Hello,
I’m an uninvited occupant of Coast Salish Territory, and I’m new to the community. I have been learning hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ in order to be able to learn the traditional names for the territory around me, and I was hoping to suggest a change to the FV hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ keyboard layout.
I use this keyboard layout on Android (version 10.0.508), Windows (Keyman Desktop 10) and KeymanWeb.
On KeymanWeb and Windows, the current layout maps the 9 key to ł while ɬ is mapped to Right-Alt + L. To my understanding, ɬ is used far more commonly in hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ than ł.
On Android, only ł (and ƛ̓ and l̓, which are used) appears and I am not able to type ɬ at all on either of the versions of the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm/Henqeminem keyboard.
I could be wrong, I am a new learner - but, for example, only ɬ and not ł appears on the language resource by the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nation, who speak hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓, and the Museum of Anthropology [Google “Musqueam” “Educational Materials” and follow the first link - I am unable to paste a URL here], and the IPA sound value of ɬ is closer to the represented sound in the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ language.
It may therefore improve ease of use to switch these two, such that on Windows/KeymanWeb, the more commonly used ɬ maps to the 9 key, and ł maps to Right-Alt + L, and that on Android, only ɬ, ƛ̓ and l̓ appear but not ł (or leave it there in case some still wish to use it).
Similarly, it may help to move the χ to a more easily accessible keystroke on Windows/KeymanWeb, and find a way to include χ on Android (it doesn’t currently appear but could perhaps be added as a long-press option for x).
I understand that this keyboard was likely developed in consultation with First Nations peoples, and as this is not my own culture, I am not in any position to speak on behalf of hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ speakers - please let me know if there’s a more appropriate person to contact regarding this suggestion.
hay čxʷ q̓ə Thank you very much for the work you do.