Digamma syndrome. Classical Greek keyboard for your computer.

We learned how to easily write in most Western languages that use Latin script with a single keyboard layout [One keyboard. All languages]. Now our writings on German, French and Scandinavian authors will be illustrated with appealing foreign citations -with no expected problems in most word processors. But then, with more or less legitimacy, these authors believed themselves direct heirs of the Greek world, and so it is not uncommon the need for typing terms, like ἀ–λήθεια, they are so prone to use. Although copy-paste has simplified enormously the task, sometimes we won’t have access to the text to borrow, or it will take some time to retrieve.

Without expending money on another physical keyboard, virtual keyboard or wandering through options of “insert character”, we can easily and rapidly modify or write our own classical Greek sentences. By classical Greek we mean here the koiné¹, the standard used in the Hellenistic period, for which the corresponding script is the polytonic² Greek orthography. It was used as the customary writing in which most of the Greek works have come transcribed to us, thus this alphabet will serve us well for most of what we are going to need. It includes all the diacritics to be rapidly combined with each vowel. Two important things to consider; firstly, it is not Modern Greek, but it can be used to write it. Secondly, it lacks characters of Archaic Greek and some Ancient Greek dialects, like digamma, heta, sampi… For these we will need the “insert character” option; but -unless you are a weirdo like me- you won’t use them much.

Alfios typeface. Source: ta meta ta phonetika.

To set up the keyboard first we need Unicode support. This can be achieved either from the operating system or installed through the word processor. Those methods can be easily goggled. But if you already are into languages you most likely already have some Unicode fonts. There are available many Greek typefaces³, but not all compatible with diacritics, so make sure you have a Greek font for ancient script. Among my favorites are Alfios for the body (in serif) and SK Century Gothic for footnotes (sans serif).

Once we have the characters available in our computer we need the means to type them fast. We will add a keyboard layout parallel to the US International -or whichever you use; then we can alternate between Latin and Greek scripts naturally while writing. The new keyboard layout is added in the Language settings: In Windows -and similarly in other OS- go to: Start > Control Panel > Region  and languages > Keyboards and Languages > Change keyboards > Add. Then we select Greek as language, with polytonic keyboard -see images below.

Languages and keyboard layouts can be added or removed here.

Make sure for Greek you select Polytonic.

When more than one language/keyboard is installed, they can be selected through the taskbar or a combination of keys. 

We can also specify a command or combination of keys for shifting keyboards. But by default in Windows, while typing, we press left Alt + Shift and the keyboards will shift; in this case English to Greek successively. But then, the Greek layout will not be visible in our real keyboard (as in the first picture), as we have a Latin script engraved on our keys.

We can print the layout -below- to use as guideline -cheat sheet- in front of us, buy stickers or write with permanent pen on each key. With little practice, only the position of the diacritics may need to have some visual guide so we can find them fast. The letters themselves are mostly placed according to their Latin version. They are but close relatives derived from the Middle Eastern scripts.

Polytonic Greek layout. Source: Wikimedia commons.

Some keys, however, are overloaded with characters and may become tricky for rookies. The rules for using diacritics are summarized as follows; we’ll take the key "\" as an example:

\ + spacebar = \
Shift \ + spacebar = |
\ + spacebar + α = \α
\ + α = ἂ
Shift \ + α = ἃ
\ + ρ = \ρ
Alt Gr \ + spacebar = ¬ 

Summarizing, "Alt Gr" will type the character represented at bottom right side. The center and left characters will depend on whether there is a consonant following (will type a sign) or a vowel (will type diacritic).

 Other combinations in a key with only diacritics:

΄ + ι = ί
Shift ΄ + ι = ϊ
Alt Gr ΄ + ι = ΐ
΄ + spacebar = ΄
΄ + α = ά
΄ + π = ΄π
Alt Gr ΄ + α = ΅α 

As we can see, diacritics only work with characters that allow its use. Otherwise the sign would be typed, or the diacritic will be represented separated from the following letter. For typing signs just before a vowel we must press spacebar or else they may combine.

Now, don’t forget to shift back between keyboards or υοθ ςιλλ ηαωε α βαδ τιμε!

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References:

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koine
Note: The Classical period in Greece corresponds with Ancient Greek dialects.

2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polytonic

3. Some ancient fonts available here: http://luc.devroye.org/fonts-47197.html
and http://toxa.cocolog-nifty.com/phonetika/2004/09/post_3d2d.html