I (Indic)

Last updated
I
Devanagari i.svg
Example glyphs
Bengali–Assamese Bengali Letter I.svg
Tibetan Tibetan I.svg
Tamil Tamil-alphabet-ii.svg
Thai
Malayalam
Sinhala
Ashoka Brahmi Brahmi i.svg
Devanagari Devanagari i.svg
Cognates
Hebrew ע
Greek Ο, Ω
Latin O
Cyrillic О, Ѡ, Ѿ, Ꙋ, Ю
Properties
Phonemic representation /i//ɪ/
IAST transliteration i I
ISCII code point A6 (166)

I is a vowel of Indic abugidas. In modern Indic scripts, I is derived from the early "Ashoka" Brahmi letter Brahmi i.svg after having gone through the Gupta letter Gupta allahabad i.svg . 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.

Contents

Āryabhaṭa numeration

Aryabhata used Devanagari letters for numbers, very similar to the Greek numerals, even after the invention of Indian numerals. The "I" sign was used to modify a consonant's value ×102, but the independent vowel letter did not have an inherent value by itself. [1]

Historic I

There are three different general early historic scripts - Brahmi and its variants, Kharoṣṭhī, and Tocharian, the so-called slanting Brahmi. I as found in standard Brahmi, Brahmi i.svg was a simple geometric shape, with variations toward more flowing forms by the Gupta Gupta allahabad i.svg . Like all Brahmic scripts, Tocharian I Tocharian letter i.gif has an accompanying vowel mark for modifying a base consonant. In Kharoṣṭhī, the only independent vowel letter is for the inherent A. All other independent vowels, including I are indicated with vowel marks added to the letter A.

Brahmi I

The Brahmi letter Brahmi i.svg , I, is probably derived from the altered Aramaic Ayin Ayin.svg , and is thus related to the modern Latin O and Greek Omicron. [2] Several identifiable styles of writing the Brahmi I can be found, most associated with a specific set of inscriptions from an artifact or diverse records from an historic period. [3] As the earliest and most geometric style of Brahmi, the letters found on the Edicts of Ashoka and other records from around that time are normally the reference form for Brahmi letters, with vowel marks not attested until later forms of Brahmi back-formed to match the geometric writing style.

Brahmi I historic forms
Ashoka
(3rd-1st c. BCE)
Girnar
(~150 BCE)
Kushana
(~150-250 CE)
Gujarat
(~250 CE)
Gupta
(~350 CE)
Brahmi i.svg Gupta girnar i.svg Gupta ashoka i.svg Gupta gujarat i.svg Gupta allahabad i.svg

Tocharian I

The Tocharian letter Tocharian letter i.gif is derived from the Brahmi Brahmi i.svg . Unlike some of the consonants, Tocharian vowels do not have a Fremdzeichen form.

Tocharian consonants with I vowel marks
KiKhiGiGhiCiChiJiJhiNyiṬiṬhiḌiḌhiṆi
Tocharian letter ki.gif Tocharian letter khi.gif Tocharian letter gi.gif Tocharian letter ghi.gif Tocharian letter ci.gif Tocharian letter chi.gif Tocharian letter ji.gif Tocharian letter jhi.gif Tocharian letter nyi.gif Tocharian letter tti.gif Tocharian letter tthi.gif Tocharian letter ddi.gif Tocharian letter ddhi.gif Tocharian letter nni.gif
TiThiDiDhiNiPiPhiBiBhiMiYiRiLiVi
Tocharian letter ti.gif Tocharian letter thi.gif Tocharian letter di.gif Tocharian letter dhi.gif Tocharian letter ni.gif Tocharian letter pi.gif Tocharian letter phi.gif Tocharian letter bi.gif Tocharian letter bhi.gif Tocharian letter mi.gif Tocharian letter yi.gif Tocharian letter ri.gif Tocharian letter li.gif Tocharian letter vi.gif
ŚiṢiSiHi
Tocharian letter shi.gif Tocharian letter ssi.gif Tocharian letter si.gif Tocharian letter hi.gif

Kharoṣṭhī I

The Kharoṣṭhī letter I is indicated with the vowel mark Bukva I (zalezhnii znak). Pis'mo kkharoshtkhi. Kharoshthi vowel sign I.svg . As an independent vowel, I is indicated by adding the vowel marks to the independent vowel letter A Bukva A (nezalezhnii znak). Pis'mo kkharoshtkhi. Kharoshthi letter A.svg .

Devanagari I

Devanagari i.svg
Devanagari i sign.png
Devanagari independent I and I vowel sign.

I () is a vowel of the Devanagari abugida. It ultimately arose from the Brahmi letter Brahmi i.svg , after having gone through the Gupta letter Gupta allahabad i.svg . Letters that derive from it are the Gujarati letter , and the Modi letter 𑘂.

Devanagari Using Languages

The Devanagari script is used to write the Hindi language, Sanskrit and the majority of Indo-Aryan languages. In most of these languages, इ is pronounced as [i] . Like all Indic scripts, Devanagari vowels come in two forms: an independent vowel form for syllables that begin with a vowel sound, and a vowel sign attached to base consonant to override the inherent /ə/ vowel.

Bengali I

Bengali Letter I.svg
Bengali I vowel sign.svg
Bengali independent I and I vowel sign.

I () is a vowel of the Bengali abugida. It is derived from the Siddhaṃ letter Siddham i.svg , and is marked by a similar horizontal head line, but less geometric shape, than its Devanagari counterpart, इ.

Bengali Script Using Languages

The Bengali script is used to write several languages of eastern India, notably the Bengali language and Assamese. In most languages, ই is pronounced as [i] . Like all Indic scripts, Bengali vowels come in two forms: an independent vowel form for syllables that begin with a vowel sound, and a vowel sign attached to base consonant to override the inherent /ɔ/ vowel.

Gujarati I

Gujarati vowel I.svg
Gujarati vowel sign I.svg
Gujarati independent I and I vowel sign.

I () is a vowel of the Gujarati abugida. It is derived from the Devanagari I Devanagari i.svg , and ultimately the Brahmi letter Brahmi i.svg .

Gujarati-using Languages

The Gujarati script is used to write the Gujarati and Kutchi languages. In both languages, ઇ is pronounced as [i] . Like all Indic scripts, Gujarati vowels come in two forms: an independent vowel form for syllables that begin with a vowel sound, and a vowel sign attached to base consonant to override the inherent /ə/ vowel.

Javanese I

Telugu I

Telugu vowel I.svg
Telugu I vowel sign.svg
Telugu independent vowel and vowel sign I.

I () is a vowel of the Telugu abugida. It ultimately arose from the Brahmi letter Brahmi i.svg . It is closely related to the Kannada letter . Like in other Indic scripts, Telugu vowels have two forms: and independent letter for word and syllable-initial vowel sounds, and a vowel sign for changing the inherent "a" of Telugu consonant letters. Vowel signs in Telugu can interact with a base consonant in one of three ways: 1) the vowel sign touches or sits adjacent to the base consonant without modifying the shape of either 2) the vowel sign sits directly above the consonant, replacing its v-shaped headline, 3) the vowel sign and consonant interact, forming a ligature.

Telugu I vowel sign on k, kh, g, gh & ng: Ki, Khi, Gi, Ghi and Ngi. Note that how the vowel sign interacts with the base consonant is dependent on the location of the headline, the absence of a headline, and the presence of a tail to attach to. Telugu I matra.svg
Telugu I vowel sign on క, ఖ, గ, ఘ & ఙ: Ki, Khi, Gi, Ghi and Ngi. Note that how the vowel sign interacts with the base consonant is dependent on the location of the headline, the absence of a headline, and the presence of a tail to attach to.

Malayalam I

Malayalam vowel I.svg
Malayalam vowel sign I.svg
Malayalam independent vowel and vowel sign I.

I () is a vowel of the Malayalam abugida. It ultimately arose from the Brahmi letter Brahmi i.svg , via the Grantha letter Grantha vowel I.svg i. Like in other Indic scripts, Malayalam vowels have two forms: an independent letter for word and syllable-initial vowel sounds, and a vowel sign for changing the inherent "a" of consonant letters. Vowel signs in Malayalam usually sit adjacent to its base consonant - below, to the left, right, or both left and right, but are always pronounced after the consonant sound.

Odia I

Odia alphabet i.svg
Odia subjoined vowel sign i.svg
Odia independent, vowel sign, and subjoined I.

I () is a vowel of the Odia abugida. It ultimately arose from the Brahmi letter Brahmi i.svg , via the Siddhaṃ letter Siddham i.svg i. Like in other Indic scripts, Odia vowels have two forms: an independent letter for word and syllable-initial vowel sounds, and a vowel sign for changing the inherent "a" of consonant letters. Vowel signs in Odia usually sit adjacent to its base consonant - below, to the left, right, or both left and right, but are always pronounced after the consonant sound. No base consonants are altered in form when adding a vowel sign, and there are no consonant+vowel ligatures in Odia. Unlike other vowels, ଇ has an alternate subjoined matra form used on letters with an open top - ଖ (Kha), ଥ (Tha) and ଧ (Dha).

Kaithi I

Kaithi I.svg
Kaithi I vowel sign.svg
Kaithi independent vowel and vowel sign I.

I (𑂅) is a vowel of the Kaithi abugida. It ultimately arose from the Brahmi letter Brahmi i.svg , via the Siddhaṃ letter Siddham i.svg I. Like in other Indic scripts, Kaithi vowels have two forms: an independent letter for word and syllable-initial vowel sounds, and a vowel sign for changing the inherent "a" of consonant letters. Vowel signs in Kaithi usually sit adjacent to its base consonant - below, to the left, right, or both left and right, but are always pronounced after the consonant sound. No base consonants are altered in form when adding a vowel sign, and there are no consonant+vowel ligatures in Kaithi.

Comparison of I

The various Indic scripts are generally related to each other through adaptation and borrowing, and as such the glyphs for cognate letters, including I, are related as well.

Comparison of I in different scripts
Aramaic
Ayin.svg
Kharoṣṭhī
𐨁
Ashoka Brahmi
Brahmi i.svg
Kushana Brahmi [lower-alpha 1]
Gupta ashoka i.svg
Tocharian [lower-alpha 2]
Tocharian letter i.gif
Gupta Brahmi
Gupta allahabad i.svg
Pallava
Pallava I.svg
Kadamba
-
Bhaiksuki
𑰂
Siddhaṃ
Siddham i.svg
Grantha
𑌇
Cham
Sinhala
Pyu /
Old Mon [lower-alpha 3]
-
Tibetan
Tibetan I.svg  /  Tibetan I mark.svg
Newa
𑐂
Ahom
𑜢
Malayalam
Telugu
Burmese
Lepcha
Ranjana
Ranjana i.svg
Saurashtra
Dives Akuru
𑤂
Kannada
Kayah Li
Limbu
Soyombo [lower-alpha 4]
𑩑
Khmer
 / 
Tamil
Tamil-alphabet-ii.svg
Chakma
𑄄
Tai Tham
 / 
Meitei Mayek
Gaudi
-
Thai
Lao
Tai Le
Marchen
𑲱
Tirhuta
𑒃
New Tai Lue
-
Tai Viet
Aksara Kawi
-
'Phags-pa
Odia
Sharada
𑆅
Rejang
Batak
Buginese
-
Zanabazar Square
𑨁
Bengali-Assamese
Bengali Letter I.svg
Takri
𑚂
Javanese
Balinese
Makasar
𑻳
Hangul [lower-alpha 5]
-
Northern Nagari
-
Dogri
𑠂
Laṇḍā
-
Sundanese
Baybayin
Modi
𑘂
Gujarati
Khojki
𑈂
Khudabadi
𑊲
Mahajani
𑅑
Tagbanwa
Devanagari
Devanagari i.svg
Nandinagari
𑦢
Kaithi
Kaithi I.svg
Gurmukhi
Multani
𑊁
Buhid
Canadian Syllabics [lower-alpha 6]
-
Soyombo [lower-alpha 7]
𑩑
Sylheti Nagari
Gunjala Gondi
𑵢
Masaram Gondi [lower-alpha 8]
𑴂
Hanuno'o
Notes
  1. The middle "Kushana" form of Brahmi is a later style that emerged as Brahmi scripts were beginning to proliferate. Gupta Brahmi was definitely a stylistic descendant from Kushana, but other Brahmi-derived scripts may have descended from earlier forms.
  2. Tocharian is probably derived from the middle period "Kushana" form of Brahmi, although artifacts from that time are not plentiful enough to establish a definite succession.
  3. Pyu and Old Mon are probably the precursors of the Burmese script, and may be derived from either the Pallava or Kadamba script
  4. May also be derived from Devangari (see bottom left of table)
  5. The Origin of Hangul from 'Phags-pa is one of limited influence, inspiring at most a few basic letter shapes. Hangul does not function as an Indic abugida.
  6. Although the basic letter forms of the Canadian Aboriginal Syllabics were derived from handwritten Devanagari letters, this abugida indicates vowel sounds by rotations of the letter form, rather than the use of vowel diacritics as is standard in Indic abugidas.
  7. May also be derived from Ranjana (see above)
  8. Masaram Gondi acts as an Indic abugida, but its letterforms were not derived from any single precursor script.

Character encodings of I

Most Indic scripts are encoded in the Unicode Standard, and as such the letter I in those scripts can be represented in plain text with unique codepoint. I from several modern-use scripts can also be found in legacy encodings, such as ISCII.

Character information
Preview Devanagari i.svg Bengali Letter I.svg Tamil-alphabet-ii.svg
Unicode nameDEVANAGARI LETTER IBENGALI LETTER ITAMIL LETTER ITELUGU LETTER IORIYA LETTER IKANNADA LETTER IMALAYALAM LETTER IGUJARATI LETTER IGURMUKHI LETTER I
Encodingsdecimalhexdechexdechexdechexdechexdechexdechexdechexdechex
Unicode 2311U+09072439U+09872951U+0B873079U+0C072823U+0B073207U+0C873335U+0D072695U+0A872567U+0A07
UTF-8 224 164 135E0 A4 87224 166 135E0 A6 87224 174 135E0 AE 87224 176 135E0 B0 87224 172 135E0 AC 87224 178 135E0 B2 87224 180 135E0 B4 87224 170 135E0 AA 87224 168 135E0 A8 87
Numeric character reference इइইইஇஇఇఇଇଇಇಇഇഇઇઇਇਇ
ISCII166A6166A6166A6166A6166A6166A6166A6166A6166A6


Character information
Preview
Ashoka Brahmi i.svg
Kushana Gupta ashoka i.svg
Gupta Gupta allahabad i.svg
Siddham i.svg 𑌇
Unicode nameBRAHMI LETTER ISIDDHAM LETTER IGRANTHA LETTER I
Encodingsdecimalhexdechexdechex
Unicode 69639U+1100771042U+1158270407U+11307
UTF-8 240 145 128 135F0 91 80 87240 145 150 130F0 91 96 82240 145 140 135F0 91 8C 87
UTF-16 55300 56327D804 DC0755301 56706D805 DD8255300 57095D804 DF07
Numeric character reference 𑀇𑀇𑖂𑖂𑌇𑌇


Character information
Preview𑐂𑰂𑆅
Unicode namePHAGS-PA LETTER INEWA LETTER IBHAIKSUKI LETTER ISHARADA LETTER I
Encodingsdecimalhexdechexdechexdechex
Unicode 43102U+A85E70658U+1140272706U+11C0270021U+11185
UTF-8 234 161 158EA A1 9E240 145 144 130F0 91 90 82240 145 176 130F0 91 B0 82240 145 134 133F0 91 86 85
UTF-16 43102A85E55301 56322D805 DC0255303 56322D807 DC0255300 56709D804 DD85
Numeric character reference ꡞꡞ𑐂𑐂𑰂𑰂𑆅𑆅


Character information
Preview
Unicode nameMYANMAR LETTER ITAI THAM LETTER I
Encodingsdecimalhexdechex
Unicode 4131U+10236733U+1A4D
UTF-8 225 128 163E1 80 A3225 169 141E1 A9 8D
Numeric character reference ဣဣᩍᩍ


Character information
Preview
Unicode nameKHMER INDEPENDENT VOWEL QITHAI CHARACTER SARA I
Encodingsdecimalhexdechex
Unicode 6053U+17A53636U+0E34
UTF-8 225 158 165E1 9E A5224 184 180E0 B8 B4
Numeric character reference ឥឥิิ


Character information
Preview𑄄𑤂
Unicode nameSINHALA LETTER IYANNAKAYAH LI LETTER ICHAKMA LETTER ITAI LE LETTER IDIVES AKURU LETTER ISAURASHTRA LETTER ICHAM LETTER I
Encodingsdecimalhexdechexdechexdechexdechexdechexdechex
Unicode 3465U+0D8943300U+A92469892U+111046500U+196471938U+1190243140U+A88443521U+AA01
UTF-8 224 182 137E0 B6 89234 164 164EA A4 A4240 145 132 132F0 91 84 84225 165 164E1 A5 A4240 145 164 130F0 91 A4 82234 162 132EA A2 84234 168 129EA A8 81
UTF-16 34650D8943300A92455300 56580D804 DD046500196455302 56578D806 DD0243140A88443521AA01
Numeric character reference ඉඉꤤꤤ𑄄𑄄ᥤᥤ𑤂𑤂ꢄꢄꨁꨁ


Character information
Preview𑘂𑦢𑵢 Kaithi I.svg
Unicode nameMODI LETTER INANDINAGARI LETTER ISYLOTI NAGRI LETTER IGUNJALA GONDI LETTER IKAITHI LETTER I
Encodingsdecimalhexdechexdechexdechexdechex
Unicode 71170U+1160272098U+119A243009U+A80173058U+11D6269765U+11085
UTF-8 240 145 152 130F0 91 98 82240 145 166 162F0 91 A6 A2234 160 129EA A0 81240 145 181 162F0 91 B5 A2240 145 130 133F0 91 82 85
UTF-16 55301 56834D805 DE0255302 56738D806 DDA243009A80155303 56674D807 DD6255300 56453D804 DC85
Numeric character reference 𑘂𑘂𑦢𑦢ꠁꠁ𑵢𑵢𑂅𑂅


Character information
Preview𑒃
Unicode nameTIRHUTA LETTER I
Encodingsdecimalhex
Unicode 70787U+11483
UTF-8 240 145 146 131F0 91 92 83
UTF-16 55301 56451D805 DC83
Numeric character reference 𑒃𑒃


Character information
Preview𑚂𑠂𑈂𑊲𑅑𑊁
Unicode nameTAKRI LETTER IDOGRA LETTER IKHOJKI LETTER IKHUDAWADI LETTER IMAHAJANI LETTER IMULTANI LETTER I
Encodingsdecimalhexdechexdechexdechexdechexdechex
Unicode 71298U+1168271682U+1180270146U+1120270322U+112B269969U+1115170273U+11281
UTF-8 240 145 154 130F0 91 9A 82240 145 160 130F0 91 A0 82240 145 136 130F0 91 88 82240 145 138 178F0 91 8A B2240 145 133 145F0 91 85 91240 145 138 129F0 91 8A 81
UTF-16 55301 56962D805 DE8255302 56322D806 DC0255300 56834D804 DE0255300 57010D804 DEB255300 56657D804 DD5155300 56961D804 DE81
Numeric character reference 𑚂𑚂𑠂𑠂𑈂𑈂𑊲𑊲𑅑𑅑𑊁𑊁


Character information
Preview
Unicode nameBALINESE LETTER IKARABATAK LETTER IJAVANESE LETTER ISUNDANESE LETTER I
Encodingsdecimalhexdechexdechexdechex
Unicode 6919U+1B077140U+1BE443398U+A9867044U+1B84
UTF-8 225 172 135E1 AC 87225 175 164E1 AF A4234 166 134EA A6 86225 174 132E1 AE 84
Numeric character reference ᬇᬇᯤᯤꦆꦆᮄᮄ


Character information
Preview𑴂
Unicode nameTAGALOG LETTER ITAGBANWA LETTER IBUHID LETTER IHANUNOO LETTER IMASARAM GONDI LETTER I
Encodingsdecimalhexdechexdechexdechexdechex
Unicode 5889U+17015985U+17615953U+17415921U+172172962U+11D02
UTF-8 225 156 129E1 9C 81225 157 161E1 9D A1225 157 129E1 9D 81225 156 161E1 9C A1240 145 180 130F0 91 B4 82
UTF-16 5889170159851761595317415921172155303 56578D807 DD02
Numeric character reference ᜁᜁᝡᝡᝁᝁᜡᜡ𑴂𑴂


Related Research Articles

Cha is the seventh consonant of Indic abugidas. In modern Indic scripts, cha is derived from the early "Ashoka" Brahmi letter , which is probably derived from the Aramaic letter ("Q") after having gone through the Gupta letter .

Jha is the ninth consonant of Indic abugidas. In modern Indic scripts, jha is derived from the early "Ashoka" Brahmi letter after having gone through the Gupta letter .

Ṭa is a consonant of Indic abugidas. It is derived from the early "Ashoka" Brahmi letter after having gone through the Gupta letter . As with the other retroflex consonants, ṭa is absent from most scripts not used for a language of India.

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 .

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

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

Sa is a consonant of Indic abugidas. In modern Indic scripts, Sa 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.

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: as an independent letter and 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, R̥ is derived from the early "Ashoka" Brahmi letter after having gone through the Gupta letter . As an Indic vowel, R̥ 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.

is a vowel of Indic abugidas. In modern Indic scripts, Ḹ is derived from the early "Ashoka" Brahmi letter . As an Indic vowel, Ḹ 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.

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. Ifrah, Georges (2000). The Universal History of Numbers. From Prehistory to the Invention of the Computer . New York: John Wiley & Sons. pp.  447–450. ISBN   0-471-39340-1.
  2. Bühler, Georg (1898). "On the Origin of the Indian Brahmi Alphabet". archive.org. Karl J. Trübner. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  3. Evolutionary chart, Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal Vol 7, 1838