Galaxie BibleScript Phonetic Keyboard Help
Keyboard © 2008 Galaxie Software
Overview
Using this Keyboard
Keyboard Layout
Quickstart
Examples
Keyboard Details
Complete Typing Chart
Troubleshooting
Further Resources
Related Keyboard Layouts
Technical Information
Authorship
Overview
This keyboard layout is designed for Koine Greek, a trade language of the ancient Mediterranean and the language of the New Testament and Septuagint Scriptures. It is a mnemonic keyboard layout. This means that the arrangement of the letters in the layout depends on the order of the keys on your actual keyboard.
This keyboard layout works best with a QWERTY (English) keyboard. It mimics the QWERTY (English) layout, not the modern Greek layout. It uses standard Unicode fonts.
Click here to see other keyboards for Greek.
Using this Keyboard
Keyboard Layout
Quickstart
This keyboard layout works intuitively with the QWERTY (English) keyboard. You can find most of the Greek letters by thinking of similar letters in English, by sound or appearance. For example, type w"[[me/ga to get ὧμέγα.
As you can see, accents and breathing marks are typed after the vowel. They can be typed in any order. For example, ΰ is typed u/+ or u+/.
When you type an accent by itself (or after a non-accentable letter), you will also get that accent. For example, typing / by itself will give you ´ not /. To get the standard keystroke instead of the accent, type ` before the character (` shares a key with ~). For example, to get ? instead of ¨, type `?.
Examples
| Language | Phrase | Meaning | Type the following keys |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greek | εδακρυσεν ο Ιησους | "Jesus wept", John 11:35; note final sigma entered using s then spacebar |  edakrusenSpaceoSpaceIhsousSpace |
| Greek, Ancient | ἐδάκρυσεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς | "Jesus wept", John 11:35; note final sigma entered using s then spacebar | e]davkrusenSpaceo[SpaceI]hsou~sSpace |
Keyboard Details
Letters
The Galaxie Greek keyboard uses an intuitive system where most of the Greek letters are matched to similar English letters, either by sound or appearance.
Example: typing w produces ω.
Example: typing u produces υ.
A few letters in Greek have no exact match in English, by sound or appearance. These have been assigned the remaining keys.
Example: typing q produces θ.
Example: typing y produces ψ.
Example: typing c produces ξ.
When followed by a space, sigma (σ) becomes final sigma (ς) automatically.
Example: typing sos produces σος.
Example: typing susswmos produces συσσωμος.
Final sigma can also be typed with the apostrophe key. This method is necessary when sigma is not followed by a space.
Example: typing so': produces σος·.
Example: typing susswmo'. produces συσσωμος..
Capital letters are typed using shift as in English.
Example: typing [Sd] produces Δ.
Example: typing [Sw] produces Ω.
Accents and Other Diacritics
The Galaxie Greek keyboard includes the following accents and other diacritics.
| Character | Keystroke | English Name | Greek Name |
| ῾ | [[or J | rough breathing | dasia |
| ᾿ | ]or j | smooth breathing | psili |
| ι | | | iota subscript | ypogegrammeni/ prosgegrammeni |
| ¨ | +or ? | diaeresis | dialytika |
| ` | \or V | grave accent | varia |
| ´ | /or v | acute accent | oxia |
| ῀ | ~or " | circumflex accent | perispomeni |
Diacritics are typed after the vowel. They can be typed in any order.
Example: typing u/+ or u+/ produces ΰ.
Example: typing a"]| or a"|] or a]|" or a]"| or a|"] or a|]" produces ᾆ.
The only exception to this rule is the circumflex on capital Greek letters. It cannot be typed first because a capital Greek letter cannot take a circumflex without a breathing mark.
Example: typing WJ~ produces Ὧ. Typing circumflex first will not produce Ὧ.
Example: typing A]|" or A]"| or A|]" produces ᾎ. Typing circumflex before the breathing mark will not produce ᾎ.
Rho (ρ) can also take the rough and smooth breathing mark, though capital rho can only take a rough breathing mark.
Example: typing r] produces ῤ.
Example: typing R[[ produces Ῥ.
If you type a diacritic by itself or after any letter which cannot take that diacritic, you will get the diacritic by itself.
Example: typing / produces ´.
Example: typing g?d produces γ¨δ.
To get the standard keystroke for a key instead of the diacritic, type ` first (` shares a key with ~).
Example: typing `? produces ?.
Example: typing `" produces ".
Punctuation
Most punctuation on the Galaxie Greek keyboard is typed exactly as on the QWERTY (English) keyboard, though sometimes you will need to use the 'standard keystroke' rule above to get the punctuation you need.
Example: typing . produces ..
Example: typing ; produces ;.
The Greek semicolon or ano teleia is the only exception.
Example: typing : produces ·.
See the Complete Typing Chart for full details on how to type all the Galaxie Greek keyboard's letters, diacritics, and punctuation.
Troubleshooting
If the characters you type or those on the On Screen Keyboard do not appear to display correctly, please read the KeymanWeb troubleshooting guide.
For any other questions, contact us.
Further Resources
Related Keyboard Layouts
Other Classical and Polytonic Greek keyboard layouts:
Non-classical and Monotonic Greek keyboard layouts:
Technical Information
System Requirements
It is recommended that you use an English QWERTY hardware keyboard with this keyboard.
Unicode Version
This keyboard complies with Unicode 5.1
Keyboard Authorship
This keyboard was created by Hampton Keathley of Galaxie Software. Tavultesoft graciously acknowledges the contribution made by the author in developing this keyboard and making it freely available for use with Keyman Desktop and KeymanWeb. His effort has assisted greatly in enabling people to communicate in Koine Greek.
Copyright and Terms of Use
The Galaxie BibleScript Greek keyboard layout for Keyman Desktop and KeymanWeb is Copyright 2008 Galaxie Greek and Tavultesoft. It may be freely distributed and used, but must not be modified or adapted in any way without written permission from Tavultesoft.
THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY TAVULTESOFT PTY LTD "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL TAVULTESOFT PTY LTD BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
