[unpad.ac.id, 24/7/2018] The research team of Unpad created the digital letters (fonts) of the Sundanese script to be used on computers by the phonetic method. These digital letters can be directly used in various word processing softwares.
The research team of Unpad developed a digital letter (font) of Sundanese script with phonetic method that can be used in various word processing softwares on computer. (Photo: Arief Maulana) *
Rahmat Sopian, M. Hum., (Faculty of Cultural Sciences), Aditya Pradana, M. Eng., (Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences), Mamat Ruhimat, M.Hum., (Faculty of Cultural Sciences), and Riki Nawawi, S.Hum., (Alumni of Faculty of Cultural Sciences) developed a font named “Sundanese Font Unpad Version (Sundanese Font V Unpad)”.
Rahmat said, along with the re-use of the Sundanese characters in community activities since 1997 ago, the use of the Sundanese script in the community developed rapidly. Not only in the writing media, Sundanese script also began to be used in computer devices.\
Although the Sundanese script is not new in the community, the Sundanese Font V Unpad is another version of the previous method. Rahmat explained, the team found a difference between the results of typing and the provision of Sundanese literacy in the community.
“The mistake, in our hypothesis is caused by the habit of people typing with the phonetic system,” said Rahmat when contacted via electronic mail, Monday (23/7).
Further the Lecturer of Sundanese Literature Unpad explained, the previous font script is designed based on syllabic. This is based on the characteristic of each image of the script (consonant) that in the Sundanese script already containing the vowel sound “a”. Thus, each key on the computer keyboard contains one sound or syllable, for example button (k) means (ka).
While Sundanese Font V Unpad has been designed based on phonetic. So, every letter key on the keyboard contains only one font. For example, button (k) means (k) only, not designed to be (ka).
“It suppose to type the word ‘Cicaheum Bandung’, the previous Sunda script font on the Latin (commonly used) keyboad should press (c), (i), (c), (h), (]), (m), (; ), (space), (b), (n), (;), (d), (u), and (N). While on Sunda Font V Unpad, the buttons to be pressed are: (C), (i), (c), (a), (h), (e), (u), (m), (space), ( B), (a), (n), (d), (u), (n), and (g), similar to when typing using Latin fonts,” said Rahmat.
Rahmat dismissed if the previous font application is not considered good. He considered, this research is only a matter of different methods applied to each font application only. If the previous application is based on syllabic, then Sundanese V Unpad Font is more on phonetic.
Easy to use
The Sundanese Font V Unpad can be used almost all word processing softwares on any computer operating systems. This digital script can be downloaded for free on the official page of the research team, namely http://sundanesewords.com/.
The font installation process is very easy, as easy as installing other fonts on the computer. Once installed, users should understand the font usage mechanism. Because there are some simple adjustments to be done.
For example, if in the Micorsoft Office 2010 software or in its newer versions, the user first sets the ligature or the ability to bind the two adjacent letters into one character.
It’s Started from the University’s Priority Research
The development of Sunda Font V Unpad was began from the encouraging of superior research activities in Unpad. The development of this font is part of a major research project “Ancient Manuscripts Digilization and Indexation (Amadi)”.
Amadi Project is an effort to digitize ancient Sundanese script collection of Kabuyutan Ciburuy, Garut District in West Jawa. This research project is headed by Dr. Setiawan Hadi (FMIPA) and Dr. Undang Ahmad Darsa (FIB). Rahmat explained that the development of Sunda Font V Unpad is an effort to complete the various studies that have been done in the Amadi Project.
For almost a year, Rahmat and the team made preliminary observations on the use of Sundanese fonts in the community. After identification of the differences, the team began to design the font and developed phonetically.
Sunda Font V Unpad was officially released to the public since mid of July through social media. Rahmat and the team received tremendous responses from the public, the community, and Sundanese Language teachers.
“There were already certain parties who requested permission through our email to use the Sundanese Font V Unpad for their products. In addition there were also some criticisms and excellent inputs from the font activists for its development, “said Rahmat.
The development of this Sundanese script is considered important. This is because the font is an application that is always used to create documents on the computer. Thus, people will more easily recognize and use the Sundanese script if developed digitally. In the end, it will remain sustainable.
In the future, Rahmat and the team hope to further development of this innovation and based on public inputs the Sundanese Font V Unpad will be developed for Android system and improve in its Unicode side. *
Report by Arief Maulana | Translated by dfa
