Arabic Font Justification
6 days ago
- #Text Justification
- #Historical Scripts
- #Arabic Typography
- Introduction to a series on Arabic justification, covering historical and current practices.
- Arabic justification uses elongation, letterform variation, and word configuration, differing from Latin script practices.
- Key terms like kashīda, madd, and tatweel are discussed, with kashīda preferred for elongation.
- Historical transition from manuscript to letterpress printing introduced the tatweel for justification.
- The tatweel, a typographic artefact, became standardized with mechanical typesetting and persists in digital typography.
- Modern issues with the tatweel include searchability problems and misuse in digital text.
- Upcoming posts will review current software implementations and historical practices for better Arabic justification.