UBC introduces new font to better represent Indigenous languages

 By Mina Kerr-Lazenby, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Why is font important? Whether Merriweather or Montserrat, the font used can help enhance the readability of the writing, make it easier to memorize, and, in certain cases, ensure languages and cultures are accurately represented. For the previous four years, the latter has been driving a team from the University of British Columbia to create an entirely new font _ named Whitney Salishan, that typesets Salish Indigenous languages. Birthed by a desire to respectfully express the Musqueam language of h?n?q??min??m?, the font’s creation now means characters from the Musqueam language can easily be typed, rather than laboriously sourced and copy and pasted, and the lettering used on university signage and documents will fit in seamlessly with the institution’s brand. Vanessa Campbell, a Musqueam…

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