Basics of SERA

  When written systematically, ASCII files (a file composed with the
characters avaialable from a common English keyboard) may be
interpretted by Mule and viewed as Ethiopic text.  Likewise, an Ethiopic
document may be written out by Mule into ASCII for importation
elsewhere.

  Mule uses "SERA" (System for Ethiopic Representation in ASCII) as its
Latin representation system of the Fidel to provide compatibility with
other networks and PC softwares, and to allow users without Mule the
ability to read easily Ethiopic documents composed with the editor.
Though independent from file I/O, SERA has been applied as the input
method (IM) for Mule as well, hence much of the system has already been
discussed.  Current documents on SERA with detailed explanation of the
system can be found in the `/pub/languages/ethiopia/email' directory at
the ftp.rpi.edu archive.

  A sample text of SERA is given below.  This is the transcription of
the text in *Note Ethiopic Fonts::.

     kemeSehafu \"Taste of Ethiopia"\

     ke'ager wC Injera lemegager yedabere lmd

     yemidebalequt teIhl aynetocna meTenoc;

     - hulet brCqo yeTEf duqEt
     - hulet brCqo neC yesndE weynm yegebs duqEt
     - and tekul yeskWar mnkiya bEkiyng pawder
     - amst brCqo moq yale wha

     \1) yeTEf duqEtu behulet tekul brCqo wha tebokto yqemeTal.

     \2) yesndEw weym yegebsu duqEt gmaxe yeskWar menkiya bEkiyng
     pawder ygebabetna beblEnder wsT tewahdo besahn wsT 
     yqemeTal.

     \3) huletu bukowoc tekednew ke2 Iske 3 qen Indiyaqeru yqemeTalu.

     \4) qenu kederes behWala qes teblo yeqererewn wha kehuletum sahnoc wsT
     mafses.

     \5) huletum Ihl (TEf Ina sndE/gebs) aqelaqlo melewsna Ihlu kuf 
     Iskil dres le2 se`at yahl masqemeT.

     \6) keziya behWala 425 digris \F \ bemoqe megageriya ayer Indaygeba tolo
     Iyekedenu Injerawn megager.

  If struck alone, [F4] will convert the entire document into Ethiopic
text.  It is assumed that the text begins in Ethiopic. If the beginning
of the document should start with Latin script, use `C-u [F4]' to make
the appropriate conversion.  You may also use `S-[F4]' to convert only
the specified region.  `[F5]', `C-u [F5]', and `S-[F5]' converts back
into SERA-Latin with the same rules applying for [F4].