How to Type in Indic Languages like Tamil (தமிழ்) Based on Default Keyboard

FAQ and Tutorials
1

Garuda Linux can be set relatively easily to be able to type in an Indic language like Tamil (தமிழ்), without any major, elaborate change. This way, one can simply continue to use the default keyboard to flit and shift to a different language, before once again to flit back to the default language on their keyboard.

:information: When I tried to search for articles, I did not get that many. Hence, capturing this for folks, who may need this. :information:

In this article, I will show how I can type in தமிழ் using phonetic (M17N) while being on my default keyboard, which is English (US).

  1. Enable the Indian languages, for e.g., Tamil, in Garuda Setup Assistant as shown. Go to the Input tab and select the option as shown.

    Enabing Tamil in Garuda Setup Assistant
    Enabing Tamil in Garuda Setup Assistant839×476 52.1 KB

  2. Edit the file /etc/locale.gen. Uncomment the line that has ta_IN UTF-8 (If Sri Lankan Tamil is to be enabled, uncomment the very next line that has ta_LK UTF-8) by removing the # prefix in the line.

    • Save the file.
    • Run the following as root:
    sudo locale-gen
    • Reboot.

  3. After the reboot, go to ensure that under System Settings → Keyboard → Virtual Keyboard → Fcitx5 Wayland Launcher is selected automatically.

  4. In the same System Settings, look for Input Method and press + Add Input Method. In the dialog that is now open, search for tamil. One of the options will be phonetic (M17N).

:information: Many users, may not need the Tamil keyboard per se, but just a way to type in Tamil using phonetics on an English keyboard. However, for those that need the precise Tamil keyboard, choose from one of the other options presented. Regardless, the configuration steps are similar, which is what the scope of this doc is. :information:

  1. At this point, the Input Method tab should look something similar, as shown:

    Input Method Tab
    Input Method Tab620×226 18 KB

  2. At this point, you are all set to type in Tamil. In order to alternate between English and Tamil, you need to press Super + Space, which is the default, to alternate between different input methods. This can be modified by pressing the :gear: icon below in the same Input Method view, down below. Look for :gear: Configure global options…. Set the options to anything you want.

That is pretty much it. At this point, you should be able to type in Tamil (தமிழ்) and be able to flit back to English.

Here is a sample:

இனிய தமிழில் தட்டச்சு செய்து மகிழ்வீர். கருடா லினக்ஸ்-ஆல் இது கூடும். மிக்க நன்றி (and at this point, I will press Super + Space) so that I can continue to type in English as usual.

Enjoy!

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