Whenever when you want to use runes in any communication, we face a problem: the lack of such “characters” in the so-called standard alphabet. So, to write a text or send a simple message with such characters/symbols, we always had to use different fonts. This method works well for print jobs or pdfs, but it doesn’t work very well for websites and applications. The reason: for the person to see what you want, they would need to have installed on their computer/cellphone precisely the same font that you used to create such text.

However, one thing that not many people know is that the runic characters are available in the Unicode table, which is a standard pattern of characters from all alphabets in the world. This means that any computer, program, or device can display and reproduce these characters. Based on this idea, we decided to create a keyboard that allows you to write directly in runic.

One detail: Rune Input is not an application. So, you don’t open it as a regular app on the cellphone. It works as an integrated keyboard straight to Android. If you have any questions, see the installation and configuration guide below.

The runic alphabet is purely phonetic. This means that the letters have no real relationship or direct connection to a rune. Speaking in this way, it may seem a little strange, but let’s perhaps do a simple example:

The creator of the app, Cussa. Its name has the letters C U S S A. If we are going to write his name using runes, we will have the following text: ᚲᚢᛋᚨ. The first rune “ᚲ” has the sound of [k], as in car. The second rune “ᚢ” has the sound of [u], as in ultimate. The third rune “ᛋ” has the sound of [s], as in salad. And the last rune “ᚨ” has the sound of [a], as in the word all. However, being a phonetic alphabet, the fact that the original name has two letters S does not influence its conversion to runes, leaving only one rune for the sound.

We decided to create the app most simply due to all these nuances that vary from language to language. Below, you will find an information base to help you make your transliterations into Runic. Recalling also that some sounds did not exist at the time, often requiring “adaptations.”

This phonetic guide uses the IPA Conventions (International Phonetic Alphabet). See the examples and the considerations below.

As the runes are a phonetic alphabet, it will have some singularities. Here are some considerations about some of them:

ᚹ – Wunjo

Some authors claim that this rune is also used for V sounds, as in victory. Which would make the differentiation of some possible words even more complicated.

ᛃ – Jera

Although the phonetic spelling is J, it is essential to note that the runic alphabet does not have a rune to represent the J sound, as in Jack or just.

The sound of this rune is the European / Slavic J, which would be equivalent to our Y, however, when it is short and weak, like in Year.

Exceptional cases

Some letters have no direct reference but can be used according to the sound. We gave the example taxi, where X would be written with Kenaz, followed by Sowillo, thus generating the sound of the word.

Uncorrelated sounds in the runes

Some sounds did not exist in Old Norwegian. Therefore, these sounds have no possible correlation with runes. Examples, based on the sound:

• [ʒ], as in pleasure or vision
• [dʒ], as in just or giant
• [ʃ], as in shy or cash
• [tʃ], as in chair or catch

Punctuation

The rune stones use three possible symbols to separate words. Below you will find the most common definitions and uses.

• Simple point ᛫
  • They are usually used for word separation — the equivalent of our space.
• Double point ᛬
  • It is used to end sentences or paragraphs. The equivalent of the period. It is not the same as the “:” that we have in our alphabet, since it is aligned at the bottom of the line, while the runes is centered.
• Cross ᛭
  • Found on rune stones from the late Viking Era. It would have the function of starting and ending sentences or paragraphs.

Rune converter

Unlike Rune Input, most applications today try to reproduce the visual format of the letters in runes or to reproduce the letters directly. In the first case, we could find the following spelling for the word MOTHER: ᛖᛜᚦᛊᚱ, since the Ehwaz rune “looks” much more like an M than Mannaz, the Ingwaz looks like an O, and the variant Sowillo looks like an E. In the second case, the spelling would be ᛗᛟᛏᚺᛖᚱ, what would be wrong as there is a rune for the TH sound. Therefore, the spelling should be ᛗᛟᚦᛖᚱ.

Para saber ainda mais sobre estas utilizações, recomendamos os links abaixo:

• https://www.ipachart.com/
• http://www.antimoon.com/how/pronunc-soundsipa.htm
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/English
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_phonology