Japanese, while another user logging onto the same system might prefer to see the corresponding text in French.

MUI functionality started with Windows 2000. Microsoft introduced the MUI technology and the Windows MUI Pack. Installed on top of an English-language Windows operating system, the MUI pack implements the MUI technology and provides an MUI version of the operating system. The MUI operating system version allows users to set the user interface language according to their preferences, provided that resources for the required languages have been added to the operating system. This technology was only available to enterprises and OEMS and was not sold as a retail product (to learn more about MUI technology, see Microsoft’s MUI FAQ).

Beginning with Windows Vista, all Windows operating system versions are enhanced with the latest MUI technology. Even if an operating system has only single-language localization support, the MUI technology is still working to provide user interface localization. Speaking of localization support, where as Windows XP sold in 24 different languages, Windows Vista is sold in 35 different languages, as follows.

There actually is a 36th language version: there is a Chinese - Traditional version for Hong Kong that is set to handle the Hong Kong encoding HKSCS character set.

As long as you have either the Windows Vista Enterprise or Windows Vista Ultimate versions, one or more MUI packs can be added on top of any language system of Windows Vista. Unlike Windows XP, you no longer need to have the English version to have MUI functionality.

This means that for the first time users have a solution for the age old question, “My computer’s operating system’s language is in German, but I don’t speak German. I speak Japanese. How can I convert my system to Japanese?” The answer is one of two possibilities. If you bought Windows Vista Ultimate, then all you need to do is load the Japanese MUI language module. If you bought something other than Windows Vista Ultimate, then first upgrade to the German version of Windows Vista Ultimate and then load the Japanese MUI language module.

To learn more, see Windows Vista Supported Language Packs.

Language Interface Packs (LIPs)

Although Windows Vista MUIs provide a translated version of most of the user interface and require a license to be used, Windows Vista has another feature built upon the MUI technology to allow it to be used by more people in their own language. This feature is called Windows Vista Language Interface Pack (LIP).

The difference between MUI packs and Windows Vista LIPs is the LIPs provide a translated version of the most widely used areas of the user interface. Although this is about 20% of the UI, it still covers about 80% of most users’ experiences. Also, LIPs are freely available for download, and most LIPs can be installed and used on any edition of Windows Vista: Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium, Business, Enterprise, or Ultimate.

Because the entire user interface is not translated, LIPs require at least one parent language. The parts of the user interface that are not translated into the LIP language are displayed in the parent language. When you download a LIP, you are given the parent language requirements for that LIP. The parent language pack needs to be installed before the LIP can be installed. Although a parent language is needed, it does not need to be English. Several of the LIP languages require other languages as their parent language (e.g., the Catalan LIP’s parent language is Spanish). Windows Vista will have 61 different LIP languages:

To learn more, see Supported Language Interface Packs (Windows Vista).

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Different Functionality for Different Regions

Along with locales, Windows Vista has several other functions that support different regions of the world. The following is list of some of these functions:

• Different Word Breakers – Windows Vista indexes directories, files, and some file contents to allow for quicker searches. These indexes are based on words that the OS finds in the scanned data. Since the OS can be in more languages other than English, it has several linguistic related word breakers to process the text correctly. Windows Vista has 44 different word breakers build into the system. They are:

Word breakers in Windows Vista
Arabic	Bengali	Bulgarian	Catalan
Chinese – Simplified	Chinese – Traditional	Croatian	Dutch
English	French	German	Gujarati
Hebrew	Hindi	Icelandic	Indonesian
Italian	Japanese	Kannada	Korean
Latvian	Lithuanian	Malay	Malayalam
Marathi	Neutral	Norwegian	Portuguese
Portuguese Brazil	Punjabi	Romanian	Russian
Serbian Cyrillic	Serbian Latin	Slovak	Slovenian
Spanish	Swedish	Tamil	Telugu
Thai	Ukrainian	Urdu	Vietnamese

• Diacritic-sensitive search – By default, Windows Vista treats accented characters as if they had no diacritic marks (e.g. François is the same as Francois). In the Indexing and Search Options Advanced Options, you can set the search to treat these two words as different via the diacritic-sensitive search.

• New calendar for Saudi Arabia – The Um Al Qura (Arabic lunar) calendar was added for broader Arabic calendar support.

• Support for multiple clocks – Knowing that many people not only deal with their own time zone but have interactions with people who live in different time zones, Windows Vista allows you to display up to two more clocks based on different time zones when you mouse over the time displayed in the Task bar.



• International Domain Names – The Internet community has added broader functionality to allow web address that contain non-English characters. This functionality, called International Domain Names (IDNs), allows websites to display their address using their native language and character set. This functionality has been added to both Windows Vista and Internet Explorer 7.0. Thus you can now have web addresses that look like this:

  

  With the broadening functionality introduced by IDNs, as well as other Internet features, comes the increase of possibility of more scams as well. IDNs make it possible for letters and symbols in some languages to be used to impersonate English language websites for phishing scams. For security purposes, Internet Explorer 7 displays International Domain Name web address in a standard ASCII text encoding by default (see below).

  

  If you frequently visit websites that are written in languages that you cannot currently view, you can install support for additional languages in Internet Explorer. When the message above appears on the Information bar, click Change language settings, and follow the prompts on your screen.

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What about Developers?

Although this article does not have room to expand upon the enhancements that Windows Vista has added to its infrastructure to support creating international solutions, there are improvements that provide a more consistent Win32/managed development model. Several areas that will be covered, in other articles, are:

• Better Win32 LCTYPE matching to the .NET Framework properties

• Win32 APIs created to use IETF language tags (e.g. es-US) – before Windows Vista, this was only available in .NET Framework

• Windows only (“synthetic”) cultures

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Summary

With the introduction of Windows Vista, the solutions to meet the needs of international users have been broadly expanded in these areas:

• Display and creation of text in different languages
• Options for display format of dates, time, numbers and currency
• Access to different languages for the operating system UI (i.e,. system menus, dialog boxes, messages, etc.)
• Different functionality for different regions

Plus, developers and IT professionals have richer foundation and platform to create and deploy international solutions for their own customers and users as well.

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