To the Apple iOS Development and Accessibility Teams,
I am writing to formally request the addition of a native Lisu keyboard to iOS. As Apple continues to expand its global accessibility and language support, adding the Lisu language would bridge a significant communication gap for a vibrant and growing community.
About the Lisu People:
The Lisu are a Tibeto-Burman ethnic group with an estimated population of over 1.4 million. They traditionally inhabit the mountainous regions of Myanmar (Burma), Southwest China (particularly the Yunnan and Sichuan provinces), Thailand, and the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. They possess a rich cultural heritage, passed down through generations via extensive oral traditions, songs, and clan histories.
The Lisu Language and Fraser Script:
The Lisu language is officially supported by the Unicode Consortium. The writing system, known as the Fraser script, was developed in 1914 and was officially added to the Unicode Standard in Version 5.2.
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Unicode Reference: The Lisu block is designated at U+A4D0 – U+A4FF.
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Official Chart: Unicode [Lisu Chart (PDF)]
https://www.unicode.org/charts/PDF/UA4D0.pdf
Current Industry StandardsOther major operating systems have already recognized the importance of supporting the Lisu community:
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Microsoft Windows: Currently comes with a pre-installed Lisu keyboard, allowing users to type seamlessly out of the box.
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Android (Google): The default Gboard natively supports the Lisu keyboard, offering full mobile typing capabilities for Android users.
Currently, iOS users who speak and write in Lisu must rely on third-party workarounds, which often lack the security, privacy, and seamless integration of Apple’s native keyboards. By implementing the Lisu keyboard, Apple would greatly enhance the iOS experience for over a million people, allowing them to communicate natively on their iPhones and iPads.Thank you for your time, consideration, and ongoing commitment to making technology accessible to everyone. I look forward to seeing Lisu supported in a future iOS update.
Sincerely, Si_Gwa