Wolof language requirements for Arabic script

Wolof can be written in three different scripts (Arabic, Garay, and Latin). Fonts which are intended to support the Wolof language using Arabic script must include some different lesser-used characters as well as different design features than those designed for standard Arabic. In every case, the blue is what a Wolof font should support.

Special characters

Wolof includes some special characters which are not used in standard Arabic. These are:

U+0752 ݒ ARABIC LETTER BEH WITH THREE DOTS POINTING UPWARDS BELOW
U+0756 ݖ ARABIC LETTER BEH WITH SMALL V
U+075D ݝ ARABIC LETTER AIN WITH TWO DOTS ABOVE
U+0767 ݧ ARABIC LETTER NOON WITH TWO DOTS BELOW
U+08F4 ◌ࣴ ARABIC FATHA WITH RING
U+08F5 ◌ࣵ ARABIC FATHA WITH DOT ABOVE
U+08F7 ◌ࣷ ARABIC LEFT ARROWHEAD ABOVE
U+08F9 ◌ࣹ ARABIC LEFT ARROWHEAD BELOW
U+08FA ◌ࣺ ARABIC RIGHT ARROWHEAD BELOW

The first four characters in the above list are dual-joining base characters. Next, we have five vowel marks which are required in addition to more standard vowel marks.

See Grapheme Data for Wolof written with Arabic script for more information on the current orthography.

Shadda plus kasra positioning

When a kasra is used in context with the shadda, most Arabic fonts will move the kasra up and ligate it below the shadda. This should not happen for Wolof support. The kasra should remain below the base.

Wolof shadda-kasra in blue.

Dal shape

The design of the dal (and all related characters) in Wolof should be more squared, as shown in blue below.

Wolof dal in blue.

Damma

For U+064F ◌ُ ARABIC DAMMA, the Wolof preference is that the stroke does not completely go through the initial stroke as seen in blue.

Wolof damma in blue.

Inverted damma

Wolof requires an open style for U+0657 ◌ٗ ARABIC INVERTED DAMMA. See Glyph Variant for U+0657.

See also What is a Warsh Orthography? for other considerations.