TurkType is an add-in for Microsoft^® Word (Word 2003 and higher) for rapid input of Turkish text on a QWERTY keyboard. This system is much more convenient than using either of the built-in Turkish TR keyboards (F-type and Q-type), which place the Turkish letters on unfamiliar keys. TurkType allows you to type Turkish with the minimum of effort—In fact the only effort you will ever need to apply is lifting your finger!

• To type u ...... press the U key
• To type ü ...... press the U key
• To type û ...... press the U key

When the correct letter appears, just lift your finger from the key: it really is as simple as that!

Adjusting the speed
When you first try TurkType you may find that at the default speed the letters change very fast, making it difficult to pick the precise moment to lift your finger to obtain the one you want. You can adjust the speed at the click of a button. A little experimentation will soon establish the best settings for TurkType, given the speed of your processor.

Audio clues
If you prefer touch-typing, an optional beep will sound each time the accent on the screen changes. Lift your finger as soon as you hear the beep for the accent you want. Use this option to avoid constant peering at the screen.

Tone colours
If you prefer watching the screen as you type, this option makes it much easier to identify the different letters visually. The letter you are typing will be highlighted, changing colour each time it changes: for example ü, û, etc.

Direct typing
Three of the Turkish letters (ö, ş and ç) can be typed even more quickly by using the Q, W and X keys (which are not required for Turkish). We've chosen these shortcut keys to make them memorable: to type ş, for example, press the W key (immediately above the S key on a QWERTY keyboard); for ç press the X key (next to the C key); etc. Ö is typed with the Q key (hint: both Ö and Q are "modified" versions of the letter O).

You can of course type these letters in the usual way, by holding down the O, S, and C keys until the required letter appears. Yumuşak G (ğ) appears automatically whenever you type g after a vowel.

Vowel harmony (sesli uyumu)
The important letters ı and ü are typed using the same keys as for i and u—the I and U keys. The correct letter is selected automatically using the principle of vowel harmony. For example, the word görüldü is typed go..ruldu (or, using the Q key to type ö directly, gqruldu). This is, in fact, not very different from typing the word kuruldu: it is the first vowel (ö) that determines the following two (both ü).

If you use the I or U key for the first vowel of a word you will produce i or u. For ı or ü you must hold the key down longer. Some examples: type kir for kir, but ki..r for kır; un for un, but u..n for ün.

TurkType's vowel harmony extends to include question-forms with the mi tag. Simply type Go..rdunuz mu? for Gördünüz mü and Yaptin mi? for Yaptın mı?

Gül, göl and Türk
The word Türk and its derivatives (türkçe, Türkiye, etc) are automatically spelt correctly whenever you type Turk... etc.

Words beginning gü... and gö... are much more common in Turkish than those beginning gu... and go... TurkType includes an option for automatic typing of ü and ö whenever an initial G is followed by U or O: for example, it is sufficient to type guzel for güzel.

Dropdown menus
If you cannot remember the correct key for a particular letter, simply click on the appropriate button on the toolbar at the top of the screen. A dropdown list will appear, on which you can click on the required letter. Next to the letter on the menu you will see a reminder of the correct key to type next time you need this letter.

Quotation marks
Authentic Turkish quotation marks (“tırnak işaretleri”) are typed by holding down the double-quotes key ( " ) slightly longer than normal. An alternative form (« ... ») can be typed using the left and right angled bracket keys (< and >).

Demonstration
Click on the button to see a slowed-down demo of the sequence of accents.

Pricing
TurkType is priced at £26 (approximate conversions are shown below). You can try out the program using our free 15-day trial offer.

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