Foreign Language Word Processing on the Macintosh at IUB

West European languages:

Foreign language proofing tools are now included in the Microsoft Word installation in the STC labs. In the "Tools" menu, choose "Language--Set Language..." If your language is available, choose it before typing your document, or select the part of the document in that language, then choose the language. You can then spell-check it. Thesauri are also available for many of the languages. Note: If the foreign-language spell-checker finds an error, you still have to figure out what is wrong and fix it yourself, just as you would with an English-language spell-checker!

Typing diacritical marks for west European languages with standard Macintosh fonts:

á é í ó ú

option-e + letter that goes under it (a e i o u)

à è ì ò ù

option-` + letter that goes under it (a e i o u)

ä ë ï ö ü

option-u + letter that goes under it (a e i o u)

ç Ç

option-c or shift/option-C

ß

option-s

~

option-n + letter that goes under it (n a o)

â ê î ô û

option-i + letter that goes under it (a e i o u)

inverted exclamation point

option-1 (not shift-option-1)

inverted question mark

shift-option-?

å

option-a

æ

option-'

ø

option-o

This works with all standard fonts in the U.S. keyboard, and all applications. Some fonts do not allow you to type the accent mark by itself (or with anything other than one of the specified letters). If you need to type East European or romanized Asian languages you will probably need one of the other keyboards.

Other languages:

To choose another keyboard or input method, under “system preferences…” click “international” then “input menu.”  Scroll down to choose your language.  You can toggle between keyboards by using command-space or the input menu at the top right of the desktop (shows a U.S. flag when the American English keyboard is chosen)..

Back to Language Learning Links.

To Language and Computer Laboratories home page


Last updated: 31 March 2006
URL: http://languagelab.bh.indiana.edu/call/wp.html
Comments: lamiller@indiana.edu
Copyright 1996, The Trustees of Indiana University