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When we first published our web site in 1997, we
initially converted all our Yoruba text which was typed with the AfroRoman Font
to .gif (graphics) files to sidetrack this problem in order to ensure that
the text text is
seen "correctly" as a "picture" of the written word. This guaranteed
universal access to the contents of the site since the current
multilingual internet tools are proprietary in nature and would be of no
benefit to ALL our visitors. The latest versions of the browsers have
incorporated font-embedding technology to make more fonts browsable but
the inherent limitations as far as Yoruba text is concerned still
persists. |
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OUR GOAL 1. To
promote the reading, speaking and writing of the Yoruba language
PROPERLY - complete with all the required intonation and diacritic
marks - on the World Wide Web. |
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2. To provide a resource for learning the Yoruba language on the "web"
for children of Yorubas in the diaspora and indeed all lovers of the
language. |
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3. To add to the work of others in bringing awareness of Yoruba language
and culture to the world at large through the folklore, fables songs and
the like of Yorubaland. |
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The structure of the "web" is such that HTML -
the language of the web was designed for the regular characters of
the English language alphabet, with special provision made for some
'extended' characters which are only a bit cumbersome to insert in a
document. |
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The browsers that bring HTML documents to life on the web are
limited in their recognition of the characters or typefaces - "
fonts" outside this range. The UNICODE CONSORTIUM is continually
addressing this problem, and there are multilingual internet software
tools available as well, but this situation has been a deterrent to the
widespread use of many " typeface-challenged" languages on the web of
which Yoruba is one. |
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Dr. Adebusola Onabajo Onayemi |
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MB. BS. DA FRCPC MTS |
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When we first published our web site in 1997, we
initially converted all our Yoruba text which was typed with the AfroRoman Font
to .gif (graphics) files to sidetrack this problem in order to ensure that
the text text is
seen "correctly" as a "picture" of the written word. This guaranteed
universal access to the contents of the site since the current
multilingual internet tools are proprietary in nature and would be of no
benefit to ALL our visitors. The latest versions of the browsers have
incorporated font-embedding technology to make more fonts browsable but
the inherent limitations as far as Yoruba text is concerned still
persists. |
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We are therefore very much indebted to Mr. James Kass
who, with a little help from us, developed a "Yoruba Font" ( typeface)
that has enabled us to type all Yoruba text on this site PROPERLY. All
that is required for any visitor to view the contents of this site
properly is to download the FREE YorubaOK.ttf and install it on their
computer and "bingo" ... |
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It is of note that there are several Typefaces
available today that are capable of rendering Yoruba text properly.
However, all these software are proprietary in nature and therefore not
cross-compatible since the different authors have used different ASCII
codes to represent the letters of the Yoruba language that are not
shared with the English language. |
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I believe the only way to write Yoruba " on-line", without any
limitations and with universal compatibility is for all these
proprietary fonts to conform with the UNICODE STANDARD for YORUBA TEXT
- when this becomes available. Anyone can then
acquire and install a capable font on their computer and it will
then behave like the standard fonts -e.g Arial , Courier or Times New
Roman, e.t.c. and enable universal browsing for all who have
the font installed. |
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The universal access that the web provides plus its multimedia
capability has made this medium ideal for distance learning. We must
begin to tap its possibilities NOW. |
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