Malayalam is a language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the union territory of Lakshadweep. To type in Malayalam or read Malayalam content on your computer or mobile device, you will need appropriate Malayalam fonts. Here is a guide on how to download and install Malayalam fonts for free:
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Understanding ISCII and Unicode Malayalam Fonts
Before diving into the guide, let’s first explore the two types of Malayalam fonts: ISCII and Unicode Font. These are the two different encoding systems used to represent Malayalam script in digital form. Let’s take a closer look at each of these font types:
Malayalam ISCII Font (Indian Script Code for Information Interchange):
ISCII is an 8-bit encoding system developed by the Indian government’s Department of Electronics in 1991. It was designed specifically to represent Indian scripts, including Malayalam, in a standardized and compact manner. ISCII assigns unique codes to various characters of the Indian scripts, allowing them to be represented and manipulated in computers and other electronic devices.
ISCII Malayalam fonts are based on this encoding system, and each character in the font is mapped to a specific ISCII code. However, ISCII has been largely superseded by Unicode, as it has some limitations, such as being unable to represent all the characters and diacritical marks in Indian scripts accurately.
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Malayalam Unicode Fonts:
Unicode is a universal character encoding standard developed by the Unicode Consortium. It assigns a unique code point to every character in most of the world’s writing systems, including Malayalam. Unicode is widely supported by modern operating systems, applications, and web browsers, making it the preferred encoding system for many languages.
Unicode Malayalam fonts are designed to work with the Unicode standard, and each character in the font corresponds to a specific Unicode code point. Unicode fonts offer several advantages over ISCII fonts, such as better compatibility across different platforms, more accurate representation of characters and their combinations, and easier integration with other languages and writing systems.
In conclusion, ISCII and Unicode fonts are two types of Malayalam fonts based on different encoding systems. While ISCII was an early attempt at standardizing Indian script encoding, Unicode has emerged as the preferred choice due to its broader support, compatibility, and ability to accurately represent a vast range of characters. As a result, Unicode Malayalam fonts are widely used in modern digital environments, while ISCII fonts are becoming increasingly rare.
How to Download and Install Malayalam Fonts For Free
Downloading and installing Malayalam fonts for free is an easy process. Follow the steps below to get Malayalam fonts on your computer or mobile device:
Choose the right font:
There are many free Malayalam fonts available online. Some popular options include AnjaliOldLipi, Meera, Rachana, and Keraleeyam. You can find them on websites like:
- SMC (Swathanthra Malayalam Computing): https://smc.org.in/fonts/
- Kerala government’s official website: https://kerala.gov.in/web/guest/fonts
Download the font:
Go to the website of your choice and download the font file (usually in .ttf or .otf format). Make sure to choose a trusted source for the download.
Install the font on your computer:
For Windows:
- Locate the downloaded font file and right-click on it.
- Select “Install” from the context menu.
For macOS:
- Locate the downloaded font file and double-click on it.
- In the Font Book application, click “Install Font.”
Install the font on your mobile device:
For Android:
- You may need to root your device or use a custom launcher that supports custom fonts. Some custom launchers like Nova Launcher allow you to change the font.
- Download a font-changing app from the Google Play Store, such as iFont, and follow the app’s instructions to install and apply the Malayalam font.
For iOS:
- You will need a font installer app like iFont or AnyFont from the App Store.
- Open the font installer app and follow its instructions to install the Malayalam font. You may need to use the “Open in…” feature to import the font file into the app.
Configure your software:
Sometimes, you may need to configure your word processing or design software to use the newly installed Malayalam font. Check the software’s settings and select the desired font from the list of available fonts.
Once you have installed the Malayalam font, you should be able to type, read, and edit content in Malayalam across various applications and websites.
Conclusion
In conclusion, downloading and installing Malayalam fonts for free is straightforward. By understanding the different types of Malayalam fonts, such as ISCII and Unicode, you can choose the right font for your needs. Following the steps in the guide will help you quickly access Malayalam fonts on your computer or mobile device, allowing you to type, read, and edit content in Malayalam across various applications and websites.