Listing only those mappings that are different from taking off the leading backslash: 
my %mapping = (n => "\n", t => "\t");
$str =~ s{\\(.)}{$mapping{$1}//$1}seg;

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This still gives fine control, but you don't have to list everything.

In reply to Re^2: Interpretting character combinations as special characters. by JavaFan
in thread Interpretting character combinations as special characters. by music_man1352000

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