Typing Old Icelandic Characters

When word-processing translations or essays on an IBM machine, you can make the special Old Icelandic characters by switching on the `Num Lock' key (right hand block of the keyboard, top row) and then holding down the `Alt' key while you type a number code on the block of numbers at the right-hand end of the keyboard. The usual codes are:

� Alt 160 � Alt 0193

� Alt 0240 � Alt 0208

� Alt 130 � Alt 0201

� Alt 161 � Alt 0205

� Alt 162 � Alt 0211

� Alt 163 � Alt 0218

� Alt 0253 � Alt 0221

� Alt 0254 � Alt 0222

� Alt 145 � Alt 146

œ Alt 0156� See below for Œ

� Alt 0248 � Alt 0216

� Alt 148 � Alt 0214

To make the `hooked o' (�) you need a special font (I use Times Special), but it is acceptable to use � for this even when it is distinguished from �.

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Alternatively, if you are using Word, you can click on `Symbol' in the `Insert' menu.� This brings up a grid containing all the symbols available in the font you are using.� Times New Roman has all the Old Icelandic characters except the hooked o (� lower case, � upper case).� Double click on the�character you want and it will be inserted into your text at the point where the cursor is (you can also get Œ by this method).� If you single click on the character, the window will display the combination of keys that will give you the symbol without having to display the grid again.� In many cases there is a shortcut�combination which�is intuitive: for example, [ctrl + apostrophe, a] gives � and [ctrl + colon, o] gives �.� If these shortcut combinations are not already set, and you are working on YOUR OWN computer, you can set or modify the combination for a particular character by single clicking on it in the grid and then clicking the button marked `shortcut key'.� For example, you can set [ctrl + &, o] to give œ and [ctrl + &, O] to give the capital form Œ.� You have to exercise a little care, however, because some combinations are preset to perform completely different functions.

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