Jul 11
26
Macrons can be simply created with Māori keyboards available for all computer and smart phone systems. No longer does the need to press multiple keys to create a macron exist, despite the many articles which suggest otherwise.
As an advocate and developer of macron technologies for more than 12 years: I am shocked that so many articles are still being written by, I assume, non Māori language practitioners. In turn, other writers reference the bad advice, thus creating further barriers to Māori language being utilised on the Internet, resulting in double macrons, umlauts and generally ignoring the macron all together.
The biggest threat of such ill informed articles that promote multiple key inputs is the introduction and usage of Māori IDN web addresses.
Using macrons in HTML should also utilise the keyboards below and not the numeric code that is often promoted.
Microsoft New Zealand Māori keyboard - Download from http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=21115
Macintosh – Utilise the Hawai’i keyboard as they have macrons (details). Pre OSX keybaord macrons download from http://www.taiuru.maori.nz/tnk/mac/
Linux Māori keyboard download from http://www.taiuru.maori.nz/tnk//linux/Maori.tgz
Gnome on Linux System->Preferences->Keyboard (from the gnome panel menu), the Layout tab has the Maori keyboard layout.
iPhone: add the Latvian keyboard and hold down the vowel you want to add as a macron.
Android phone: Download the AnySoft keyboard and then the Hawai’I keyboard:
Other systems just use the Latvian keyboard.
If you would prefer or do not have access to macron keybaords, I suggest you utilise this site http://www.stat.auckland.ac.nz/~kimihia/maori-keyboard
