code: private int normalize(char[] dest, int start, int length) {
          int lacount = 0;
          for (int i = start, e = i + length; i < e; ++i) {
              char ch = dest[i];
              if (ch >= '\uFE70' && ch <= '\uFEFC') {
                  if (isLamAlefChar(ch)) {
                      ++lacount;
                  }
                  dest[i] = (char)convertFEto06[ch - '\uFE70'];
              }
          }
          return lacount;
      }
docs: /* Convert the input buffer from FExx Range into 06xx Range
  to put all characters into the 06xx range
  even the lamalef is converted to the special region in
  the 06xx range.  Return the number of lamalef chars found.