Spotlight：Dubai Font & Free HK Kai

【明報專訊】Dubai is the first city that has got its own Microsoft font. The "Dubai Font" (below), in both Latin and Arabic scripts, will be available in 23 languages. Dubai government bodies have been told to use the font in official correspondence. The Dubai government has said the typeface's design reflects modernity and is inspired by the city.

Although there is no Microsoft font peculiar to Hong Kong, a group of enthusiastic retirees have launched the "Free Hong Kong Font" project, publishing an open source Chinese font called "Free HK Kai" (「自由香港楷書」), which conforms to the characteristics of the strokes of Hong Kong's characters instead of Taiwan's. The compilation is expected to comprise over 20,000 characters when the project is completed.

(sources: Ming Pao, BBC)

◆ 告 (see the picture)

The character "告" in Standard Kai (標楷體, left) and "Free HK Kai" (right) are slightly different. You may download Free HK Kai via this website:

freehkfonts.opensource.hk/download

Times New Roman is a very common font. It got its name from The Times (《泰晤士報》), a British newspaper. The Times hired typographer (印刷專家) Stanley Morison to create the new text font, which was first used on 3 October 1932.

■Game １

Dr Panda left Pat a voice message. Help her act accordingly.

“ Dr Panda: Circle the words in the last paragraph in bold font in red and those in italic font in blue.”

(see the picture)

■Game ２

Eason is trying to create his own font with his weapon, but his handwriting is too poor to be legible. Can you tell what he has written?

(Answers on next text)

■English highway﹕correspondence

"Correspondence" is an uncountable noun referring to letters sent or received.

e.g. Any further correspondence should be sent to the Chairman's new office.

■Glossary

font (n) 字體

conform (v) 符合

stroke (n) 筆畫

character (n) 字

[Smarties' Power English Vol 187]