In this paper the author, Thaweesak Koanantakool, Ph.D, present an abstract of the input method and keyboard history in Thai. I think we should consider not only mother language but also the other languages.
A nessecity of Input method is common even for Eulopean. Because they have some accent or other special charactors to edit with ascii or localized keyboard.
Now X implementation uses XKB keyboard extension for such a situation, but in straight point of view it should be consolidated in the IM framework.
