Translite
Translit is a method of representing Cyrillic script with Latin letters. The term comes from transliteration , the transfer of non-translatable terms, such as names or geographical terms. There are no official or precisely defined transcription rules for Translit, such as: B. the scientific transcription of the Russian alphabet . Translit differs from normal transliteration by the additional use of digits and special characters - e.g. B. "4" for "ч". Latin letters, Arabic numbers and special characters are used as well as graphic symbols from the code table that are available on the PC keyboard.
Similar unofficial transcription systems using Latin letters exist for other written languages: Greek, Arabic, Japanese, etc. In earlier centuries, for various reasons, Bulgarian text was occasionally written using Greek letters.
Emergence
A type of translite was used in international telegraphy before the computer age . With the spread of modern information technology and the advent of the Internet after the collapse of the Soviet Union , Translit spread rapidly. Since most of the computer hardware and software was based on the English language and the character encoding was often completely incompatible with the Cyrillic character set, Translit was the only way to translate into languages with Cyrillic character sets (e.g. Russian , Ukrainian , Belarusian , Bulgarian ) to communicate.
Often either the sender or the recipient did not have a Cyrillic keyboard or had no Cyrillic font for their monitor. In the early days of the computer the situation was compounded by the existence of different, incompatible coding systems for the Cyrillic alphabet, so that the sender and recipient did not necessarily have the same coding system at their disposal. In addition, the 7-bit encoding of the characters was an additional obstacle in the early days of the computer. These technical problems with the use of Cyrillic script were resolved in Russia in the late 1990s.
Translit is used in web forums, chats, messengers and emails. It is also widely used in MMORPG and other network games. Translit also occasionally appends a text repetition to Cyrillic e-mails from companies to ensure that the recipient can read the e-mail on their computer if they cannot display Cyrillic letters. In addition to the Cyrillic version, some websites are also created in Translit for security in case the user has problems with the character encoding.
Translit is used when the computer cannot be configured for Cyrillic characters or when there is no time to reconfigure. Even people who prefer the Latin script and are better able to use the corresponding keyboard often switch to Translit.
input
Translit received a new impetus in the Cyrillic writing countries with the spread of the mobile phone . At first the situation was like the computers. Only Latin letters were supported by the cell phones and their networks. Although Cyrillic was also supported thereafter, it had the disadvantage that messages in Cyrillic could not be that long.
For example, an SMS in Latin could contain 160 characters or 60 to 80 characters in Cyrillic. This influences the price of the SMS, so that Translit is still mostly used for SMS today. Some cell phones from before 2002 could not display Cyrillic script or could only be converted to it with great effort. Longer messages can be transmitted more economically with Latin letters. With the 8-bit coding used as standard, the messages were usually limited to a length of 160 characters. That could be fully exploited with Latin letters. On the other hand, messages in Cyrillic had to be made using the 16-bit Unicode coding and the length of the message was reduced by almost half.
Translit also has the advantage for foreign users that they can usually type much faster on a Latin keyboard ( QWERTY keyboard layout ) and do not have to learn the Cyrillic keyboard. There are keyboards with double lettering, but these too require a command of the Cyrillic keyboard in order to be able to write at an appropriate speed. Even the freely selectable assignment of the keyboard does not relieve the writer of the trouble of sometimes learning a new keyboard assignment, since there are 33 Cyrillic letters (in Russian), but only 26 Latin letters. The main problem is that some Cyrillic letters lack a Latin equivalent that can be represented with one letter at a time.
One possible solution would be a freely selectable phonetic key assignment. This keyboard layout is based on the Latin keyboard. However, Cyrillic letters are output. A command of the Latin keyboard is largely sufficient to write Cyrillic text.
Another convenient option is to use small writing programs that convert the text entered in Translit into Cyrillic letters. In most cases, the keyboard layout can also be freely selected for these programs. However, more keystrokes are usually required in Translit than with Cyrillic script. The sibilants in particular are represented by combinations of Latin letters - e.g. B. Tsch, scht, zh, jo.
Character mapping
| а → a | к → k | х → kh |
| б → b | л → l | ц → c (ts) |
| в → v | м → m | ч → ch |
| г → g | н → n | ш → sh |
| д → d | о → o | щ → shch |
| е → e (je) | п → p | ъ → " |
| ё → jo | р → r | ы → y |
| ж → zh | с → s | ь → ' |
| з → z | т → t | э → e (eh) |
| и → i | у → u | ю → ju |
| й → jj (j) | ф → f | я → yes |
Due to the lack of a uniform system, many users have created their own Translit system.
The table opposite shows the most common Russian transliterations in Translit.
Occasionally also:
- "Y" for "й",
- "Yu" for "ю",
- "Yo" for "ё",
- "Ye" for "e",
- "Ya" used for "я".
More recently, a more radical form of translit has emerged, which is used especially by young people in SMS traffic who do not observe the previous translit rules. Numbers are used for some Cyrillic letters - e.g. B. "4" for "ч" (ch). The "4" (in open notation)? is similar to the Cyrillic letter "ч". The Russian word for “four” (четыре) also begins with a “ч”. Latin letters that look similar and are not used in Cyrillic are also used: the "Я" is similar to the "q".
Furthermore, digits can be written as a replacement for entire parts of a word - e.g. B. “sov7” for “sovsem” (“seven” means “sem” in Russian) or “posmo3” for “posmotri” (“three” means “tri” in Russian).
| Digit | usual transliteration | Russian original word |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | or | Odin |
| 2 | dv | dva |
| 3 | tr | tri |
| 4th | ch | chetyre |
| 5 | p | pyat ' |
| 6th | sh | shest ' |
| 7th | s | sem ' |
| 8th | _ | vosem ' |
| 9 | _ | devyat ' |
The correspondence between Russian and Cyrillic letters is also confirmed by the Polish-German transcription (й → j, ц → c, ы → y, ю → ju, я → ja) and by the Russian-English transcription (й → y, ц → ts, ч → ch, ш → sh, ю → yu, я → ya).
Visual similarities are also used to a small extent (ш → III or ш → w; ч → 4). If visual similarities are used to a greater extent, it is no longer Translit, but Volapuk (see below ). Anglicisms (or other foreign words) are usually reproduced in the original.
Translite that is so heavily modified is difficult to decipher, even for most native speakers. In Internet communities, this type of translite is usually met with complete rejection.
The following table shows other possible transliterations.
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Explanation:
- "6" for "ш", because of the same-sounding first letter (German: six, Russian: schest - "sch").
- “6t” for “щ”, as it is pronounced in Bulgarian like “scht”. So “sch” (Bulgarian “ш”) is transcribed with “6” and the audible “t” is appended.
- since the letter “щ” comes after “ш” in the alphabet, and “ш” is transcribed with “6” in Translit, “щ” is transcribed with the next larger digit “7”
- Umlauts are often used as translite in German-speaking countries ("wsö" for "всё")
In some cases, the letters are also selected according to their visual similarity, which is particularly common for the Russian language.
- Cyrillic - Latin
- "Н" - "H"
- "П" - "n"
Volapuk
Another way of transliterating the Cyrillic script is Volapuk. In contrast to Translit, where the letters are replaced so that the same word sound is created, with Volapuk the letters are replaced so that either the same word sound is created or the same typeface.
The name comes from the planned language Volapük . Cyrillic texts written this way look very strange to most readers, like Volapuktexts.
So that the Latin characters in Volapuk have the same appearance as the Cyrillic printed or handwritten letters, specific upper and lower case is used.
- the Cyrillic letters "а", "е", "к", "м", "т", "о" and "у" are replaced by the "same" Latin letters "a", "e", "K", Replaced "M", "T", "o" and "y". "K" is capitalized because the small "k" differs more from the appearance of the Russian "к". Likewise, “M” is capitalized, as the lower case “m” is more like the Russian “T”. The “T” is also capitalized because it is more like the Russian “т” than the lower case Latin “t”.
Letters that look similar are replaced: "в" - "B", "г" - "2" (similar to the handwritten Russian г: г ), also "г" - "r" is possible, "з" - "3", "Л" - "J", "н" - "Н", "п" - "n" (because of the handwritten similarity: п ), "р" - "p", "с" - "c", "х "-" x "," ч "-" 4 ".
All other letters that are difficult to represent are represented with the most diverse variations. For example: "ж" - "*", "я" - "91", "э" - "-", "щ" - "LLI_". There are over a dozen different options for displaying "Darstellung" in particular.
Some Cyrillic letters can also be represented by numbers based on Leetspeak .
Leetspeak is similar to Volapuk because of the use of numbers, but has different origins and is only used by a narrowly specialized computer community.
critic
As network technologies became compatible with the Cyrillic language, the use of Translit was increasingly rejected and viewed as a bad or even unacceptable habit. In some communities with the written Cyrillic language, Translit users are ignored or banned entirely. Translit is only accepted without restrictions when communicating with foreign users who do not have a computer that is compatible with Cyrillic letters.
Especially because of the chaotic and diverse variants of Translit, it is mostly rejected in Internet communities. In many discussion forums that reject Translit, “converter programs” are installed that convert Translit text written in Latin letters into Cyrillic text, but this often fails because there is no fixed standard for Translit.
The critics argue:
- The Latin letters are not intended for writing the Russian or Bulgarian language. There are fewer Latin (26) than Cyrillic letters (33 for Russian). The transliterated text reads slower and more difficult.
- Translit's writers don't adhere to any standards. Almost everyone uses their own Latin letters and letter combinations for transliteration. Often the transliteration system is changed even within a text by the same writer. This makes communication and learning the ability to read translite texts fluently even more difficult.
- Spelling, grammar, punctuation and style of expression are neglected or disappear completely in translated texts.
- Regular users of Translit, especially children, develop a new type of misspelling when writing Cyrillic text in their native language. Common spelling mistakes in school are: "4" and "6" instead of "ч" and "ш".
- Translite texts become even more incomprehensible if they also use anglicisms or internet abbreviations, which is common in internet communication.
Advocates
Proponents argue that, especially abroad, a Latin keyboard (without an appropriate identification with Cyrillic letters) is almost worthless even after switching to Cyrillic typesetting.
It is also possible that the sender is working on a third-party computer to which they do not have sufficient access rights to switch to the Cyrillic character set. The sender may not be technically able to convert his system to Cyrillic characters (sometimes also "DAU effect", but not exclusively). Often, however, the sender is just lazy or lazy.
An important argument from the proponents of Translit is that error correction is particularly difficult for users who use a converter. In extreme cases, the text to be sent is first written in Latin characters, then converted into Cyrillic characters, checked for errors and finally converted back into Latin characters for error correction. This reconverted text is then corrected and then converted again into Cyrillic characters.
converter
There are a large number of free converter programs available on the Internet. Online converters that do not need to be installed are also available. Many browsers have such a converter. Newer converters in which the transliteration rules can be set or which are self-learning and self-correcting and adapt automatically are to be preferred.
Examples
Translite
- Cyrillic: СОВЕТСКИЙ СОЮЗ; Translite: SOVETSKIY SOYUZ; Volapuk: COBETCKIJ COIO3; German: Soviet Union
Volapuk
- Bulgarian: ето така например; Volapuk: eTo Taka HanpuMep; German: for example
Bulgarian chat contributions
- Hello, ti GOLQM bulgarin, kato SLAVI TRIFONOV li si, ili si ot po-malkite bulgari - kato men, deto sluguvat na anglijskata kralica? Tyk nqmat kirilo-metodievata azbuka na kompjutrite, sorry ... (Note: "q" stands for "я")
- kato iskate da se pi6e na kirilica, ami slojete kirilizator kakavto ima v dir.bg, da se smenqt ezicite ot web stranicata na akademiqta, 6toto az nqmam BDS klaviatura, a tezi piratski versii na flex-type samo mi skapvate 4 da iska6 trqbva da dade6 ne6to i ti (note: "6" stands for "ш" and "4" stands for "ч").
- Az giveia v chugbina i ugasno mi lipsva vazmognostta da pisha na kiriliza. Imate li niakakvi saveti pе kakav nachin moga da pisha na kirilica s klaviatura, samo na kirilica. (Note: "g" stands for "ж", but also for "г")
- Moite saboleznovania. Lo6 kasmet si izvadil, brat. Ne e lesno da si bulgarin i da pi6e6 na bulgarski. Zeliat sviat pi6e na latiniza, samo nie se penim, 4e si imame kiriliza. (Note: "ia" stands for "я"; depending on the sound value, "a" or "u" stands for "ъ"; "z" stands for "з" and sometimes for "ц").
- Tova e vqrno, za6toto sum gledal dokumentalniti filmi na Nechanal Geograpshik. Az vqrvam, 4th tornado moje da se poqvi na vsqkade. Edin moi priqtel koito se kazva Toni ne vqrva, 4e Tornadoto moje da se poqvi na vsqkade.
- Tornadoto e vurtq6t se buzdu6en stulb, obiknoveno okolo 0.5 km 6irok. V centara mu se obrazuva nisko atmosferno nalqgane i zatova tornadoto vcmukva razli4ni ne6ta po putq si.Tornadoto razviva skorost okolo 400 km / ч . Obiknoveno zatihva sled 20 km. Tornadoto se наблюдава nai-чesto v Avstraliq i САЩ po vreme na letnite бури . (Bulgarian, Cyrillic:.. Тордандото е въртяшт въздушен стълб, обикновено около 0.5 km широк В центъра му се образува ниско атмосферно налягане и затовас торнадото всмъква различни нешта по пътя си Тордандото развива скорост около ч to 400 km / Обикновено затиxва след 20th km. Тордандото се наблюдава най-често в Австралия и САЩ по време на летните бури. English: The tornado is a tornado that sucks in its center and is usually 0.5 km wide, which sucks in its center, which sucks on, which is 0.5 km wide The tornado develops speeds of up to 400 km / h. It usually subsides after 20 km. Tornadoes are mostly observed in Australia and the USA during summer storms.)
literature
- А.В. Фролов, Г.В. Фролов: Электронная почта. Ваш спутник в Интернете. Russkaya Redaktsiya Publishers (Русская Редакция), 2000, ISBN 5-7502-0156-2 . (AV Frolov, GV Frolov: Electronic Mail. Your Internet Companion ; Chapter 6 )
Web links
Converter for Windows as an app. (Latin to Russian, Armenian, Greek, Belarusian, Lithuanian, Grusin / Georgian, Hebrew, Tajik / New Persian, Ukrainian):
- Transliter.net converts Latin to Cyrillic and some other characters as an app for Windows, after switching on the app with the "F2" key. Converts globally under Windows directly, the pressed key e.g. B. "d" to "д". Works everywhere in Windows (including games).
Online converters (Latin to Russian, Armenian, Greek, Grusin, Hebrew, Kazakh, Lithuanian, Ukrainian, Belarusian):
- Translit.ru converts Latin to Cyrillic and some other characters at runtime
Online converter (especially for Russian):
- transl.it - converts Latin to Russian characters for free during runtime
- Translitor.net Online Service Cyrillic transliteration
- Translit.cc - converts Latin to Cyrillic characters and texts and vice versa in runtime
- Translit-plus.net - converts Latin to Cyrillic characters and texts in runtime
- translit.tv - converts Latin to Russian characters in runtime
Online converter (specially for Ukrainian):
- ua.translit.cc - converts between Latin and Ukrainian-Cyrillic characters
Online converter (especially for Bulgarian):
- www.dimovi.net/phonetic/
- 2cyr.com (configurable)
- 62c.hit.bg
Firefox plugins:
- Transliterator - converts Latin to Cyrillic characters and vice versa
- Russ Key
- Any key
- Rus2Lat - converts Latin to Cyrillic characters and vice versa; BUT: not configurable