[OS X TeX] Using LaTeX to write Greek and Arabic text

[David Derbes]

On Oct 21, 2008, at 12:41 PM, Salvatore Enrico Indiogine wrote:

> Alex:
>
> 2008/10/21 Alex Hamann <mailinglist at alex-hamann.de>:
>> For Greek:
>> use XeLaTeX for processing
>
> I installed MacTeX Live 2008.  Will that do?  Do I need anything in  
> my preamble?
>
> Thanks,
> Enrico

In fact you don't have to use XeLaTeX. You can use the babel package.  
Here's a snippet:

\documentclass[10 pt]{letter}
\usepackage[english,greek]{babel}
\languageattribute{greek}{polutoniko} %this allows accents
\usepackage{gfsporson}

\begin{document}
\selectlanguage{english}

The root of the word ``physics" is the Greek word
\selectlanguage{greek}\textporson{f'usis}\selectlanguage{english}  
(\emph{physis}), meaning ``nature''.

\end{document}

I am using the GFS Porson Greek font which I hope can be found at  
CTAN. Some years ago it was available at the Greek Font Society; a  
Greek mathematician very kindly provided versions that could be used  
with LaTeX. You don't need this;  it will work fine like this:

\documentclass[10 pt]{letter}
\usepackage[english,greek]{babel}
\languageattribute{greek}{polutoniko}

\begin{document}
\selectlanguage{english}

The root of the word ``physics" is the Greek word
\selectlanguage{greek}f'usis\selectlanguage{english} (\emph{physis}),  
meaning ``nature''.

\end{document}

but the Greek characters are, in my opinion, not nearly so beautiful  
as the GFS Porson.

On the other hand, it may be that for Arabic you will need XeLaTeX,  
which is included with the standard MacTeX installation. I don't know  
anything about Arabic.

David Derbes
U of Chicago Lab Schools



>
> -- 
> Enrico Indiogine
>
> Mathematics Education
> Texas A&M University
> Email: hindiogine at gmail.com
> Skype: hindiogine
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