Fonts & Encoding

Core Technical 2 training modules

Target competencyIs able to troubleshoot font and character display issues, and convert between encodings.

Why it matters

Some scripts and fonts reinforce cultural or community identity. A Language Technologist is expected to be aware of or investigate the fonts and encodings that can be used for various languages.

Progression

Each rung is a level a learner is at; its activities are what carries them to the next one. How to read these levels

Can troubleshoot font issues

1. 0No Competency

   Identify local scripts and fonts.

   Carries a learner to 1 — Has Knowledge

2. 1Has Knowledge

   Can identify issues related to fonts, and suggest appropriate solutions.

   Carries a learner to 2 — With Assistance

3. 2With Assistance

   Train others to use appropriate fonts.

   Carries a learner to 3 — Independent

4. 3Independent

   Research alternate scripts. Learn to create and tweak fonts.

   Carries a learner to 4 — Expert

Can identify and convert between common document formats

1. 0No Competency

   Pay attention to what file formats are in use in your context (Word, LibreOffice, Publisher, web pages, etc.).

   Carries a learner to 1 — Has Knowledge

2. 1Has Knowledge

   Learn which programs can open and edit various document formats and identify which formats and content can be easily converted to others.

   Carries a learner to 2 — With Assistance

3. 2With Assistance

   —

   Carries a learner to 3 — Independent

4. 3Independent

   —

   Carries a learner to 4 — Expert

Can troubleshoot encoding issues

1. 0No Competency

   Identify common encodings (Legacy/Unicode/NFC/NFD)

   Carries a learner to 1 — Has Knowledge

2. 1Has Knowledge

   Convert data between common scripts and encodings. Learn about SIL's Open Font License.

   Carries a learner to 2 — With Assistance

3. 2With Assistance

   Create and use a custom encoding conversion, set up a transliteration project in Paratext, etc.

   Carries a learner to 3 — Independent

4. 3Independent

   Research encoding in alternate scripts

   Carries a learner to 4 — Expert

Description

Understanding usage and development of fonts, encoding, and glyphs used to display scripts.

Further Information

• UNICODEDocument · unicode.orgThe latest version of the Unicode Standard, for reference on characters and encoding.
• ScriptSource - Info on the World's writing systemsSite · scriptsource.orgScriptSource has been retired; this page explains the move of its writing system content to writingsystems.info.
• SIL FontsSite · software.sil.orgSIL's font catalogue, for finding and downloading SIL fonts that support many scripts.
• Google Web FontsSite · fonts.google.comGoogle Fonts, a catalogue of free open fonts to browse and download.
• Character Name indexSite · unicode.orgUnicode index of character names, for finding a character's code chart by name.
• Unicode Code ChartsSite · unicode.orgUnicode code charts, for looking up characters by script and block.
• Unicode Surrogates and Supplementary CharactersGuide · docs.microsoft.comMicrosoft article explaining surrogate pairs and supplementary characters beyond the Basic Multilingual Plane in Windows.
• To the BMP and beyondDocument · unicode.orgSlide presentation on using Unicode characters beyond the Basic Multilingual Plane.

More in the resource library.

Descriptor last updated 2026-09-02.