Japanese text inputting system having interactive mnemonic mode and display choice mode

A text inputting device includes a keyboard for inputting a string of characters of a first kind by keying keys and a first device for displaying characters of a second kind corresponding to the character string supplied from the keyboard as candidate characters and selecting a desired character of the second kind from the candidate characters for supplying it to a processor. A second device is also provided for reading a character of the second kind corresponding to a mnemonic code in the character string supplied from the keyboard for supplying it to the processor. In order to determine whether the first or second device is used, a selection switch is provided for selectively activating the first or the second device when a character of the second type is to be inputted. Further, to assist in teaching the mnemonic code, when the first device is selected, either visual or oral correspondence is provided between the selected candidate character and its corresponding mnemonic code. The invention is particularly useful in inputting complex texts such as Japanese or other language texts.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to a text inputting device for inputting a 
text to an information processing system such as a computer. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
Heretofore, as input systems for inputting a Japanese text including KANJI 
characters (Chinese and Japanese ideographs called KANJIs) to an 
information handling system such as a computer, a full KANJI key set 
system and a KANA or alphabetic key system have been known. 
In the full KANJI key set system, KANJI characters, KANA characters, 
alphanumeric characters, symbols and a space to be entered (hereinafter 
aggregatively called input characters) are allocated to keys arranged in a 
single or multi-plane keyboard and keys corresponding to characters to be 
entered are depressed to enter a Japanese text. 
In this system, input characters are marked or graved on the keys and an 
operator has to search keys corresponding to the input characters. Since 
any special or complex manipulation is not necessary to enter the input 
characters, a variety of operators including beginners and experts can use 
the system. However, 2,000 to 4,000 KANJI characters must be usually 
prepared to input the Japanese text and it is time consuming to search a 
key from such a large number of KANJI keys. Hence, the burden on the 
operator is substantial. Accordingly, a character input speed in this 
system is 10 to 20 characters per minute for a beginner and 60 characters 
per minute for an expert. 
On the other hand, in the KANA or alphabetic key system, the number of keys 
is limited to several tens in order to improve the poor operability and 
the low character input speed in the full KANJI key system. Usually, a 
KANA typewriter or an alphabetic typewriter is used in this system. 
The KANA or alphabetic key system includes a number of methods. Among 
others, it includes a mnemonic code system which is a high speed input 
system designed for an expert and a system of candidates display and 
choice (hereinafter called display and choice system) for a beginner. 
Those systems will now be explained. 
FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the mnemonic code system, in which FIG. 1 shows a 
basic configuration and FIG. 2 shows an example of a mnemonic code 
configuration. 
Referring to FIG. 1, by depressing a desired key on a KANA keyboard 1, a 
read address of data stored in a memory 2 is determined. The memory 2 
stores KANJI codes in a relation with KANA characters as shown in FIG. 2. 
The mnemonic code is a combination of plural characters of a first kind, 
the combination being predetermined uniquely corresponding to each of 
characters of a second kind. Two KANA character codes are to be inputted 
to output a KANJI character using the mnemonic code stored in the memory 
2. The first KANA character defines a row in a vertical line 1 in FIG. 2 
and the second KANA character defines a column in a horizontal line 2 in 
FIG. 2. For example, when a KANA key " " and a KANA key " " are depressed, 
code representing a KANJI character " " is read from the memory 2. The 
KANJI code representing the KANJI character corresponds to an address of a 
memory of a character generator (not shown) in which the KANJI character " 
" is stored, and a character pattern is read from the character generator 
based on the code information and displayed on a display (not shown). 
In the mnemonic code system, the operator must memorize the character 
string for the mnemonic code since the KANJI character is read out by two 
KANA characters code. However, once the operator has fully memorized the 
character string, an input speed for the KANJI character is one half of 
that for the KANA character. For example, an operator who can operate a 
KANA typewriter at a speed of 300 characters per minute can enter the 
KANJI characters at a speed of 150 characters per minute. 
In general, when the Japanese text including the KANA characters and the 
KANJI characters is to be entered, not only the KANJI characters but also 
the KANA characters are inputted by two strokes using KANA keys and space 
key or other keys in order to keep a rhythm in keying operation. 
Thus, the mnemonic code system allows a high speed input of the Japanese 
text for a trained expert operator but it is not suitable to an untrained 
beginner operator. 
FIGS. 3, 4a and 4b illustrate the display and choice system, in which FIG. 
3 shows a basic configuration and FIGS. 4a and 4b show a relation between 
a displayed content and a key arrangement. 
Referring to FIG. 3, an output derived by depressing a desired key on a 
KANA keyboard 1 is switched by a selection switch 3. When a KANA character 
is to be entered, the switch 3 is thrown to a contact b so that the output 
from the keyboard 1 is directly supplied through the contact b. On the 
other hand, when a KANJI character is to be entered, the switch 3 is 
thrown to a contact a so that the output from the KANA keyboard 1 is 
supplied to a KANJI file 4 containing a KANJI dictionary, through the 
contact a. Candidate KANJI characters having ON representation (phonetic 
representation of KANJI character) or KUN representation (Japanese reading 
of KANJI character) corresponding to a string of KANA characters from the 
output of KANA keyboard 1 are read from the KANJI file 4 and stored in a 
buffer memory 5. The content of the buffer memory 5 is displayed on the 
display 7. A display format is shown in FIG. 4a. In the illustrated 
example, in order to input a KANJI character " ", a phonetic 
representation " " is inputted by depressing two KANA keys on the KANA 
keyboard 1 and resulting candidate KANJI characters read from the KANJI 
file 4 into the buffer memory 5 are displayed on the display 7. The 
operator watches the candidate KANJI characters displayed on the display 7 
and chooses the KANJI character " " from the candidates by depressing one 
of ten numeric keys 6. As seen from FIGS. 4a and 4b, the display format 
shown in FIG. 4a corresponds to the arrangement of the ten numeric keys 
shown in FIG. 4b. Accordingly, by depressing a numeric key "2", the KANJI 
character " " is chosen from the candidates and inputted to a computer. 
In this display and choice system, the operator has to choose the KANJI 
character while watching the displayed candidate KANJI characters. 
Accordingly, it is not possible to enter the characters by blind typing or 
keying using touch method and the character inputting speed is lower than 
that of the mnemonic code system. However, it is not necessary to memorize 
the codes and even a beginner can enter the Japanese text if the apparatus 
is programmed to enable the readout of the candidate KANJI characters 
either by ON or KUN representation. If the KANA keyboard 1 is replaced by 
an alphabetic keyboard so that the KANA characters are inputted by Roman 
character representation or if the KANA matrix keyboard has an arrangement 
of KANA keys in which rows and columns correspond to consonants and 
vowels, respectively, the beginner can readily enter the Japanese text. 
According to an experiment, when the Roman characters are inputted using 
the alphabetic keyboard, an operator who can key in alphabetic characters 
300 characters per minute could enter the Japanese text including the KANA 
characters and the KANJI characters at a speed of 50 characters per 
minute. A non-experienced operator who can type the alphabetic characters 
only 30 characters per minute could enter the Japanese text at a speed of 
10 characters per minute. This speed is substantially equal to that of the 
full KANJI key set system. However, in the full KANJI key set system, the 
operator must search a desired character key out of 2000 to 4000 character 
keys but in the present system the number of the candidate KANJI 
characters is several to ten and several. Accordingly, the operability is 
much better and a feeling of fatigue of the operator is less. 
As described above, in the mnemonic code system, the expert operator can 
type in blindly at a high speed but the beginner operator cannot type at a 
high speed. In addition, considerable training is required before the 
operator can enter the Japanese text in the mnemonic code system. 
In the display and choice system, the beginner operator can readily use the 
apparatus but the character inputting speed is about one half of that of 
the mnemonic code system even by the expert operator because the operator 
cannot key in blindly. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a Japanese text 
inputting system which enables an expert operator to input a Japanese text 
at a high speed and a beginner operator to input the Japanese text with a 
high operability. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a Japanese text 
inputting system which allows the beginner operator to input the Japanese 
text at a high speed by providing a learning function. 
In order to achieve the above objects, the present invention is 
characterized by first means for inputting a character string by a keying 
operation, second and third means for inputting the inputted character 
string to processors in a display and choice system and a mnemonic code 
system, respectively, and fourth means for selectively activating the 
second or third means in response to a desired mode of an operator. 
The present invention is, further characterized by displaying the character 
string for the mnemonic codes corresponding to candidate KANJI characters 
when the candidate KANJI characters are displayed by the second means in 
the display and choice system, thereby providing a learning function.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
FIG. 5 shows a functional block diagram for explaining a principle of a 
Japanese text inputting device in accordance with the present invention, 
in which a mnemonic code system or a display and choice system is selected 
as desired. 
In FIG. 5, numeral 10 denotes a combined KANA-alphabetic keyboard, numeral 
11 denotes a block for generating KANA characters and numeral 12 denotes a 
block for generating KANJI characters. Symbols l.sub.11 to l.sub.42 
denote function switches used to input a Japanese text in L.sub.1 to 
L.sub.4 modes to be described later. 
The present invention is characterized by the ability of inputting the 
Japanese text in one of the four modes L.sub.1 -L.sub.4 depending on a 
capability or degree of training of an operator. 
In the first mode L.sub.1, when a KANA character is to be inputted, the 
switches l.sub.11 and l.sub.12 are closed to render the combined 
KANA-alphabetic keyboard 10 in an alphabetic mode, and a Roman character 
representation is inputted by alphanumeric keys to produce an alphanumeric 
code output .alpha., which is then converted to a KANA code and supplied 
to a computer through a terminal 15. When a KANJI character is to be 
inputted, the switch l.sub.12 is opened and the switch l.sub.13 is closed 
and ON representation or KUN representation of the KANJI character is 
inputted by the alphanumeric keys in the form of Roman character 
representation, and the KANJI character is selected by the candidates 
display and choice method and the desired KANJI information is supplied to 
a terminal 14. 
In the mode L.sub.2, when a KANA character is to be inputted, the switches 
l.sub.21 and l.sub.22 are closed to select a KANA mode, and a KANA key is 
depressed to produce a KANA code output .beta., which is then supplied to 
the output terminal 15. When a KANJI character is to be inputted, the 
switch l.sub.22 is opened and the switch l.sub.23 is closed, and an ON or 
KUN representation of the KANJI character is inputted by KANA keys in the 
form of KANA characters, and the KANJI character is selected by the 
display and choice system and the selected KANJI information is supplied 
to the computer through the terminal 14. 
In the mode L.sub.3, when a KANA character is to be inputted, the switches 
l.sub.21 and l.sub.22 are closed to select the KANA mode and a KANA key is 
depressed to produce the KANA code output .beta., which is then supplied 
to the computer through the terminal 15. When a KANJI character is to be 
inputted, if an operator knows a corresponding character string for 
mnemonic code, the switches l.sub.41 and l.sub.42 are closed and the code 
represented by two KANA characters is inputted by keying the KANA keys of 
the keyboard 10 so that the KANJI character corresponding to the code is 
read by the mnemonic code system and supplied to the computer through a 
terminal 13. When a KANJI character a mnemonic code of which has not been 
learned by the device is to be inputted, the switches l.sub.21 and 
l.sub.23 are closed so that the KANJI character is selected by the display 
and choice system and the selected KANJI information is supplied to the 
computer through the terminal 14. 
In the mode L.sub.4, the switches l.sub.41 and l.sub.42 are closed to input 
a KANJI character in the mnemonic code system. In this case, a KANA 
character is also inputted by two strokes of keys in order to keep 
rhythmical operation in inputting the KANJI character and the KANA 
character. For example, a KANA character is inputted by keying a KANA key 
and a space key, or a space key and a KANA key. 
FIG. 6 shows a circuit configuration of one embodiment of the Japanese text 
inputting device of the present invention. Numeral 20 denotes a combined 
KANA-alphanumeric keyboard, numeral 21 denotes a ten-digit numeric 
keyboard, numeral 22 denotes a Roman character representation to KANA 
character conversion circuit, numeral 23 denotes a shift register, numeral 
24 denotes a mnemonic code file, numeral 25 denotes a CRT display, numeral 
26 denotes a speech synthesizing circuit, numeral 27 denotes a speech data 
memory, numeral 28 denotes a KANJI character dictionary file, numeral 29 
denotes an output amplifier, numeral 30 denotes a loudspeaker, numeral 31 
denotes an address control circuit, numeral 32 denotes a buffer memory, 
numeral 33 denotes a character pattern generator, numeral 34 denotes a 
Roman character representation mode selection switch, numeral 35 and 36 
denote a switch for selecting a KANA code, a KANJI code or a mnemonic 
code, numeral 37 denotes an output signal line for the KANA code, and 
numerals 38 and 39 denote output signal lines for the KANJI code. 
In the construction thus described, the operation in the mode L.sub.1 is 
first explained. 
The Roman character representation selection switch 34 is switched to a 
contact a. By depressing alphanumeric keys on the keyboard 20 
corresponding to a desired Roman character representation, a corresponding 
alphanumeric code output is supplied to the Roman character 
representation-KANA character conversion circuit 22, which produces a KANA 
character code corresponding to the input alphabetic code. The Roman 
character representation-KANA character conversion circuit 22 may be that 
disclosed in Japanese patent application Laid-Open No. 50-94837 (1975). 
When a character to be inputted is a HIRAKANA or KATAKANA character, the 
ganged switches 35 and 36 are switched to positions a and a HIRAKANA or 
KATAKANA character code is supplied to the computer through the output 
signal line 37. The KANA character code is also applied to the character 
pattern generator 33 and a corresponding KANA character pattern is 
displayed on the display 25. When a character to be inputted is a KANJI 
character, the ganged switches 35 and 36 are switched to contacts b and a 
KANA character code string corresponding to an ON or KUN representation of 
the KANJI character is supplied to the KANJI dictionary file 28, which can 
output KANJI characters having the ON or KUN representation corresponding 
to the input KANA character code string. Thus, the candidate KANJI codes 
corresponding to the input KANA character code are read from the file 28 
and stored in the buffer memory 32. The KANJI character codes stored in 
the buffer memory 32 are then supplied to the character pattern generator 
33 and displayed on the CRT display 25 in the form of character patterns. 
The character patterns are displayed on the CRT display 25 in a pattern 
corresponding to the arrangement of the ten numeric keys as shown in FIG. 
4a. Since the number of characters displayed is limited to nine as shown 
in FIG. 4a, a block of nine characters out of the characters stored in the 
buffer memory 32 which have higher frequency of usage are displayed first, 
and the next block of nine characters having the next higher frequency of 
usage are displayed by depressing the "0" numeric key shown in FIG. 4b. 
When the KANJI character to be inputted is included in the displayed block 
of characters, a corresponding one of the ten-digit numeric keyboard 21 is 
depressed. 
The output of the ten-digit numeric keyboard 21 is supplied to the address 
control circuit 31 which may be a decoder to produce an address signal for 
reading a KANJI character code corresponding to the depressed numeric key 
out of the character block in the buffer memory 32. The KANJI character 
code read out by the address signal is supplied to the computer through 
the output signal line 38. When the "0" numeric key of the ten-digit 
numeric keyboard 21 is depressed, the address control circuit 31 sends a 
signal to the KANJI dictionary file 28 so that the KANJI character codes 
corresponding to the next block of nine KANJI characters are read from the 
file 28. 
On the other hand, the KANJI character code on the output signal line 38 
also serves as an address to the speech data storage 27 which stores data 
representative of the ON representations of sets of two KANA characters of 
the mnemonic code corresponding to the KANJI characters. The speech data 
read from the memory 27 is supplied to the speech synthesizing circuit 26, 
which synthesizes the speech signal, which in turn is supplied to the 
output amplifier 29 and thence to the speaker 30 to produce a voice 
output. For example, when the KANJI character code read represents " ", 
the corresponding mnemonic code " " is read from the memory 27 and the 
speech therefor is produced from the speaker 30. 
Accordingly, since the speech corresponding to the mnemonic code for the 
selected KANJI character is produced from the speaker 30, the operator can 
learn the character string for the mnemonic code of the inputted KANJI 
character. 
In the present embodiment, the character patterns displayed on the display 
25 include not only the KANJI character patterns but also the KANA 
character patterns corresponding to the mnemonic codes of the KANJI 
characters as shown in FIG. 7. Thus, when the candidate KANJI characters 
are displayed on the CRT display 25 in a pattern corresponding to the 
arrangement of the ten-digit numeric keyboard, the KANA characters 
corresponding to the mnemonic codes are also displayed as shown in FIG. 8. 
For example, for the KANJI character " ", the KANA characters " ", 
corresponding to the mnemonic code are also displayed. Thus, by displaying 
not only the KANJI characters but also the KANA characters corresponding 
to the mnemonic codes, the operator can learn the character string for the 
code corresponding to the inputted KANJI character. 
Accordingly, in the present embodiment, since the mnemonic codes are 
outputted both by the synthesized speech and by the CRT display, the 
operator can learn the mnemonic codes more efficiently. 
In the mode L.sub.2, the selection switch 34 is switched to the contact b 
as shown in FIG. 6. When a KANA character is to be inputted, the ganged 
switches 35 and 36 are switched to the contacts a and the KANA key on the 
keyboard 20 is depressed so that the KANA character code output is 
supplied to the computer through the output signal line 37. 
On the other hand, when a KANJI character is to be inputted, the ganged 
switches 35 and 36 are switched to the contacts b and the KANA keys on the 
keyboard 20 are depressed and the output is supplied to the KANJI 
dictionary file 28. The subsequent operation is same as that in the mode 
L.sub.1 and hence it is not explained here. 
In the mode L.sub.4, the selection switch 34 is switched to the contact b 
and the ganged switches 35 and 36 are switched to the contacts c. As a 
result, the KANA character code outputs derived by depressing the KANA 
keys of the keyboard 20 including the KANA keys, space key and symbol keys 
are transferred to the shift register 23. The KANJI character, KANA 
character or symbol is defined by depressing two KANA keys of the keyboard 
20. A code at a first stroke of the KANA key is loaded to a right stage of 
the shift register 23 and a code at a second stroke is loaded to a left 
stage of the shift register 23, and a content of the mnemonic code file 24 
is read in accordance with the loaded information. More specifically, the 
data in the file 24 are arranged as shown in FIG. 2 so that the 
information at the first stroke of the KANA key defines a row and the 
information at the second stroke defines a column. When the row and the 
column are defined by the information, data of the character code in the 
file 24 (including KANJI characters, HIRAKANA characters, KATAKANA 
characters, symbols and space) at the crosspoint of the row and the column 
is read out. Accordingly, each time when two KANA keys are depressed, one 
character of character code is read from the mnemonic code file 24 and 
supplied to the computer through the output signal line 39. 
In the mode L.sub.3, the selection switch 34 is switched to the contact b 
and the ganged switches 35 and 36 are selectively switched to the contacts 
a, b or c. 
When a KANA character is to be inputted, the ganged switches 35 and 36 are 
switched to the contacts a and the KANA character is inputted at one 
stroke by the KANA key on the keyboard 20. When a KANJI character is to be 
inputted, if the operator does not memorize the character string for the 
code corresponding to the KANJI character, or if a KANJI character not 
defined by the mnemonic code is to be inputted, the ganged switches 35 and 
36 are switched to the contacts b and the KANA character codes are 
supplied to the KANJI dictionary file 28 so that the KANJI character is 
inputted in the display and choice system as is done in the modes L.sub.1 
and L.sub.2. 
When a KANJI character is to be inputted and the operator knows the 
corresponding character string for mnemonic code, the ganged switches 35 
and 36 are switched to the contacts c and the KANA character codes from 
the keyboard 20 are supplied to the shift register 23, and the KANJI code 
is read from the mnemonic code file 24 and supplied to the computer. 
Accordingly, the levels of the operators who operate in the modes L.sub.1 
to L.sub.4 are classified as follows: 
(1) Mode L.sub.1 : Non-expert who can only type an alphabetic typewriter. 
(2) Mode L.sub.2 : Non-expert who can type a KANA typewriter at a low speed 
but does not know the character string for mnemonic codes. 
(3) Mode L.sub.3 : Semi-expert who can type a KANA typewriter but knows the 
character string for the mnemonic codes for only the frequently used KANJI 
characters. 
(4) Mode L.sub.4 : Expert who can type a KANA typewriter at a high speed 
and fully memorizes the character string for the mnemonic codes. 
Accordingly, by appropriately selecting one of the modes L.sub.1 to 
L.sub.4, a variety of operators ranging from the non-expert who can type 
only the alphabetic typewriter to the expert who memorizes the mnemonic 
codes can input a Japanese text in a mode compatible to their own skills. 
By appropriately selecting the modes, the Japanese text can be inputted not 
only in a manner compatible to the skill of the operator but also in a 
very flexible manner. While the number of KANJI characters which can be 
inputted in the mnemonic code system is restricted by the number of KANA 
keys, no such restriction is imposed on the display and choice system. 
Accordingly, by inputting the KANJI characters having a high frequency of 
usage in the mnemonic code system and inputting the KANJI characters not 
covered by the mnemonic code system in the display and choice system, a 
very flexible inputting system is provided. 
In the present invention, since the KANA characters for the mnemonic codes 
corresponding to the displayed KANJI characters are produced by the 
synthesized speech and displayed on the CRT display, the operator can 
learn the character string for themneomonic codes both through an auditory 
sense and through a visual sense each time when the operator inputs the 
KANJI character in the display and choice system. Accordingly, the 
operator can naturally memorize the character string for the mnemonic 
codes of the frequently used KANJI characters. The learning of the 
character string for mnemonic codes is usually hard work to do, but in 
accordance with the present invention, the operator can naturally memorize 
the stored character string for the codes while the operator inputs the 
Japanese text in the display and choice system. Accordingly, the present 
invention is of high practical value. 
In the illustrated embodiment, the character string for the mnemonic codes 
of the KANJI characters displayed are both displayed on the display 25 and 
produced from the loudspeaker 30 as the synthesized speech, but either the 
display or the speech may be omitted. 
The ten-digit numeric keyboard 21 may be substituted by the KANA or 
alphanumeric keys on the keyboard 20. 
The displayed KANJI character pattern is not limited to the ten-digit 
numeric arrangement shown in FIG. 4a but many other arrangements may be 
used. 
In the mnemonic code system in the mode L.sub.4 described above, the KANJI, 
KANA and symbol codes are generated by the combinations of two KANA 
character codes. Alternatively, the combinations of three or more KANA 
character codes or the combinations of two or more alphanumeric codes may 
be used. 
FIG. 9 shows a configuration of an operation and display panel including 
the combined KANA-alphabetic keyboard 20 and the ten-digit numeric 
keyboard 21. Numeral 40 denotes a mode display panel, numeral 41 denotes a 
Roman character representation selection key, numeral 42 denotes a 
mnemonic code system selection key, numeral 43 denotes a KANJI character 
selection key, numeral 44 denotes a HIRAKANA character selection key, and 
numeral 45 denotes a KATAKANA character selection key. The key 41 
corresponds to the switch 34 shown in FIG. 6, the key 42 corresponds to 
the contacts c of the switches 35 and 36 of FIG. 6, the key 43 corresponds 
to the contacts b of the switches 35 and 36, and the key 45 corresponds to 
the contacts a of the switches 35 and 36. 
FIG. 10 shows a front view of the mode display panel 40 and FIG. 11 shows a 
circuit configuration thereof. The interior of the display panel 40 has 
sections 48 to 57 partitioned by walls 47 and lamps 58 to 67 are arranged 
in the respective sections. A front surface of the display panel is 
covered with a translucent plate on which characters and patterns as shown 
in FIG. 10 are printed or graved. 
Referring to FIG. 11, Q.sub.1 denotes a transistor, D.sub.1 to D.sub.3 
denote diodes, and R.sub.1 denotes a resistor. 
When the Roman character representation key 41 is depressed, the lamps 62 
and 63 are lit to illuminate the sections 52 and 53 to indicate that the 
Roman character representation is being inputted by the alphanumeric keys. 
When the HIRAKANA selection key 44 or the KATAKANA selection key 45 is 
depressed, the lamp 61 or 64 is lit to illuminate the section 51 or 54 to 
indicate that the HIRAKANA or KATAKANA character is being inputted. 
When the KANJI selection key 43 is depressed, the lamp 67 is lit to 
illuminate the section 57. If the Roman character representation key 41 is 
simultaneously depressed, a base potential of the transistor Q.sub.1 is at 
the same level as an emitter potential thereof and hence the transistor 
Q.sub.1 is cut off. Accordingly, the lamps 61 and 64 are not lit and the 
sections 51 and 54 are not illuminated. On the other hand, when the Roman 
character selection key 41 is not depressed, the transistor Q.sub.1 
conducts so that the lamps 64 and 61 are lit to illuminate the sections 54 
and 51 to indicate that the KANA characters representing the ON or KUN 
representation is being inputted by the KANA keys and the KANJI character 
is selected by the display and choice system. 
When the mnemonic code system selection key 42 is depressed, the lamps 61, 
65 and 66 are lit to illuminate the sections 51, 55 and 56 to indicate the 
mnemonic code system with two strokes of KANA keys. 
In this manner, the current input mode can be identified by depressing a 
desired key so that the operators ranging from the beginner to the expert 
can input the Japanese text in an inputting procedure suitable to their 
skills without confusion in spite of a high degree of freedom in the 
selection of the input modes. 
As described hereinabove, in accordance with the present invention, a 
Japanese text inputting device which allows an expert operator to input 
the Japanese text at a high speed and a beginner operator to input the 
Japanese text with a high operability and which has a learning function is 
provided.