Which countries don't use QWERTY?

When it comes to typing on a keyboard, most of us are familiar with the QWERTY layout. This keyboard layout has become the standard for typewriters and computers worldwide. However, did you know that there are countries that do not use the QWERTY keyboard? In this article, we will explore which countries have their own unique keyboard layouts.

Japan's modified QWERTY

Although Japan primarily uses the QWERTY keyboard layout, they have made several modifications to accommodate their language. One significant difference is the addition of the Kana syllabary keys, which represent Japanese characters phonetically. These additional keys allow for faster input of Japanese text compared to using Roman characters.

Another modification in Japan's keyboard layout is the placement of punctuation marks. In English, many commonly used punctuation marks, such as commas and periods, are easily accessible on the main keyboard. In contrast, Japanese keyboards require users to press multiple keys simultaneously to input some punctuation marks due to limited space.

Russian and the Cyrillic layout

In Russia and other Slavic countries, the primary keyboard layout used is known as "Cyrillic." The Cyrillic alphabet is used to write various languages, including Russian, Ukrainian, Bulgarian, and Serbian. While there are similarities between the Cyrillic and QWERTY layouts, most of the letters are positioned differently.

The Cyrillic keyboard layout is specifically designed to optimize typing efficiency for the Russian language. Russian letters that closely correspond to their English counterparts, such as A, B, and T, retain similar positions. However, some letters unique to the Cyrillic alphabet, like Щ, Ё, Ъ, and Ж, are placed in different locations on the keyboard.

The Turkish F-keyboard layout

In Turkey, a keyboard layout called "F-keyboard" is widely used. The F-keyboard layout was designed to address the specific needs of typing in the Turkish language, which includes additional characters not found in English.

One notable difference in the F-keyboard layout is the positioning of the letter "Q." In the QWERTY layout, "Q" is located at the top left corner, while in the F-keyboard layout, it is moved to the bottom left corner, replacing the position of the letter "W." This change is made because the letter "Q" is more frequently used in Turkish than "W."

Additionally, the F-keyboard layout includes extra keys for Turkish-specific characters such as "ğ," "ş," and "ı." These characters are vital in correctly representing Turkish phonetics but are aBS ENt in the standard QWERTY layout.

Conclusion

While the QWERTY keyboard layout dominates globally, there are countries that have their own unique variations tailored to their languages' needs. Japan, Russia, and Turkey are just a few examples of countries that have modified or completely replaced the QWERTY layout to improve typing efficiency and accommodate language-specific characters. Understanding these diverse keyboard layouts can help us appreciate the cultural and linguistic differences around the world.