Bengali Typing - Bengali Keyboard Layouts

Bengali typing can be done using different keyboard layouts. The two most widely used Bengali keyboard layouts are "Inscript" and "Unijoy." These layouts determine the arrangement of Bengali characters on your physical or virtual keyboard. Here's an overview of these two popular Bengali keyboard layouts:

Inscript Bengali Keyboard Layout:

Official Layout: Inscript is the official keyboard layout recognized by the Government of India for typing in Indian languages, including Bengali. It is commonly used in West Bengal.

Arrangement: The Inscript Bengali keyboard layout closely resembles the traditional QWERTY layout used for English. It maps Bengali characters to their phonetically corresponding English characters. For example, the Bengali letter "ক" (ka) is mapped to the "k" key, and "ম" (ma) is mapped to the "m" key.

Special Characters: To access some special characters and vowels in the Inscript layout, you may need to use the "Shift" or "AltGr" keys in combination with the relevant English characters.

Common Usage: Inscript is widely used for typing Bengali in West Bengal and some other parts of India.

Unijoy Bengali Keyboard Layout:

Popular in Bangladesh: Unijoy is a popular keyboard layout primarily used in Bangladesh. It's designed to be more intuitive for native Bengali speakers.

Arrangement: The Unijoy layout is based on the phonetic structure of the Bengali language. It attempts to place Bengali characters on the keyboard in a way that is more intuitive for Bengali speakers. For example, the Bengali letter "ক" (ka) is typically mapped to the "k" key, just as in Inscript. However, Unijoy may involve fewer modifier keys to access additional characters.

Efficiency: Many users find Unijoy more efficient for Bengali typing because it's designed with Bengali phonetics in mind.

Software and Support: Unijoy is often supported in various software and applications used in Bangladesh.

Both Inscript and Unijoy layouts have their advantages and are widely used in their respective regions. The choice between these layouts often depends on personal preference, regional conventions, and familiarity. You can select the layout that you find most comfortable and suitable for your Bengali typing needs.

Keep in mind that you can switch between these keyboard layouts on your computer or device if you have both installed, allowing you to use the one that suits your needs best.