diff --git a/lib/twine/cli.rb b/lib/twine/cli.rb
index a9b5fff..5657da3 100644
--- a/lib/twine/cli.rb
+++ b/lib/twine/cli.rb
@@ -83,10 +83,7 @@ module Twine
         opts.on('-c', '--consume-comments', 'Normally, when consuming a string file, Twine will ignore all comments in the file. With this flag set, any comments encountered will be read and parsed into the strings data file. This is especially useful when creating your first strings data file from an existing project.') do |c|
           options[:consume_comments] = true
         end
-        opts.on('-e', '--encoding ENCODING', 'Twine defaults to encoding all output files in UTF-8. This flag will tell Twine to use an alternate encoding for these files. For example, you could use this to write Apple .strings files in UTF-16. This flag is currently only supported in Ruby 1.9.3 or greater.') do |e|
-          unless "".respond_to? :encode
-            raise Twine::Error.new "The --encoding flag is only supported on Ruby 1.9.3 or greater."
-          end
+        opts.on('-e', '--encoding ENCODING', 'Twine defaults to encoding all output files in UTF-8. This flag will tell Twine to use an alternate encoding for these files. For example, you could use this to write Apple .strings files in UTF-16. When reading files, Twine does its best to determine the encoding automatically. However, if the files are UTF-16 without BOM, you need to specify if it\'s UTF-16LE or UTF16-BE.') do |e|
           options[:output_encoding] = e
         end
         opts.on('--validate', 'Validate the strings file before formatting it') do
diff --git a/lib/twine/encoding.rb b/lib/twine/encoding.rb
index d268a36..7cdd710 100644
--- a/lib/twine/encoding.rb
+++ b/lib/twine/encoding.rb
@@ -1,20 +1,22 @@
 module Twine
   module Encoding
-    def self.encoding_for_path path
-      File.open(path, 'rb') do |f|
-        begin
-          a = f.readbyte
-          b = f.readbyte
-          if (a == 0xfe && b == 0xff)
-            return 'UTF-16BE'
-          elsif (a == 0xff && b == 0xfe)
-            return 'UTF-16LE'
-          end
-        rescue EOFError
-        end
-      end
 
-      'UTF-8'
+    def self.bom(path)
+      first_bytes = IO.binread(path, 2)
+      return nil unless first_bytes
+      first_bytes = first_bytes.codepoints.map.to_a
+      return 'UTF-16BE' if first_bytes == [0xFE, 0xFF]
+      return 'UTF-16LE' if first_bytes == [0xFF, 0xFE]
+    rescue EOFError
+      return nil
+    end
+
+    def self.has_bom?(path)
+      !bom(path).nil?
+    end
+
+    def self.encoding_for_path(path)
+      bom(path) || 'UTF-8'      
     end
   end
 end
diff --git a/lib/twine/formatters/abstract.rb b/lib/twine/formatters/abstract.rb
index 68d227e..012346e 100644
--- a/lib/twine/formatters/abstract.rb
+++ b/lib/twine/formatters/abstract.rb
@@ -83,8 +83,8 @@ module Twine
         lang
       end
 
-      def read_file(path, lang)
-        raise NotImplementedError.new("You must implement read_file in your formatter class.")
+      def read(io, lang)
+        raise NotImplementedError.new("You must implement read in your formatter class.")
       end
 
       def format_file(lang)
diff --git a/lib/twine/formatters/android.rb b/lib/twine/formatters/android.rb
index 2a92ae4..448826d 100644
--- a/lib/twine/formatters/android.rb
+++ b/lib/twine/formatters/android.rb
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ module Twine
         super(key, lang, value)
       end
 
-      def read_file(path, lang)
+      def read(io, lang)
         resources_regex = /<resources(?:[^>]*)>(.*)<\/resources>/m
         key_regex = /<string name="(\w+)">/
         comment_regex = /<!-- (.*) -->/
@@ -77,27 +77,25 @@ module Twine
         value = nil
         comment = nil
 
-        File.open(path, 'r:UTF-8') do |f|
-          content_match = resources_regex.match(f.read)
-          if content_match
-            for line in content_match[1].split(/\r?\n/)
-              key_match = key_regex.match(line)
-              if key_match
-                key = key_match[1]
-                value_match = value_regex.match(line)
-                value = value_match ? value_match[1] : ""
-                
-                set_translation_for_key(key, lang, value)
-                if comment and comment.length > 0 and !comment.start_with?("SECTION:")
-                  set_comment_for_key(key, comment)
-                end
-                comment = nil
-              end
-
-              comment_match = comment_regex.match(line)
-              if comment_match
-                comment = comment_match[1]
+        content_match = resources_regex.match(io.read)
+        if content_match
+          for line in content_match[1].split(/\r?\n/)
+            key_match = key_regex.match(line)
+            if key_match
+              key = key_match[1]
+              value_match = value_regex.match(line)
+              value = value_match ? value_match[1] : ""
+              
+              set_translation_for_key(key, lang, value)
+              if comment and comment.length > 0 and !comment.start_with?("SECTION:")
+                set_comment_for_key(key, comment)
               end
+              comment = nil
+            end
+            
+            comment_match = comment_regex.match(line)
+            if comment_match
+              comment = comment_match[1]
             end
           end
         end
diff --git a/lib/twine/formatters/apple.rb b/lib/twine/formatters/apple.rb
index ebd9cac..9546e2b 100644
--- a/lib/twine/formatters/apple.rb
+++ b/lib/twine/formatters/apple.rb
@@ -35,56 +35,28 @@ module Twine
         "#{lang}.lproj"
       end
 
-      def read_file(path, lang)
-        encoding = Twine::Encoding.encoding_for_path(path)
-        sep = nil
-        if !encoding.respond_to?(:encode)
-          # This code is not necessary in 1.9.3 and does not work as it did in 1.8.7.
-          if encoding.end_with? 'LE'
-            sep = "\x0a\x00"
-          elsif encoding.end_with? 'BE'
-            sep = "\x00\x0a"
-          else
-            sep = "\n"
+      def read(io, lang)
+        last_comment = nil
+        while line = io.gets
+          # matches a `key = "value"` line, where key may be quoted or unquoted. The former may also contain escaped characters
+          match = /^\s*((?:"(?:[^"\\]|\\.)+")|(?:[^"\s=]+))\s*=\s*"((?:[^"\\]|\\.)*)"/.match(line)
+          if match
+            key = match[1]
+            key = key[1..-2] if key[0] == '"' and key[-1] == '"'
+            key.gsub!('\\"', '"')
+            value = match[2]
+            value.gsub!('\\"', '"')
+            set_translation_for_key(key, lang, value)
+            if last_comment
+              set_comment_for_key(key, last_comment)
+            end
           end
-        end
-
-        if encoding.index('UTF-16')
-          mode = "rb:#{encoding}"
-        else
-          mode = "r:#{encoding}"
-        end
-
-        File.open(path, mode) do |f|
-          last_comment = nil
-          while line = (sep) ? f.gets(sep) : f.gets
-            if encoding.index('UTF-16')
-              if line.respond_to? :encode!
-                line.encode!('UTF-8')
-              else
-                require 'iconv'
-                line = Iconv.iconv('UTF-8', encoding, line).join
-              end
-            end
-            match = /"((?:[^"\\]|\\.)+)"\s*=\s*"((?:[^"\\]|\\.)*)"/.match(line)
-            if match
-              key = match[1]
-              key.gsub!('\\"', '"')
-              value = match[2]
-              value.gsub!('\\"', '"')
-              set_translation_for_key(key, lang, value)
-              if last_comment
-                set_comment_for_key(key, last_comment)
-              end
-            end
-
-            match = /\/\* (.*) \*\//.match(line)
-            if match
-              last_comment = match[1]
-            else
-              last_comment = nil
-            end
 
+          match = /\/\* (.*) \*\//.match(line)
+          if match
+            last_comment = match[1]
+          else
+            last_comment = nil
           end
         end
       end
diff --git a/lib/twine/formatters/django.rb b/lib/twine/formatters/django.rb
index d0b5083..b63657e 100644
--- a/lib/twine/formatters/django.rb
+++ b/lib/twine/formatters/django.rb
@@ -29,67 +29,35 @@ module Twine
         return
       end
 
-      def read_file(path, lang)
+      def read(io, lang)
         comment_regex = /#\. *"?(.*)"?$/
         key_regex = /msgid *"(.*)"$/
         value_regex = /msgstr *"(.*)"$/m
 
-        encoding = Twine::Encoding.encoding_for_path(path)
-        sep = nil
-        if !encoding.respond_to?(:encode)
-          # This code is not necessary in 1.9.3 and does not work as it did in 1.8.7.
-          if encoding.end_with? 'LE'
-            sep = "\x0a\x00"
-          elsif encoding.end_with? 'BE'
-            sep = "\x00\x0a"
-          else
-            sep = "\n"
+        last_comment = nil
+        while line = io.gets          
+          comment_match = comment_regex.match(line)
+          if comment_match
+            comment = comment_match[1]
           end
-        end
 
-        if encoding.index('UTF-16')
-          mode = "rb:#{encoding}"
-        else
-          mode = "r:#{encoding}"
-        end
+          key_match = key_regex.match(line)
+          if key_match
+            key = key_match[1].gsub('\\"', '"')
+          end
+          value_match = value_regex.match(line)
+          if value_match
+            value = value_match[1].gsub(/"\n"/, '').gsub('\\"', '"')
+          end
 
-        File.open(path, mode) do |f|
-          last_comment = nil
-          while line = (sep) ? f.gets(sep) : f.gets
-            if encoding.index('UTF-16')
-              if line.respond_to? :encode!
-                line.encode!('UTF-8')
-              else
-                require 'iconv'
-                line = Iconv.iconv('UTF-8', encoding, line).join
-              end
+          if key and key.length > 0 and value and value.length > 0
+            set_translation_for_key(key, lang, value)
+            if comment and comment.length > 0 and !comment.start_with?("--------- ")
+              set_comment_for_key(key, comment)
             end
-            
-            comment_match = comment_regex.match(line)
-            if comment_match
-              comment = comment_match[1]
-            end
-
-            key_match = key_regex.match(line)
-            if key_match
-                key = key_match[1].gsub('\\"', '"')
-            end
-            value_match = value_regex.match(line)
-            if value_match
-                value = value_match[1].gsub(/"\n"/, '').gsub('\\"', '"')
-            end
-
-
-            if key and key.length > 0 and value and value.length > 0
-                set_translation_for_key(key, lang, value)
-                if comment and comment.length > 0 and !comment.start_with?("--------- ")
-                    set_comment_for_key(key, comment)
-                end
-                key = nil
-                value = nil
-                comment = nil
-            end
-
+            key = nil
+            value = nil
+            comment = nil
           end
         end
       end
diff --git a/lib/twine/formatters/flash.rb b/lib/twine/formatters/flash.rb
index c0dbada..8cc29da 100644
--- a/lib/twine/formatters/flash.rb
+++ b/lib/twine/formatters/flash.rb
@@ -21,55 +21,25 @@ module Twine
         return
       end
 
-      def read_file(path, lang)
-        encoding = Twine::Encoding.encoding_for_path(path)
-        sep = nil
-        if !encoding.respond_to?(:encode)
-          # This code is not necessary in 1.9.3 and does not work as it did in 1.8.7.
-          if encoding.end_with? 'LE'
-            sep = "\x0a\x00"
-          elsif encoding.end_with? 'BE'
-            sep = "\x00\x0a"
-          else
-            sep = "\n"
+      def read(io, lang)
+        last_comment = nil
+        while line = io.gets
+          match = /((?:[^"\\]|\\.)+)\s*=\s*((?:[^"\\]|\\.)*)/.match(line)
+          if match
+            key = match[1]
+            value = match[2].strip
+            value.gsub!(/\{[0-9]\}/, '%@')
+            set_translation_for_key(key, lang, value)
+            if last_comment
+              set_comment_for_key(key, last_comment)
+            end
           end
-        end
-
-        if encoding.index('UTF-16')
-          mode = "rb:#{encoding}"
-        else
-          mode = "r:#{encoding}"
-        end
-
-        File.open(path, mode) do |f|
-          last_comment = nil
-          while line = (sep) ? f.gets(sep) : f.gets
-            if encoding.index('UTF-16')
-              if line.respond_to? :encode!
-                line.encode!('UTF-8')
-              else
-                require 'iconv'
-                line = Iconv.iconv('UTF-8', encoding, line).join
-              end
-            end
-            match = /((?:[^"\\]|\\.)+)\s*=\s*((?:[^"\\]|\\.)*)/.match(line)
-            if match
-              key = match[1]
-              value = match[2].strip
-              value.gsub!(/\{[0-9]\}/, '%@')
-              set_translation_for_key(key, lang, value)
-              if last_comment
-                set_comment_for_key(key, last_comment)
-              end
-            end
-            
-            match = /# *(.*)/.match(line)
-            if match
-              last_comment = match[1]
-            else
-              last_comment = nil
-            end
-
+          
+          match = /# *(.*)/.match(line)
+          if match
+            last_comment = match[1]
+          else
+            last_comment = nil
           end
         end
       end
diff --git a/lib/twine/formatters/gettext.rb b/lib/twine/formatters/gettext.rb
index d49bc4a..71b9a84 100644
--- a/lib/twine/formatters/gettext.rb
+++ b/lib/twine/formatters/gettext.rb
@@ -31,35 +31,34 @@ module Twine
         return
       end
 
-      def read_file(path, lang)
+      def read(io, lang)
         comment_regex = /#.? *"(.*)"$/
         key_regex = /msgctxt *"(.*)"$/
         value_regex = /msgstr *"(.*)"$/m
-        File.open(path, 'r:UTF-8') do |f|
-          while item = f.gets("\n\n")
-            key = nil
-            value = nil
-            comment = nil
+        
+        while item = io.gets("\n\n")
+          key = nil
+          value = nil
+          comment = nil
 
-            comment_match = comment_regex.match(item)
-            if comment_match
-              comment = comment_match[1]
-            end
-            key_match = key_regex.match(item)
-            if key_match
-              key = key_match[1].gsub('\\"', '"')
-            end
-            value_match = value_regex.match(item)
-            if value_match
-              value = value_match[1].gsub(/"\n"/, '').gsub('\\"', '"')
-            end
-            if key and key.length > 0 and value and value.length > 0
-              set_translation_for_key(key, lang, value)
-              if comment and comment.length > 0 and !comment.start_with?("SECTION:")
-                set_comment_for_key(key, comment)
-              end
-              comment = nil
+          comment_match = comment_regex.match(item)
+          if comment_match
+            comment = comment_match[1]
+          end
+          key_match = key_regex.match(item)
+          if key_match
+            key = key_match[1].gsub('\\"', '"')
+          end
+          value_match = value_regex.match(item)
+          if value_match
+            value = value_match[1].gsub(/"\n"/, '').gsub('\\"', '"')
+          end
+          if key and key.length > 0 and value and value.length > 0
+            set_translation_for_key(key, lang, value)
+            if comment and comment.length > 0 and !comment.start_with?("SECTION:")
+              set_comment_for_key(key, comment)
             end
+            comment = nil
           end
         end
       end
diff --git a/lib/twine/formatters/jquery.rb b/lib/twine/formatters/jquery.rb
index badab5a..310f041 100644
--- a/lib/twine/formatters/jquery.rb
+++ b/lib/twine/formatters/jquery.rb
@@ -29,18 +29,16 @@ module Twine
         return
       end
 
-      def read_file(path, lang)
+      def read(io, lang)
         begin
           require "json"
         rescue LoadError
           raise Twine::Error.new "You must run 'gem install json' in order to read or write jquery-localize files."
         end
 
-        open(path) do |io|
-          json = JSON.load(io)
-          json.each do |key, value|
-            set_translation_for_key(key, lang, value)
-          end
+        json = JSON.load(io)
+        json.each do |key, value|
+          set_translation_for_key(key, lang, value)
         end
       end
 
diff --git a/lib/twine/formatters/tizen.rb b/lib/twine/formatters/tizen.rb
index c4abd99..8c9fae8 100644
--- a/lib/twine/formatters/tizen.rb
+++ b/lib/twine/formatters/tizen.rb
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ module Twine
         return
       end
 
-      def read_file(path, lang)
+      def read(io, lang)
         resources_regex = /<resources(?:[^>]*)>(.*)<\/resources>/m
         key_regex = /<string name="(\w+)">/
         comment_regex = /<!-- (.*) -->/
@@ -58,35 +58,33 @@ module Twine
         value = nil
         comment = nil
 
-        File.open(path, 'r:UTF-8') do |f|
-          content_match = resources_regex.match(f.read)
-          if content_match
-            for line in content_match[1].split(/\r?\n/)
-              key_match = key_regex.match(line)
-              if key_match
-                key = key_match[1]
-                value_match = value_regex.match(line)
-                if value_match
-                  value = value_match[1]
-                  value = CGI.unescapeHTML(value)
-                  value.gsub!('\\\'', '\'')
-                  value.gsub!('\\"', '"')
-                  value = convert_placeholders_from_android_to_twine(value)
-                  value.gsub!(/(\\u0020)*|(\\u0020)*\z/) { |spaces| ' ' * (spaces.length / 6) }
-                else
-                  value = ""
-                end
-                set_translation_for_key(key, lang, value)
-                if comment and comment.length > 0 and !comment.start_with?("SECTION:")
-                  set_comment_for_key(key, comment)
-                end
-                comment = nil
+        content_match = resources_regex.match(io.read)
+        if content_match
+          for line in content_match[1].split(/\r?\n/)
+            key_match = key_regex.match(line)
+            if key_match
+              key = key_match[1]
+              value_match = value_regex.match(line)
+              if value_match
+                value = value_match[1]
+                value = CGI.unescapeHTML(value)
+                value.gsub!('\\\'', '\'')
+                value.gsub!('\\"', '"')
+                value = convert_placeholders_from_android_to_twine(value)
+                value.gsub!(/(\\u0020)*|(\\u0020)*\z/) { |spaces| ' ' * (spaces.length / 6) }
+              else
+                value = ""
               end
+              set_translation_for_key(key, lang, value)
+              if comment and comment.length > 0 and !comment.start_with?("SECTION:")
+                set_comment_for_key(key, comment)
+              end
+              comment = nil
+            end
 
-              comment_match = comment_regex.match(line)
-              if comment_match
-                comment = comment_match[1]
-              end
+            comment_match = comment_regex.match(line)
+            if comment_match
+              comment = comment_match[1]
             end
           end
         end
diff --git a/lib/twine/runner.rb b/lib/twine/runner.rb
index f91d0da..92a6c71 100644
--- a/lib/twine/runner.rb
+++ b/lib/twine/runner.rb
@@ -192,18 +192,18 @@ module Twine
         raise Twine::Error.new("File does not exist: #{@options[:input_path]}")
       end
 
-      Dir.mktmpdir do |dir|
+      Dir.mktmpdir do |temp_dir|
         Zip::File.open(@options[:input_path]) do |zipfile|
           zipfile.each do |entry|
-            if !entry.name.end_with?'/' and !File.basename(entry.name).start_with?'.'
-              real_path = File.join(dir, entry.name)
-              FileUtils.mkdir_p(File.dirname(real_path))
-              zipfile.extract(entry.name, real_path)
-              begin
-                read_string_file(real_path)
-              rescue Twine::Error => e
-                Twine::stderr.puts "#{e.message}"
-              end
+            next if entry.name.end_with? '/' or File.basename(entry.name).start_with? '.'
+
+            real_path = File.join(temp_dir, entry.name)
+            FileUtils.mkdir_p(File.dirname(real_path))
+            zipfile.extract(entry.name, real_path)
+            begin
+              read_string_file(real_path)
+            rescue Twine::Error => e
+              Twine::stderr.puts "#{e.message}"
             end
           end
         end
@@ -295,7 +295,13 @@ module Twine
       end
 
       formatter, lang = prepare_read_write(path, lang)
-      formatter.read_file(path, lang)
+
+      encoding = @options[:encoding] || Twine::Encoding.encoding_for_path(path)
+
+      IO.open(IO.sysopen(path, 'rb'), 'rb', external_encoding: encoding, internal_encoding: 'UTF-8') do |io|
+        io.read(2) if Twine::Encoding.has_bom?(path)
+        formatter.read(io, lang)
+      end
     end
 
     def prepare_read_write(path, lang)
diff --git a/test/fixtures/enc_utf16be.dummy b/test/fixtures/enc_utf16be.dummy
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c5986a0
Binary files /dev/null and b/test/fixtures/enc_utf16be.dummy differ
diff --git a/test/fixtures/enc_utf16be_bom.dummy b/test/fixtures/enc_utf16be_bom.dummy
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..894c71d
Binary files /dev/null and b/test/fixtures/enc_utf16be_bom.dummy differ
diff --git a/test/fixtures/enc_utf16le.dummy b/test/fixtures/enc_utf16le.dummy
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d4feca3
Binary files /dev/null and b/test/fixtures/enc_utf16le.dummy differ
diff --git a/test/fixtures/enc_utf16le_bom.dummy b/test/fixtures/enc_utf16le_bom.dummy
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d3333f0
Binary files /dev/null and b/test/fixtures/enc_utf16le_bom.dummy differ
diff --git a/test/fixtures/enc_utf8.dummy b/test/fixtures/enc_utf8.dummy
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ea17334
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/fixtures/enc_utf8.dummy
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+Üß`
+da
diff --git a/test/test_consume_loc_drop.rb b/test/test_consume_loc_drop.rb
index 8bac0a5..deab5c0 100644
--- a/test/test_consume_loc_drop.rb
+++ b/test/test_consume_loc_drop.rb
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ class TestConsumeLocDrop < CommandTestCase
     super
 
     options = {}
-    options[:input_path] = fixture 'consume_loc_drop.zip'
+    options[:input_path] = fixture_path 'consume_loc_drop.zip'
     options[:output_path] = @output_path
     options[:format] = 'apple'
 
diff --git a/test/test_consume_string_file.rb b/test/test_consume_string_file.rb
index bca1a03..c56781f 100644
--- a/test/test_consume_string_file.rb
+++ b/test/test_consume_string_file.rb
@@ -14,31 +14,31 @@ class TestConsumeStringFile < CommandTestCase
     Twine::Runner.new(options, @strings)
   end
 
-  def prepare_mock_read_file_formatter(formatter_class)
+  def prepare_mock_read_formatter(formatter_class)
     formatter = prepare_mock_formatter(formatter_class)
-    formatter.expects(:read_file)
+    formatter.expects(:read)
   end
 
   def test_deducts_android_format_from_output_path
-    prepare_mock_read_file_formatter Twine::Formatters::Android
+    prepare_mock_read_formatter Twine::Formatters::Android
 
     new_runner('fr', 'fr.xml').consume_string_file
   end
 
   def test_deducts_apple_format_from_output_path
-    prepare_mock_read_file_formatter Twine::Formatters::Apple
+    prepare_mock_read_formatter Twine::Formatters::Apple
 
     new_runner('fr', 'fr.strings').consume_string_file
   end
 
   def test_deducts_jquery_format_from_output_path
-    prepare_mock_read_file_formatter Twine::Formatters::JQuery
+    prepare_mock_read_formatter Twine::Formatters::JQuery
 
     new_runner('fr', 'fr.json').consume_string_file
   end
 
   def test_deducts_gettext_format_from_output_path
-    prepare_mock_read_file_formatter Twine::Formatters::Gettext
+    prepare_mock_read_formatter Twine::Formatters::Gettext
 
     new_runner('fr', 'fr.po').consume_string_file
   end
@@ -46,8 +46,74 @@ class TestConsumeStringFile < CommandTestCase
   def test_deducts_language_from_input_path
     random_language = KNOWN_LANGUAGES.sample
     formatter = prepare_mock_formatter Twine::Formatters::Android
-    formatter.expects(:read_file).with(anything, random_language)
+    formatter.expects(:read).with(anything, random_language)
 
     new_runner(nil, "#{random_language}.xml").consume_string_file
   end
+
+  class TestEncodings < CommandTestCase
+    class DummyFormatter < Twine::Formatters::Abstract
+      attr_reader :content
+
+      def extension
+        '.dummy'
+      end
+
+      def format_name
+        'dummy'
+      end
+
+      def read(io, lang)
+        @content = io.read
+      end
+    end
+
+    def new_runner(input_path, encoding = nil)
+      options = {}
+      options[:output_path] = @output_path
+      options[:input_path] = input_path
+      options[:encoding] = encoding if encoding
+      options[:languages] = 'en'
+
+      @strings = Twine::StringsFile.new
+      @strings.language_codes.concat KNOWN_LANGUAGES
+
+      Twine::Runner.new(options, @strings)
+    end
+
+    def setup
+      super
+      @expected_content = "Üß`\nda\n"
+    end
+
+    def test_reads_utf8
+      formatter = prepare_mock_formatter DummyFormatter
+      new_runner(fixture_path('enc_utf8.dummy')).consume_string_file
+      assert_equal @expected_content, formatter.content
+    end
+
+    def test_reads_utf16le_bom
+      formatter = prepare_mock_formatter DummyFormatter
+      new_runner(fixture_path('enc_utf16le_bom.dummy')).consume_string_file
+      assert_equal @expected_content, formatter.content
+    end
+
+    def test_reads_utf16be_bom
+      formatter = prepare_mock_formatter DummyFormatter
+      new_runner(fixture_path('enc_utf16be_bom.dummy')).consume_string_file
+      assert_equal @expected_content, formatter.content
+    end
+
+    def test_reads_utf16le
+      formatter = prepare_mock_formatter DummyFormatter
+      new_runner(fixture_path('enc_utf16le.dummy'), 'UTF-16LE').consume_string_file
+      assert_equal @expected_content, formatter.content
+    end
+
+    def test_reads_utf16be
+      formatter = prepare_mock_formatter DummyFormatter
+      new_runner(fixture_path('enc_utf16be.dummy'), 'UTF-16BE').consume_string_file
+      assert_equal @expected_content, formatter.content
+    end
+  end
 end
diff --git a/test/test_formatters.rb b/test/test_formatters.rb
index 5fbe584..dd363c6 100644
--- a/test/test_formatters.rb
+++ b/test/test_formatters.rb
@@ -41,8 +41,8 @@ class TestAndroidFormatter < FormatterTest
     super Twine::Formatters::Android
   end
 
-  def test_read_file_format
-    @formatter.read_file fixture('formatter_android.xml'), 'en'
+  def test_read_format
+    @formatter.read content_io('formatter_android.xml'), 'en'
 
     assert_file_contents_read_correctly
   end
@@ -131,12 +131,52 @@ class TestAppleFormatter < FormatterTest
     super Twine::Formatters::Apple
   end
 
-  def test_read_file_format
-    @formatter.read_file fixture('formatter_apple.strings'), 'en'
+  def test_read_format
+    @formatter.read content_io('formatter_apple.strings'), 'en'
 
     assert_file_contents_read_correctly
   end
 
+  def test_reads_quoted_keys
+    @formatter.read StringIO.new('"key" = "value"'), 'en'
+    assert_equal 'value', @strings.strings_map['key'].translations['en']
+  end
+
+  def test_reads_unquoted_keys
+    @formatter.read StringIO.new('key = "value"'), 'en'
+    assert_equal 'value', @strings.strings_map['key'].translations['en']
+  end
+
+  def test_ignores_leading_whitespace_before_quoted_keys
+    @formatter.read StringIO.new("\t  \"key\" = \"value\""), 'en'
+    assert_equal 'value', @strings.strings_map['key'].translations['en']
+  end
+
+  def test_ignores_leading_whitespace_before_unquoted_keys
+    @formatter.read StringIO.new("\t  key = \"value\""), 'en'
+    assert_equal 'value', @strings.strings_map['key'].translations['en']
+  end
+
+  def test_allows_quotes_in_quoted_keys
+    @formatter.read StringIO.new('"ke\"y" = "value"'), 'en'
+    assert_equal 'value', @strings.strings_map['ke"y'].translations['en']
+  end
+
+  def test_does_not_allow_quotes_in_quoted_keys
+    @formatter.read StringIO.new('ke"y = "value"'), 'en'
+    assert_nil @strings.strings_map['key']
+  end
+
+  def test_allows_equal_signs_in_quoted_keys
+    @formatter.read StringIO.new('"k=ey" = "value"'), 'en'
+    assert_equal 'value', @strings.strings_map['k=ey'].translations['en']
+  end
+
+  def test_does_not_allow_equal_signs_in_unquoted_keys
+    @formatter.read StringIO.new('k=ey = "value"'), 'en'
+    assert_nil @strings.strings_map['key']
+  end
+
   def test_format_file
     formatter = Twine::Formatters::Apple.new
     formatter.strings = @twine_file
@@ -162,8 +202,8 @@ class TestJQueryFormatter < FormatterTest
     super Twine::Formatters::JQuery
   end
 
-  def test_read_file_format
-    @formatter.read_file fixture('formatter_jquery.json'), 'en'
+  def test_read_format
+    @formatter.read content_io('formatter_jquery.json'), 'en'
 
     assert_translations_read_correctly
   end
@@ -185,14 +225,14 @@ class TestGettextFormatter < FormatterTest
     super Twine::Formatters::Gettext
   end
 
-  def test_read_file_format
-    @formatter.read_file fixture('formatter_gettext.po'), 'en'
+  def test_read_format
+    @formatter.read content_io('formatter_gettext.po'), 'en'
 
     assert_file_contents_read_correctly
   end
 
-  def test_read_file_with_multiple_line_value
-    @formatter.read_file fixture('gettext_multiline.po'), 'en'
+  def test_read_with_multiple_line_value
+    @formatter.read content_io('gettext_multiline.po'), 'en'
 
     assert_equal 'multiline\nstring', @strings.strings_map['key1'].translations['en']
   end
@@ -211,9 +251,9 @@ class TestTizenFormatter < FormatterTest
     super Twine::Formatters::Tizen
   end
 
-  def test_read_file_format
-    skip 'the current implementation of Tizen formatter does not support read_file'
-    @formatter.read_file fixture('formatter_tizen.xml'), 'en'
+  def test_read_format
+    skip 'the current implementation of Tizen formatter does not support reading'
+    @formatter.read content_io('formatter_tizen.xml'), 'en'
 
     assert_file_contents_read_correctly
   end
@@ -231,8 +271,8 @@ class TestDjangoFormatter < FormatterTest
     super Twine::Formatters::Django
   end
 
-  def test_read_file_format
-    @formatter.read_file fixture('formatter_django.po'), 'en'
+  def test_read_format
+    @formatter.read content_io('formatter_django.po'), 'en'
 
     assert_file_contents_read_correctly
   end
@@ -249,8 +289,8 @@ class TestFlashFormatter < FormatterTest
     super Twine::Formatters::Flash
   end
 
-  def test_read_file_format
-    @formatter.read_file fixture('formatter_flash.properties'), 'en'
+  def test_read_format
+    @formatter.read content_io('formatter_flash.properties'), 'en'
 
     assert_file_contents_read_correctly
   end
diff --git a/test/test_strings_file.rb b/test/test_strings_file.rb
index a3b9788..be51976 100644
--- a/test/test_strings_file.rb
+++ b/test/test_strings_file.rb
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ class TestStringsFile < TwineTestCase
       super
 
       @strings = Twine::StringsFile.new
-      @strings.read fixture('twine_accent_values.txt')
+      @strings.read fixture_path('twine_accent_values.txt')
     end
 
     def test_reading_keeps_leading_accent
diff --git a/test/twine_file_dsl.rb b/test/twine_file_dsl.rb
index ebb4544..5eba9b9 100644
--- a/test/twine_file_dsl.rb
+++ b/test/twine_file_dsl.rb
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ module TwineFileDSL
     return unless @currently_built_twine_file
     return unless @currently_built_twine_file_section
 
-    # this relies on Ruby 1.9 preserving the order of hash elements
+    # this relies on Ruby preserving the order of hash elements
     key, value = parameters.first
     row = Twine::StringsRow.new(key.to_s)
     if value.is_a? Hash
diff --git a/test/twine_test_case.rb b/test/twine_test_case.rb
index f9753b3..cf4d4d9 100644
--- a/test/twine_test_case.rb
+++ b/test/twine_test_case.rb
@@ -34,12 +34,15 @@ class TwineTestCase < Minitest::Test
     Twine::Runner.run(command.split(" "))
   end
 
-  def fixture(filename)
+  def fixture_path(filename)
     File.join File.dirname(__FILE__), 'fixtures', filename
   end
-  alias :f :fixture
 
   def content(filename)
-    ERB.new(File.read fixture(filename)).result
+    ERB.new(File.read fixture_path(filename)).result
+  end
+
+  def content_io(filename)
+    StringIO.new ERB.new(File.read fixture_path(filename)).result
   end
 end