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Emacs, Linux and international keyboard layouts

Is there an easy way to use Emacs key-bindings when you are using a not-English (Russian) keyboard layout?

Whenever an international layout is on, all keystrokes are interpreted literally, M-ф instead of M-a. As a result I can't use commands.

It would also be nice if Linux could interpret non-prefixed and shift-prefixed keys according according to an international layout, while keeping the rest English.

Solution

  • You can set input method (kudos go to kindahero) by typing

    M-x set-input-method RET cyrillic-yawerty RET

    or

    M-x set-input-method RET cyrillic-jcuken RET

    To store it permanently, add

    (setq default-input-method "cyrillic-yawerty")

    to ~/.emacs config (and use C-\ to switch between keyboard layouts).