Brahmic scripts

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The Brahmic scripts, also known as Indic scripts, are a family of abugida writing systems. They are used throughout the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia and parts of East Asia. They are descended from the Brahmi script of ancient India and are used by various languages in several language families in South, East and Southeast Asia: Indo-Aryan, Dravidian, Tibeto-Burman, Mongolic, Austroasiatic, Austronesian, and Tai. They were also the source of the dictionary order ( gojūon ) of Japanese kana . [1]

Contents

History

Brahmic scripts descended from the Brahmi script. Brahmi is clearly attested from the 3rd century BCE during the reign of Ashoka, who used the script for imperial edicts. Northern Brahmi gave rise to the Gupta script during the Gupta period, which in turn diversified into a number of cursives during the medieval period. Notable examples of such medieval scripts, developed by the 7th or 8th century, include Nagari, Siddham and Sharada.

There are many theories where Brahmi came from, But the most accepted theory is that it descends from Aramaic alphabet, with similarities with several of the glyphs. [2]

The Siddhaṃ script was especially important in Buddhism, as many sutras were written in it. The art of Siddham calligraphy survives today in Japan. The tabular presentation and dictionary order of the modern kana system of Japanese writing is believed to be descended from the Indic scripts, most likely through the spread of Buddhism. [1]

Southern Brahmi evolved into the Kadamba, Pallava and Vatteluttu scripts, which in turn diversified into other scripts of South India and Southeast Asia. Brahmic scripts spread in a peaceful manner, Indianization, or the spread of Indian learning. The scripts spread naturally to Southeast Asia, at ports on trading routes. [3] At these trading posts, ancient inscriptions have been found in Sanskrit, using scripts that originated in India. At first, inscriptions were made in Indian languages, but later the scripts were used to write the local Southeast Asian languages. Hereafter, local varieties of the scripts were developed. By the 8th century, the scripts had diverged and separated into regional scripts. [4]

Characteristics

Some characteristics, which are present in most but not all the scripts, are:

Comparison

Below are comparison charts of several of the major Indic scripts, organised on the principle that glyphs in the same column all derive from the same Brahmi glyph. Accordingly:

The transliteration is indicated in ISO 15919.

Consonants

ISO [lower-alpha 1] ka kha ga gha ṅa ca cha ja jha ña ṭa ṭha ḍa ḍha ṇa ta tha da dha na ṉa pa pha/fa ba bha ma ya ẏa ra ṟa la ḷa ḻa va śa ṣa sa ha kṣa ṯa
Ashoka Brahmi 𑀓𑀔𑀕𑀖𑀗𑀘𑀙𑀚𑀛𑀜𑀝𑀞𑀟𑀠𑀡𑀢𑀣𑀤𑀥𑀦𑀧𑀨𑀩𑀪𑀫𑀬𑀭𑀮𑀴𑀯𑀰𑀱𑀲𑀳 
Devanagari क्ष 
Bengali-
Assamese
য়র,ৰক্ষ 
Gurmukhi ਲ਼ਸ਼ 
Gujarati ક્ષ 
Odia କ୍ଷ 
Grantham 𑌕𑌖𑌗𑌘𑌙𑌚𑌛𑌜𑌝𑌞𑌟𑌠𑌡𑌢𑌣𑌤𑌥𑌦𑌧𑌨𑌪𑌫𑌬𑌭𑌮𑌯𑌰𑌲𑌳𑌵𑌶𑌷𑌸𑌹𑌕𑍍𑌷 
Tamil க்ஷ 
Telugu క్ష 
Kannada ಕ್ಷ 
Malayalam ക്ഷ
Sinhala ක්‍ෂ 
Tibetan གྷཛྷཌྷདྷབྷ [lower-alpha 2]  
ʼPhags-pa ꡂꡜꡆꡜꡫꡜꡊꡜꡎꡜ 
Meitei Mayek [lower-alpha 3]  
Lepcha ᰡ᰷ 
Limbu  
Tirhuta 𑒏𑒐𑒑𑒒𑒓𑒔𑒕𑒖𑒗𑒘𑒙𑒚𑒛𑒜𑒝𑒞𑒟𑒠𑒡𑒢𑒣𑒤𑒥𑒦𑒧𑒨𑒩𑒪𑒬𑒭𑒮𑒯 
Kaithi 𑂍𑂎𑂏𑂐𑂑𑂒𑂓𑂔𑂕𑂖𑂗𑂘𑂙𑂛𑂝𑂞𑂟𑂠𑂡𑂢𑂣𑂤𑂥𑂦𑂧𑂨𑂩𑂪𑂫𑂬𑂭𑂮𑂯 
Sylheti Nagari  
Chakma [lower-alpha 4] 𑄇𑄈𑄉𑄊𑄋𑄌𑄍𑄎𑄏𑄐𑄑𑄒𑄓𑄔𑄕𑄖𑄗𑄘𑄙𑄚𑄛𑄜𑄝𑄞𑄟𑄠𑄡𑄢𑄣𑅄𑄤𑄥𑄦 
Burmese ကဉ / 
Tai Tham ᨡ,ᨢ [lower-alpha 5] ᨣ,ᨤ [lower-alpha 5] ᨩ,ᨪ [lower-alpha 5] ᨷ,ᨸ [lower-alpha 5] ᨹ,ᨺ [lower-alpha 5] ᨻ,ᨼ [lower-alpha 5] ᨿ,ᩀ [lower-alpha 5] ᩉ,ᩌ [lower-alpha 5]  
New Tai Lue ᦅ,ᦆ [lower-alpha 5] ᦋ,ᦌ [lower-alpha 5] ᦡ,ᦤ [lower-alpha 5] ᦢ,ᦥ [lower-alpha 5] ,ᦔ [lower-alpha 5] ᦕ,ᦚ [lower-alpha 5] ᦗ,ᦝ [lower-alpha 5] ᦍ,ᦊ [lower-alpha 5]  
Khmer  
Thai ข,ฃ [lower-alpha 6] ค,ฅ [lower-alpha 6] ช,ซ [lower-alpha 6] ฎ, [lower-alpha 6] ด, [lower-alpha 6] บ, [lower-alpha 6] ผ,ฝ [lower-alpha 6] พ,ฟ [lower-alpha 6] ห,ฮ [lower-alpha 6]  
Lao [lower-alpha 7] [lower-alpha 7] [lower-alpha 7] [lower-alpha 7] [lower-alpha 7] [lower-alpha 7] [lower-alpha 7] [lower-alpha 7] [lower-alpha 7] ດ,ຕ [lower-alpha 7] ບ,ປຜ,ຝພ,ຟ [lower-alpha 7] [lower-alpha 7] [lower-alpha 7] [lower-alpha 7]  
Cham  
Kawi 𑼒𑼓𑼔𑼕𑼖𑼗𑼘𑼙𑼚𑼛𑼜𑼝𑼞𑼟𑼠𑼡𑼢𑼣𑼤𑼥𑼳𑼦𑼧𑼨𑼩𑼪𑼫𑼬𑼭𑼮𑼯𑼰𑼱𑼲 
Balinese  
Javanese [lower-alpha 8] [lower-alpha 8] [lower-alpha 8] [lower-alpha 8] [lower-alpha 8] [lower-alpha 8] [lower-alpha 8] [lower-alpha 8] [lower-alpha 8] [lower-alpha 8] [lower-alpha 8] [lower-alpha 8] [lower-alpha 8] [lower-alpha 8]  
Sundanese [lower-alpha 9] [lower-alpha 10] [lower-alpha 11]  
Lontara  
Makasar 𑻠𑻡𑻢𑻩𑻪𑻫𑻦𑻧𑻨𑻣𑻤𑻥𑻬𑻭𑻮𑻯𑻰𑻱 
Rejang ꤿ 
Batak (Toba)/ 
Baybayin                   /       
Buhid                        
Hanunuo                        
Tagbanwa                           
ISOkakhagaghaṅacachajajhañaṭaṭhaḍaḍhaṇatathadadhanaṉapaphababhamayaẏaraṟalaḷaḻavaśaṣasahakṣaṯa
Notes
  1. This list tries to include characters of same origins, not same sounds. In Bengali র is pronounced as but it is originally va which is still used for wa sound in Mithilakshar and modern Assamese ৱ (wabbô) was derived from middle Assamese র (wô). Compare with জ (ja) য (ya) and য় (ẏ) which are pronounced as , and e̯ô in Bengali and , and in Assamese respectively. য is related to Devanagari य (ya) and it is still pronounced as "ya" in Mithilakshar. Since their sounds shifted, the dots were added to keep the original sounds.
  2. Letter used in Balti.
  3. includes supplementary consonants not in contemporary use
  4. inherent vowel is ā
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Modified forms of these letters are or were used for distinctions made in local language; these distinctions are not made for Sanskrit and Pali.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Modified forms of these letters are or were used for distinctions made in Thai; these distinctions are not made for Sanskrit and Pali in the Thai script.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 These letters are obsolete, but were used mainly for Sanskrit and Pali in the Lao script.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Letters used in Old Javanese. They are now obsolete, but are used for honorifics in contemporary Javanese.
  9. Invented new character to represent the Arabic letter خ.
  10. Letter used in Old Sundanese. It is now obsolete.
  11. Invented new character. Actually to represent the Arabic letter ش, which has similar pronunciation with śa.

Vowels

Vowels are presented in their independent form on the left of each column, and in their corresponding dependent form (vowel sign) combined with the consonant k on the right. A glyph for ka is an independent consonant letter itself without any vowel sign, where the vowel a is inherent.

ISO a ā ê ô i ī u ū e ē ai o ō au ə r̥̄ [lower-alpha 1] [lower-alpha 1] l̥̄ [lower-alpha 1]  
akaāêôikiīukuūekeēaikaiokoōaukauəkr̥r̥̄kr̥̄kl̥l̥̄kl̥̄aṁkaṁaḥkaḥ k
Ashoka Brahmi𑀅𑀓𑀆𑀓𑀸    𑀇𑀓𑀺𑀈𑀓𑀻𑀉𑀓𑀼𑀊𑀓𑀽  𑀏𑀓𑁂𑀐𑀓𑁃  𑀑𑀓𑁄𑀒𑀓𑁅  𑀋𑀓𑀾𑀌𑀓𑀿𑀍𑀓𑁀𑀎𑀓𑁁𑀅𑀁𑀓𑀁𑀅𑀂𑀓𑀂𑀓𑁆
Devanagariकाकॅकॉकिकीकुकूकॆकेकैकॊकोकौ  कृकॄकॢकॣअंकंअःकःक्
Bengali-
Assamese
কাঅ্যাক্যা  কিকীকুকূ  কেকৈ  কোকৌ  কৃকৄকৢকৣঅংকংঅঃকঃক্
Gujaratiકા    કિકીકુકૂકૅકેકૈકૉકોકૌ  કૃકૄકૢકૣઅંકંઅઃકઃક્,ક્‍
Odiaକା    କିକୀକୁକୂ  କେକୈ  କୋକୌ  କୃକୄକୢକୣକଂକଃକ୍
Gurmukhiਕਾ    ਕਿਕੀਕੁਕੂ  ਕੇਕੈ  ਕੋਕੌ          ਅਂਕਂਅਃਕਃਕ੍
Meitei Mayek [lower-alpha 2] ꯑꯥꯀꯥ    ꯀꯤꯑꫫꯀꫫꯀꯨꯑꫬꯀꫬ  ꯑꯦꯀꯦꯑꯩꯀꯩ  ꯑꯣꯀꯣꯑꯧꯀꯧ          ꯑꯪꯀꯪꯑꫵꯀꫵ
Tibetan [lower-alpha 3] ཨཱཀཱ    ཨིཀིཨཱིཀཱིཨུཀུཨཱུཀཱུ  ཨེཀེཨཻཀཻ  ཨོཀོཨཽཀཽ  རྀཀྲྀརཱྀཀཷལྀཀླྀལཱྀཀླཱྀཨཾཀཾཨཿཀཿཀ྄
Lepcha [lower-alpha 3] ᰣᰦᰀᰦ    ᰣᰧᰀᰧᰣᰧᰶᰀᰧᰶᰣᰪᰀᰪᰣᰫᰀᰫ  ᰣᰬᰀᰬ    ᰣᰨᰀᰨᰣᰩᰀᰩ          ᰣᰴᰀᰴ   
Limbu [lower-alpha 3] ᤀᤠᤁᤠ    ᤀᤡᤁᤡᤀᤡ᤺ᤁᤡ᤺ᤀᤢᤁᤢᤀᤢ᤺ᤁᤢ᤺ᤀᤧᤁᤧᤀᤣᤁᤣᤀᤤᤁᤤᤀᤨᤁᤨᤀᤥᤁᤥᤀᤦᤁᤦ          ᤀᤲᤁᤲ  ᤁ᤻
Tirhuta𑒁𑒏𑒂𑒏𑒰    𑒃𑒏𑒱𑒄𑒏𑒲𑒅𑒏𑒳𑒆𑒏𑒴 𑒏𑒺𑒋𑒏𑒹𑒌𑒏𑒻 𑒏𑒽𑒍𑒏𑒼𑒎𑒏𑒾  𑒇𑒏𑒵𑒈𑒏𑒶𑒉𑒏𑒷𑒊𑒏𑒸𑒁𑓀𑒏𑓀𑒁𑓁𑒏𑓁𑒏𑓂
Kaithi𑂃𑂍𑂄𑂍𑂰    𑂅𑂍𑂱𑂆𑂍𑂲𑂇𑂍𑂳𑂈𑂍𑂴  𑂉𑂍𑂵𑂊𑂍𑂶  𑂋𑂍𑂷𑂌𑂍𑂸          𑂃𑂁𑂍𑂁𑂃𑂂𑂍𑂂𑂍𑂹
Sylheti Nagari ꠇꠣ    ꠇꠤ  ꠇꠥ    ꠇꠦꠅꠂꠇꠂ  ꠇꠧ            ꠀꠋꠇꠋ  ꠇ꠆
Tamilகா    கிகீகுகூகெகேகைகொகோகௌ          அஂகஂஅஃகஃக்
Kannadaಕಾ    ಕಿಕೀಕುಕೂಕೆಕೇಕೈಕೊಕೋಕೌ  ಕೃಕೄಕೢಕೣఅంಕಂఅఃಕಃಕ್
Teluguకా    కికీకుకూకెకేకైకొకోకౌ  కృకౄకౢకౣఅంకంఅఃకఃక్
Sinhalaකාකැකෑකිකීකුකූකෙකේකෛකොකෝකෞ  කෘකෲකෟකෳඅංකංඅඃකඃක්
Malayalamകാ    കികീകുകൂകെകേകൈകൊകോകൗ  കൃകൄകൢകൣഅംകംഅഃകഃക്,ക്‍
Chakma𑄃𑄧𑄇𑄧𑄃𑄇𑄃𑄬𑄬𑄇𑄬𑄬𑄃𑅅𑄇𑅅𑄄, 𑄃𑄨𑄇𑄨𑄃𑄩𑄇𑄩𑄅, 𑄃𑄪𑄇𑄪𑄃𑄫𑄇𑄫  𑄆, 𑄃𑄬𑄇𑄬𑄃𑄰𑄇𑄰  𑄃𑄮𑄇𑄮𑄃𑄯𑄇𑄯          𑄃𑄧𑄁𑄇𑄧𑄁𑄃𑄧𑄂𑄇𑄧𑄂𑄇𑄴
Burmeseကအာကာ    ကိကီကုကူ  ကေအဲကဲကော  အောင်ကောင်  ကၖကၗကၘကၙအံကံအးကးက်
Tai Thamᩋᩣᨠᩣ/ᨠᩤᩋᩯᨠᩯ(ᩋᩬᩴ,ᩋᩳ)(ᨠᩬᩴ,ᨠᩳ)ᨠᩥᨠᩦᨠᩩᨠᩪ(ᩋᩮᩡ)(ᨠᩮᩡ)ᨠᩮᩋᩱᨠᩱ(ᩋᩰᩡ)(ᨠᩰᩡ)ᩒ,ᩋᩰᨠᩰ,ᨠᩮᩣᩋᩮᩢᩣ,ᩋᩯᩣ,ᩐᩣᨠᩮᩢᩣ,ᨠᩮᩫᩣ,ᨠᩯᩣ  ᩁᩂᨠᩂ      ᩋᩴᨠᩴᩋᩡᨠᩡᨠ᩺,ᨠ᩼
New Tai Lue [lower-alpha 3] ᦀᦱᦂᦱᦶᦀᦶᦂ(ᦀᦸ)(ᦂᦸ)ᦀᦲᦰᦂᦲᦰᦀᦲᦂᦲᦀᦳᦂᦳᦀᦴᦂᦴ(ᦵᦀᦰ)(ᦵᦂᦰ)ᦵᦀᦵᦂᦺᦀᦺᦂ(ᦷᦀᦰ)(ᦷᦂᦰ)ᦷᦀᦷᦂᦀᧁᦂᧁ            ᦀᦰᦂᦰ
Khmer [lower-alpha 4] អាកា    កិកីកុកូ  កេកៃ  កោកៅ  ក្ឫក្ឬក្ឭក្ឮអំកំអះកះក៑
Thai [lower-alpha 3] อ (อะ)ก (กะ)อากาแอแก(ออ)(กอ)อิกิอีกีอุกุอูกู(เอะ)(เกะ)เอเกไอ,ใอไก,ใก(โอะ)(โกะ)โอโกเอาเกา  กฺฤฤๅกฺฤๅกฺฦฦๅกฺฦๅอํกํอะ (อะฮฺ)กะ (กะฮฺ)กฺ (ก/ก์)
Lao [lower-alpha 3] ອະກະອາກາແອແກ(ອອ)(ກອ)ອິກິອີກີອຸກຸອູກູ(ແອະ)(ແກະ)ເອເກໄອ,ໃອໄກ,ໃກ(ໂອະ)(ໂກະ)ໂອໂກເອົາ,ອາວເກົາ,ກາວ          ອํກํອະກະ
Chamꨀꨩꨆꨩ    ꨆꨪꨁꨩꨆꨫꨆꨭꨂꨩꨆꨭꨩ  ꨆꨯꨮꨆꨰ  ꨆꨯꨀꨯꨱꨆꨯꨱ  ꨣꨮꨆꨴꨮꨣꨮꨩꨆꨴꨮꨩꨤꨮꨆꨵꨮꨤꨮꨩꨆꨵꨮꨩꨀꩌꨆꩌꨀꩍꨆꩍ
Kawi𑼄𑼒𑼅𑼒𑼴𑼆𑼒𑼶𑼇𑼒𑼷𑼈𑼒𑼸𑼉𑼒𑼹𑼎𑼒𑼾𑼏𑼒𑼿𑼐𑼒𑼾𑼴𑼐𑼴𑼒𑼿𑼴𑼄𑽀𑼒𑽀𑼊𑼒𑼺𑼊𑼴𑼒𑼺𑼴𑼌𑼒𑽂𑼌𑼍𑼒𑽂𑼭𑽀𑼴𑼄𑼁𑼒𑼁𑼄𑼃𑼒𑼃𑼒𑽁
Balineseᬓᬵ    ᬓᬶᬓᬷᬓᬸᬓᬹᬓᬾ  ᬓᬿᬓᭀ  ᬓᭁᬅᭂᬓᭂᬓᬺᬓᬻᬓᬼᬓᬽᬅᬂᬓᬂᬅᬄᬓᬄᬓ᭄
Javaneseꦄꦴꦏꦴ    ꦏꦶꦏꦷꦏꦸꦈꦴꦏꦹꦏꦺ  ꦏꦻꦏꦺꦴ  ꦎꦴꦏꦻꦴꦄꦼꦏꦼꦏꦽꦉꦴꦏꦽꦴꦏ꧀ꦊꦏ꧀ꦋꦄꦁꦏꦁꦄꦃꦏꦃꦏ꧀
Sundanese      ᮊᮤ  ᮊᮥ  ᮊᮦ    ᮊᮧ    ᮊᮨ [lower-alpha 5] ᮊ᮪ᮻ [lower-alpha 5]    [lower-alpha 5] ᮊ᮪ᮼ [lower-alpha 5]   ᮃᮀᮊᮀᮃᮂᮊᮂᮊ᮪
Lontara      ᨕᨗᨀᨗ  ᨕᨘᨀᨘ  ᨕᨙᨀᨙ    ᨕᨚᨀᨚ    ᨕᨛᨀᨛ             
Makasar𑻱𑻠𑻱𑻳𑻠𑻳𑻱𑻴𑻠𑻴𑻱𑻵𑻠𑻵𑻱𑻶𑻠𑻶  
Rejang  ꥆꥎꤰꥎꥆꥍꤰꥍꥆꥇꤰꥇ  ꥆꥈꤰꥈ  ꥆꥉꤰꥉ  ꥆꥊꤰꥊꥆꥋꤰꥋ  ꥆꥌꤰꥌ          ꥆꥏꤰꥏꥆꥒꤰꥒꤰ꥓
Batak (Toba)      ᯂᯪ  ᯂᯮ   ᯂᯩ     ᯂᯬ              ᯀᯰᯂᯰᯀᯱᯂᯱᯂ᯲
Baybayin      ᜃᜒ  ᜃᜓ  ᜃᜒ    ᜃᜓ                  ᜃ᜔
Buhid      ᝃᝒ  ᝃᝓ                             
Hanunuo      ᜣᜲ  ᜣᜳ                            ᜣ᜴
Tagbanwa      ᝣᝲ  ᝣᝳ                             
ISOakaāêôikiīukuūekeēaikaiokoōaukauəkr̥r̥̄kr̥̄kl̥l̥̄kl̥̄aṁkaṁaḥkaḥk
aāêôiīuūeēaioōauər̥̄l̥̄ 

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 Letters for r̥̄, , l̥̄ and a few others are obsolete or very rarely used.
  2. includes supplementary vowels not in contemporary use
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Tibetan, Lepcha, Limbu, New Tai Lue, Thai and Lao scripts do not have independent vowel forms. For syllables starting with a vowel sound, a "zero" consonant (ཨ, อ or ອ respectively) is used to represent the glottal stop /ʔ/.
  4. When used to write their own languages, Khmer can have either an a or an o as the inherent vowel, following the rules of its orthography.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Letters used in Old Sundanese. They are now obsolete.

Numerals

Hindu-Arabic 0123456789
Brahmi numbers𑁒𑁓𑁔𑁕𑁖𑁗𑁘𑁙𑁚
Brahmi digits𑁦𑁧𑁨𑁩𑁪𑁫𑁬𑁭𑁮𑁯
Bengali- Assamese
Tirhuta𑓐𑓑𑓒𑓓𑓔𑓕𑓖𑓗𑓘𑓙
Odia
Devanagari
Gujarati
Modi𑙐‎𑙑‎𑙒𑙓‎𑙔‎𑙕𑙖‎𑙗𑙘‎𑙙
Sharada𑇐𑇑𑇒𑇓𑇔𑇕𑇖𑇗𑇘𑇙
Takri𑛀𑛁𑛂𑛃𑛄𑛅𑛆𑛇𑛈𑛉
Gurmukhi
Khudabadi𑋰𑋱𑋲𑋳𑋴𑋵𑋶𑋷𑋸𑋹
Meitei (Manipuri)
Pracalit𑑐‎𑑑‎𑑒‎𑑓‎𑑔‎𑑕‎𑑖‎𑑗‎𑑘‎𑑙
Tibetan
Mongolian [lower-alpha 1]
Lepcha
Limbu
Sinhala astrological numbers
Sinhala archaic numbers𑇡𑇢𑇣𑇤𑇥𑇦𑇧𑇨𑇩
Tamil
Telugu
Kannada
Malayalam
Saurashtra
Ahom𑜰𑜱𑜲𑜳𑜴𑜵𑜶𑜷𑜸𑜹
Chakma𑄶𑄷𑄸𑄹𑄺𑄻𑄼𑄽𑄾𑄿
Burmese
New Tai Lue
Tai Tham Astrological Numbers [lower-alpha 2]
Tai Tham [lower-alpha 3]
Shan
Khmer
Thai
Lao
Cham
Balinese
Javanese
Sundanese
Hindu-Arabic0123456789

Notes

  1. Mongolian numerals are derived from Tibetan numerals and used in conjunction with the Mongolian and Clear script
  2. for everyday use
  3. for liturgical use

List of Brahmic scripts

Historical

The Brahmi script was already divided into regional variants at the time of the earliest surviving epigraphy around the 3rd century BC. Cursives of the Brahmi script began to diversify further from around the 5th century AD and continued to give rise to new scripts throughout the Middle Ages. The main division in antiquity was between northern and southern Brahmi. In the northern group, the Gupta script was very influential, and in the southern group the Vatteluttu and Kadamba/Pallava scripts with the spread of Buddhism sent Brahmic scripts throughout Southeast Asia.[ citation needed ]

Early Brahmic scripts
IAST Ashoka Girnar Chandra
-gupta
Gujarat Prayagraj Narbada Kistna
a Brahmi a.svg Gupta girnar a.svg Gupta ashoka a.svg Gupta gujarat a.svg Gupta allahabad a.svg Narbada a.svg Kistna a.svg
ā Brahmi aa.svg Gupta girnar aa.svg Gupta ashoka aa.svg Gupta gujarat aa.svg Gupta allahabad aa.svg Narbada aa.svg Kistna aa.svg
i Brahmi i.svg Gupta girnar i.svg Gupta ashoka i.svg Gupta gujarat i.svg Gupta allahabad i.svg Narbada i.svg Kistna i.svg
ī Brahmi ii.svg Gupta gujarat ii.svg Narbada ii.svg
u Brahmi u.svg Gupta girnar u.svg Gupta ashoka u.svg Gupta gujarat u.svg Gupta allahabad u.svg
ū Brahmi uu.svg Gupta gujarat uu.svg
Gupta girnar ri.svg Gupta ashoka ri.svg Gupta gujarat ri.svg Gupta allahabad ri.svg
e Brahmi e.svg Gupta girnar e.svg Gupta ashoka e.svg Gupta gujarat e.svg Gupta allahabad e.svg
ai Brahmi ai.svg Gupta girnar ai.svg
o Brahmi o1.svg Gupta girnar o.svg Gupta ashoka o.svg Gupta gujarat o.svg Gupta allahabad o.svg
au Gupta ashoka au.svg Gupta gujarat au.svg Gupta allahabad au.svg
k Brahmi k.svg Gupta girnar k.svg Gupta ashoka k.svg Gupta gujarat k.svg Gupta allahabad k.svg Narbada k.svg Kistna k.svg
kh Brahmi kh.svg Gupta girnar kh.svg Gupta ashoka kh.svg Gupta gujarat kh.svg Gupta allahabad kh.svg Narbada kh.svg Kistna kh.svg
g Brahmi g.svg Gupta girnar g.svg Gupta ashoka g.svg Gupta gujarat g.svg Gupta allahabad g.svg Narbada g.svg Kistna g.svg
gh Brahmi gh.svg Gupta girnar gh.svg Gupta ashoka gh.svg Gupta gujarat gh.svg Gupta allahabad gh.svg Narbada gh.svg Kistna gh.svg
Brahmi ng.svg Gupta ashoka ng.svg Gupta gujarat ng.svg Gupta allahabad ng.svg Narbada ng.svg Kistna ng.svg
c Brahmi c.svg Gupta girnar c.svg Gupta ashoka c.svg Gupta gujarat c.svg Gupta allahabad c.svg Narbada c.svg Kistna v.svg
ch Brahmi ch.svg Gupta girnar ch.svg Gupta ashoka ch.svg Gupta gujarat ch.svg Gupta allahabad ch.svg Narbada ch.svg
j Brahmi j.svg Gupta girnar j.svg Gupta ashoka j.svg Gupta gujarat j.svg Gupta allahabad j.svg Narbada j.svg Kistna j.svg
jh Brahmi jh.svg Gupta ashoka jh.svg
ñ Brahmi ny.svg Gupta girnar ny.svg Gupta ashoka ny.svg Gupta gujarat ny.svg Gupta allahabad ny.svg Narbada ny.svg Kistna ny.svg
Brahmi tt.svg Gupta girnar tt.svg Gupta ashoka tt.svg Gupta gujarat tt.svg Gupta allahabad tt.svg Narbada tt.svg Kistna tt.svg
ṭh Brahmi tth.svg Gupta girnar tth.svg Gupta ashoka tth.svg Gupta gujarat tth.svg Gupta allahabad tth.svg Narbada tth.svg Kistna tth.svg
Brahmi dd.svg Gupta girnar dd.svg Gupta ashoka dd.svg Gupta gujarat dd.svg Gupta allahabad dd.svg Narbada dd.svg Kistna dd.svg
ḍh Brahmi ddh.svg Gupta girnar ddh.svg Gupta ashoka ddh.svg Gupta gujarat ddh.svg Gupta allahabad ddh.svg Narbada ddh.svg Kistna ddh.svg
Brahmi nn.svg Gupta girnar nn.svg Gupta ashoka nn.svg Gupta gujarat nn.svg Gupta allahabad nn.svg Narbada nn.svg Kistna nn.svg
t Brahmi t.svg Gupta girnar t.svg Gupta ashoka t.svg Gupta gujarat t.svg Gupta allahabad t.svg Narbada t.svg Kistna t.svg
th Brahmi th.svg Gupta girnar th.svg Gupta ashoka th.svg Gupta gujarat th.svg Gupta allahabad th.svg Narbada th.svg Kistna th.svg
d Brahmi d.svg Gupta girnar d.svg Gupta ashoka d.svg Gupta gujarat d.svg Gupta allahabad d.svg Narbada d.svg Kistna d.svg
dh Brahmi dh.svg Gupta girnar dh.svg Gupta ashoka dh.svg Gupta gujarat dh.svg Gupta allahabad dh.svg Narbada dh.svg Kistna dh.svg
n Brahmi n.svg Gupta girnar n.svg Gupta ashoka n.svg Gupta gujarat n.svg Gupta allahabad n.svg Narbada n.svg Kistna n.svg
p Brahmi p.svg Gupta girnar p.svg Gupta ashoka p.svg Gupta gujarat p.svg Gupta allahabad p.svg Narbada p.svg Kistna p.svg
ph Brahmi ph.svg Gupta gujarat ph.svg Gupta allahabad ph.svg Narbada ph.svg Kistna ph.svg
b Brahmi b.svg Gupta girnar b.svg Gupta ashoka b.svg Gupta gujarat b.svg Gupta allahabad b.svg Narbada b.svg Kistna b.svg
bh Brahmi bh.svg Gupta girnar bh.svg Gupta ashoka bh.svg Gupta gujarat bh.svg Gupta allahabad bh.svg Narbada bh.svg Kistna bh.svg
m Brahmi m.svg Gupta girnar m.svg Gupta ashoka m.svg Gupta gujarat m.svg Gupta allahabad m.svg Narbada m.svg Kistna m.svg
y Brahmi y.svg Gupta girnar y.svg Gupta ashoka y.svg Gupta gujarat y.svg Gupta allahabad y.svg Narbada y.svg Kistna y.svg
r Brahmi r.svg Gupta girnar r.svg Gupta ashoka r.svg Gupta gujarat r.svg Gupta allahabad r.svg Narbada r.svg Kistna r.svg
l Brahmi l.svg Gupta girnar l.svg Gupta ashoka l.svg Gupta gujarat l.svg Gupta allahabad l.svg Narbada l.svg Kistna l.svg
v Brahmi v.svg Gupta girnar v.svg Gupta ashoka v.svg Gupta gujarat v.svg Gupta allahabad v.svg Narbada v.svg Kistna v.svg
ś Brahmi sh1.svg Gupta ashoka sh.svg Gupta gujarat sh.svg Gupta allahabad sh.svg Narbada sh.svg Kistna sh.svg
Brahmi ss.svg Gupta ashoka ss.svg Gupta gujarat ss.svg Gupta allahabad ss.svg Narbada ss.svg Kistna ss.svg
s Brahmi s.svg Gupta girnar s.svg Gupta ashoka s.svg Gupta gujarat s.svg Gupta allahabad s.svg Narbada s.svg Kistna s.svg
h Brahmi h.svg Gupta girnar h.svg Gupta ashoka h.svg Gupta gujarat h.svg Gupta allahabad h.svg Narbada h.svg Kistna h.svg

Northern Brahmic

A map of Indo-Aryan languages using their respective Brahmic family scripts (except dark blue colored Khowar, Pashai, Kohistani, and Urdu, not marked here, which use Arabic-derived scripts). Indoarische Sprachen Gruppen.png
A map of Indo-Aryan languages using their respective Brahmic family scripts (except dark blue colored Khowar, Pashai, Kohistani, and Urdu, not marked here, which use Arabic-derived scripts).

Southern Brahmic

A map of Dravidian languages using their respective Brahmic family scripts (except Brahui, which uses an Arabic-derived script). Dravidian subgroups.png
A map of Dravidian languages using their respective Brahmic family scripts (except Brahui, which uses an Arabic-derived script).

Unicode of Brahmic scripts

As of Unicode version 15.1, the following Brahmic scripts have been encoded:

scriptderivationPeriod of derivationusage notes ISO 15924 Unicode range(s)sample
Ahom Burmese [6] 13th centuryExtinct Ahom language AhomU+11700–U+1174F𑜒𑜠𑜑𑜨𑜉
Balinese Kawi 11th century Balinese language BaliU+1B00–U+1B7Fᬅᬓ᭄ᬲᬭᬩᬮᬶ
Batak Pallava 14th century Batak languages BatkU+1BC0–U+1BFFᯘᯮᯒᯖ᯲ ᯅᯖᯂ᯲
Baybayin Kawi 14th century Tagalog, other Philippine languages TglgU+1700–U+171Fᜊᜌ᜔ᜊᜌᜒᜈ᜔
Bengali-Assamese (Eastern Nagari) Siddhaṃ 11th century Angika, Assamese language (Assamese script variant), Bengali language (Bengali script variant), Bishnupriya, Maithili, Meitei language (constitutionally termed as "Manipuri") [7] BengU+0980–U+09FF
  • অসমীয়া লিপি
  • বাংলা লিপি
Bhaiksuki Gupta 11th centuryWas used around the turn of the first millennium for writing Sanskrit BhksU+11C00–U+11C6F𑰥𑰹𑰎𑰿𑰬𑰲𑰎𑰱
Buhid Kawi 14th century Buhid language BuhdU+1740–U+175Fᝊᝓᝑᝒᝇ
Mon-Burmese Pallava 11th century Burmese language, Mon language, numerous modifications for other languages including Chakma, Eastern and Western Pwo Karen, Geba Karen, Kayah, Rumai Palaung, S'gaw Karen, Shan MymrU+1000–U+109F, U+A9E0–U+A9FF, U+AA60–U+AA7Fမြန်မာအက္ခရာ
Chakma Burmese 8th century Chakma language CakmU+11100–U+1114F𑄌𑄋𑄴𑄟𑄳𑄦
Cham Pallava 8th century Cham language ChamU+AA00–U+AA5Fꨌꩌ
Devanagari Nagari 13th centurySeveral Indo-Aryan languages (Konkani, Marathi, Hindi, Sanskrit, Nepali, Bhili, Sindhi, Gujarati etc), Sino-Tibetan languages (Bodo, Nepal Bhasa, Sherpa etc.), Mundari (Austroasiatic language) and others.DevaU+0900–U+097F, U+A8E0–U+A8FF, U+11B00–U+11B5Fदेवनागरी
Dhives Akuru Gupta Before 6th-8th centuryWas used to write the Maldivian language up until the 20th century. [8] DiakU+11900–U+1195F𑤞𑥂𑤧𑤭𑥂
Dogra Takri Was used to write Dogri. Dogra script is closely related to Takri. [9] DogrU+11800–U+1184F𑠖𑠵𑠌𑠤𑠬
Grantha Pallava 6th centuryRestricted use in traditional Vedic schools to write Sanskrit. Was widely used by Tamil speakers for Sanskrit and the classical language Manipravalam.GranU+11300–U+1137F𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥
Gujarati Nagari 17th century Gujarati language, Kutchi language GujrU+0A80–U+0AFFગુજરાતી લિપિ
Gunjala Gondi uncertain16th centuryUsed for writing the Adilabad dialect of the Gondi language. [10] GongU+11D60–U+11DAF𑵶𑶍𑶕𑶀𑵵𑶊 𑵶𑶓𑶕𑶂𑶋
Gurmukhi Sharada 16th century Punjabi language GuruU+0A00–U+0A7F ਗੁਰਮੁਖੀ
Hanunó'o Kawi 14th century Hanuno'o language HanoU+1720–U+173Fᜱᜨᜳᜨᜳᜢ
Javanese Kawi 16th century Javanese language, Sundanese language, Madurese language JavaU+A980–U+A9DFꦄꦏ꧀ꦱꦫꦗꦮ
Kaithi Nagari 16th centuryHistorically used for writing legal, administrative, and private records.KthiU+11080–U+110CF𑂍𑂶𑂟𑂲
Kannada Telugu-Kannada Around 4th-6th centurySanskrit, Kannada, Konkani, Tulu, Badaga, Kodava, Beary, othersKndaU+0C80–U+0CFFಕನ್ನಡ ಅಕ್ಷರಮಾಲೆ
Kawi Pallava 8th centuryKawi was found primarily in Java and used across much of Maritime Southeast Asia between the 8th century and the 16th century. [11] KawiU+11F00–U+11F5F𑼒𑼮𑼶
Khmer Pallava 11th century Khmer language KhmrU+1780–U+17FF, U+19E0–U+19FFអក្សរខ្មែរ
Khojki Landa 16th centurySome use by Ismaili communities. Was used by the Khoja community for Muslim religious literature.KhojU+11200–U+1124F𑈉𑈲𑈐𑈈𑈮
Khudawadi Landa 16th centuryWas used by Sindhi communities for correspondence and business records.SindU+112B0–U+112FF𑊻𑋩𑋣𑋏𑋠𑋔𑋠𑋏𑋢
Lao Khmer 14th century Lao language, othersLaooU+0E80–U+0EFFອັກສອນລາວ
Lepcha Tibetan 8th century Lepcha language LepcU+1C00–U+1C4Fᰛᰩᰴ
Limbu Lepcha 9th century Limbu language LimbU+1900–U+194Fᤛᤡᤖᤡᤈᤨᤅ
Lontara Kawi 17th century Buginese language, othersBugiU+1A00–U+1A1Fᨒᨚᨈᨑ
Mahajani Landa 16th centuryHistorically used in northern India for writing accounts and financial records.MahjU+11150–U+1117F𑅬𑅱𑅛𑅧𑅑
Makasar Kawi 17th centuryWas used in South Sulawesi, Indonesia for writing the Makassarese language. [12] Makasar script is also known as "Old Makassarese" or "Makassarese bird script" in English-language scholarly works. [13] MakaU+11EE0–U+11EFF𑻪𑻢𑻪𑻢
Malayalam Grantha 12th century Malayalam MlymU+0D00–U+0D7Fമലയാളലിപി
Marchen Tibetan 7th centuryWas used in the Tibetan Bön tradition to write the extinct Zhang-Zhung language MarcU+11C70–U+11CBF𑱳𑲁𑱽𑱾𑲌𑱵𑲋𑲱𑱴𑱶𑲱𑲅𑲊𑱱
Meetei Mayek Tibetan [ verification needed ]6th century [14] officially used for Meitei language (constitutionally termed as "Manipuri") in accordance to "The Manipur Official Language (Amendment) Act, 2021" [15] MteiU+AAE0–U+AAFF, U+ABC0–U+ABFFꯃꯤꯇꯩ ꯃꯌꯦꯛ
Modi Nāgarī 17th centuryWas used to write the Marathi language ModiU+11600–U+1165F𑘦𑘻𑘚𑘲
Multani Landa Was used to write the Multani language MultU+11280–U+112AF𑊠𑊣𑊖𑊚
Nandinagari Nāgarī 7th centuryHistorically used to write Sanskrit in southern IndiaNandU+119A0–U+119FF𑧁𑧞𑦿𑧒𑧁𑧑𑦰𑧈𑧓
New Tai Lue Tai Tham 1950s Tai Lü language TaluU+1980–U+19DFᦟᦲᧅᦎᦷᦺᦑ
Odia Siddhaṃ 13th century Odia language OryaU+0B00–U+0B7Fଓଡ଼ିଆ ଅକ୍ଷର
ʼPhags-pa Tibetan 13th centuryHistorically used during the Mongol Yuan dynasty.PhagU+A840–U+A87Fꡖꡍꡂꡛ ꡌ
Prachalit (Newa) Nepal Has been used for writing the Sanskrit, Nepali, Hindi, Bengali, and Maithili languagesNewaU+11400–U+1147F𑐥𑑂𑐬𑐔𑐮𑐶𑐟
Rejang Kawi 18th century Rejang language, mostly obsoleteRjngU+A930–U+A95Fꥆꤰ꥓ꤼꤽ ꤽꥍꤺꥏ
Saurashtra Grantha 20th century Saurashtra language, mostly obsoleteSaurU+A880–U+A8DFꢱꣃꢬꢵꢰ꣄ꢜ꣄ꢬꢵ
Sharada Gupta 8th centuryWas used for writing Sanskrit and Kashmiri ShrdU+11180–U+111DF𑆯𑆳𑆫𑆢𑆳
Siddham Gupta 7th centuryWas used for writing Sanskrit SiddU+11580–U+115FF𑖭𑖰𑖟𑖿𑖠𑖽
Sinhala Brahmi [16] 4th century [17] Sinhala language SinhU+0D80–U+0DFF, U+111E0–U+111FFශුද්ධ සිංහල
Sundanese Kawi 14th century Sundanese language SundU+1B80–U+1BBF, U+1CC0–U+1CCFᮃᮊ᮪ᮞᮛ ᮞᮥᮔ᮪ᮓ
Sylheti Nagari Nagari 16th centuryHistorically used for writing the Sylheti language SyloU+A800–U+A82Fꠍꠤꠟꠐꠤ ꠘꠣꠉꠞꠤ
Tagbanwa Kawi 14th centuryVarious languages of Palawan, nearly extinctTagbU+1760–U+177Fᝦᝪᝨᝯ
Tai Le Mon 13th century Tai Nüa language TaleU+1950–U+197Fᥖᥭᥰᥖᥬᥳᥑᥨᥒᥰ
Tai Tham Mon 13th century Northern Thai language, Tai Lü language, Khün language LanaU+1A20–U+1AAFᨲᩫ᩠ᩅᨾᩮᩬᩥᨦ
Tai Viet Thai 16th century Tai Dam language TavtU+AA80–U+AADFꪼꪕꪒꪾ
Takri Sharada 16th centuryWas used for writing Chambeali, and other languagesTakrU+11680–U+116CF𑚔𑚭𑚊𑚤𑚯
Tamil Pallava 2nd century Tamil language TamlU+0B80–U+0BFF, U+11FC0–U+11FFFதமிழ் அரிச்சுவடி
Telugu Telugu-Kannada 5th century Telugu language TeluU+0C00–U+0C7Fతెలుగు లిపి
Thai Old Khmer 13th century Thai language ThaiU+0E00–U+0E7Fอักษรไทย
Tibetan Gupta 8th century Classical Tibetan, Dzongkha, Ladakhi language TibtU+0F00–U+0FFFབོད་ཡིག་
Tirhuta Siddham 13th centuryHistorically used for the Maithili language TirhU+11480–U+114DF𑒞𑒱𑒩𑒯𑒳𑒞𑒰

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abugida</span> Writing system

An abugida – sometimes also called alphasyllabary, neosyllabary, or pseudo-alphabet – is a segmental writing system in which consonant–vowel sequences are written as units; each unit is based on a consonant letter, and vowel notation is secondary, similar to a diacritical mark. This contrasts with a full alphabet, in which vowels have status equal to consonants, and with an abjad, in which vowel marking is absent, partial, or optional – in less formal contexts, all three types of the script may be termed "alphabets". The terms also contrast them with a syllabary, in which a single symbol denotes the combination of one consonant and one vowel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Devanagari</span> Writing script for many North Indian and Nepalese languages

Devanagari is an Indic script used in the northern Indian subcontinent. Also simply called Nāgari, it is a left-to-right abugida, based on the ancient Brāhmi script. It is one of the official scripts of the Republic of India and Nepal. It was developed and in regular use by the 7th century CE and achieved its modern form by 1000 CE. The Devanāgari script, composed of 48 primary characters, including 14 vowels and 34 consonants, is the fourth most widely adopted writing system in the world, being used for over 120 languages.

Kha is the second consonant of Indic abugidas. In modern Indic scripts, kha is derived from the Brahmi letter , which is probably derived from the Aramaic ("Q").

Ga is the third consonant of Indic abugidas. In modern Indic scripts, ga is derived from the early "Ashoka" Brahmi letter , which is probably derived from the Aramaic letter after having gone through the Gupta letter .

Gha is the fourth consonant of Indic abugidas. In modern Indic scripts, gha is derived from the early "Ashoka" Brahmi letter , which is probably derived from the Aramaic ("H/X") after having gone through the Gupta letter .

Ṇa is a consonant of Indic abugidas. In modern Indic scripts, Ṇa is derived from the early "Ashoka" Brahmi letter after having gone through the Gupta letter . As with the other cerebral consonants, ṇa is not found in most scripts for Tai, Sino-Tibetan, and other non-Indic languages, except for a few scripts, which retain these letters for transcribing Sanskrit religious terms.

Tha is a consonant of Indic abugidas. In modern Indic scripts, tha is derived from the early "Ashoka" Brahmi letter after having gone through the Gupta letter .

A is a vowel of Indic abugidas. In modern Indic scripts, A is derived from the early "Ashoka" Brahmi letter after having gone through the Gupta letter . Bare consonants without a modifying vowel sign have the "A" vowel inherently, and thus there is no modifier sign for "A" in Indic scripts.

Ā is a vowel of Indic abugidas. In modern Indic scripts, Aa is derived from the early "Ashoka" Brahmi letter after having gone through the Gupta letter . As an Indic vowel, "Ā" comes in two normally distinct forms: 1) as an independent letter, and 2) as a vowel sign for modifying a base consonant. Bare consonants without a modifying vowel sign have the inherent short "A" vowel.

I is a vowel of Indic abugidas. In modern Indic scripts, I is derived from the early "Ashoka" Brahmi letter after having gone through the Gupta letter . As an Indic vowel, "I" comes in two normally distinct forms: 1) as an independent letter, and 2) as a vowel sign for modifying a base consonant. Bare consonants without a modifying vowel sign have the inherent "A" vowel.

Ī is a vowel of Indic abugidas. In modern Indic scripts, Ī is derived from the early "Ashoka" Brahmi letter . As an Indic vowel, Ī comes in two normally distinct forms: 1) as an independent letter, and 2) as a vowel sign for modifying a base consonant. Bare consonants without a modifying vowel sign have the inherent "A" vowel.

U is a vowel of Indic abugidas. In modern Indic scripts, U is derived from the early "Ashoka" Brahmi letter after having gone through the Gupta letter . As an Indic vowel, U comes in two normally distinct forms: 1) as an independent letter, and 2) as a vowel sign for modifying a base consonant. Bare consonants without a modifying vowel sign have the inherent "A" vowel.

Ū is a vowel of Indic abugidas. In modern Indic scripts, Ū is derived from the early "Ashoka" Brahmi letter . As an Indic vowel, Ū comes in two normally distinct forms: 1) as an independent letter, and 2) as a vowel sign for modifying a base consonant. Bare consonants without a modifying vowel sign have the inherent "A" vowel.

is a vowel symbol, or vocalic consonant, of Indic abugidas. In modern Indic scripts, Ṛ is derived from the early "Ashoka" Brahmi letter after having gone through the Gupta letter . As an Indic vowel, Ṛ comes in two normally distinct forms: 1) as an independent letter, and 2) as a vowel sign for modifying a base consonant. Bare consonants without a modifying vowel sign have the inherent "A" vowel.

is a vowel-like letter of Indic abugidas, often referred to as a "vocalic R̄". In modern Indic scripts, Ṝ is derived from the early "Ashoka" Brahmi letter . As an ostensible Indic vowel, Ṝ comes in two normally distinct forms: 1) as an independent letter, and 2) as a vowel sign for modifying a base consonant. Bare consonants without a modifying vowel sign have the inherent "A" vowel.

or Vocalic L is a vowel symbol of Indic abugidas. In modern Indic scripts, Ḷ is derived from the Brahmi letter . As an Indic vowel, Ḷ comes in two normally distinct forms: 1) as an independent letter, and 2) as a sign for modifying a base consonant. Bare consonants without a modifying vowel sign have the inherent "A" vowel.

E is a vowel of Indic abugidas. In modern Indic scripts, E is derived from the early "Ashoka" Brahmi letter after having gone through the Gupta letter . As an Indic vowel, E comes in two normally distinct forms: 1) as an independent letter, and 2) as a vowel sign for modifying a base consonant. Bare consonants without a modifying vowel sign have the inherent "A" vowel.

Ai is a vowel of Indic abugidas. In modern Indic scripts, Ai is derived from the early "Ashoka" Brahmi letter . As an Indic vowel, Ai comes in two normally distinct forms: 1) as an independent letter, and 2) as a vowel sign for modifying a base consonant. Bare consonants without a modifying vowel sign have the inherent "A" vowel.

O is a vowel of Indic abugidas. In modern Indic scripts, O is derived from the early "Ashoka" Brahmi letter after having gone through the Gupta letter . As an Indic vowel, O comes in two normally distinct forms: 1) as an independent letter, and 2) as a vowel sign for modifying a base consonant. Bare consonants without a modifying vowel sign have the inherent "A" vowel.

Au is a vowel of Indic abugidas. In modern Indic scripts, Au is derived from the middle "Kushana" Brahmi letter , and the Gupta letter . As an Indic vowel, Au comes in two normally distinct forms: 1) as an independent letter, and 2) as a vowel sign for modifying a base consonant. Bare consonants without a modifying vowel sign have the inherent "A" vowel.

References

  1. 1 2 Frellesvig, Bjarke (2010). A History of the Japanese Language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 177–178. ISBN   978-0-521-65320-6.
  2. Hand, Felicity (23 April 2015). "Editorial". Indialogs. 2: 1. doi:10.5565/rev/indialogs.36. ISSN   2339-8523.
  3. Court, C. (1996). Introduction. In P. T. Daniels & W. Bright (Eds.) The World's Writing Systems (pp. 443). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  4. Court, C. (1996). The spread of Brahmi Script into Southeast Asia. In P. T. Daniels & W. Bright (Eds.) The World's Writing Systems (pp. 445–449). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  5. 1 2 Sproat, Richard (20 July 2006). "Brahmi-derived scripts, script layout, and segmental awareness". Written Language and Literacy. 9 (1): 45–66. doi:10.1075/wll.9.1.05spr. ISSN   1387-6732.
  6. Terwiel; Khamdaengyodtai (2003). Shan Manuscripts, Part 1. p. 13.
  7. "GAZETTE TITLE: The Manipur Official Language (Amendment) Act, 2021". manipurgovtpress.nic.in.
  8. Pandey, Anshuman (23 January 2018). "L2/18-016R: Proposal to encode Dives Akuru in Unicode" (PDF).
  9. Pandey, Anshuman (4 November 2015). "L2/15-234R: Proposal to encode the Dogra script" (PDF).
  10. "Chapter 13: South and Central Asia-II" (PDF). The Unicode Standard, Version 11.0. Mountain View, California: Unicode, Inc. June 2018. ISBN   978-1-936213-19-1.
  11. Aditya Bayu Perdana and Ilham Nurwansah 2020. Proposal to encode Kawi
  12. "Chapter 17: Indonesia and Oceania" (PDF). The Unicode Standard, Version 11.0. Mountain View, California: Unicode, Inc. June 2018. ISBN   978-1-936213-19-1.
  13. Pandey, Anshuman (2 November 2015). "L2/15-233: Proposal to encode the Makasar script in Unicode" (PDF).
  14. Datta, Amaresh (1987). Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature. Sahitya Akademi. p. 142. ISBN   978-81-260-1803-1. The coins of Urakonthauba (568-653) and Ayangba (821-910) in the Mutua Museum, Imphal bear evidence of early existence of old Manipuri alphabet.
  15. "GAZETTE TITLE: The Manipur Official Language (Amendment) Act, 2021". manipurgovtpress.nic.in.
  16. Daniels (1996), p. 379.
  17. Diringer, David (1948). Alphabet a key to the history of mankind. p. 389.