The representation of the Maldivian language in the Latin script varies from one scheme to another.
The following are the major romanization methods for Maldivian:
Mālē Leṭin or Nasiri Latin is romanization scheme for Maldivian used as the official script from 1976 to 1978. It continues to be the most–used method of romanization for the Maldivian Language.
ISO 15919 can be used to romanize Maldivian. Xavier Romero-Frias uses this scheme in his book The Maldive Islanders - A study of the popular culture of an ancient ocean kingdom. [1]
Thaana | Malé Latin | ISO 15919 | Slovak [lower-alpha 1] | IPA transcription |
---|---|---|---|---|
ހ | h | h | h | [h] |
ށ | sh | ṣ | s | [ʂ] |
ނ | n | n | n | [n] |
ރ | r | r | r | [ɾ] |
ބ | b | b | b | [b] |
ޅ | l | ḷ | l | [ɭ] |
ކ | k | k | k | [k] |
ވ | v | v | v | [ʋ] |
މ | m | m | m | [m] |
ފ | f | f | f | [f] |
ދ | dh | d | d | [d̪] |
ތ | th | t | t | [t̪] |
ލ | l | l | l | [l] |
ގ | g | g | g | [ɡ] |
ޏ | gn | ñ | ň | [ɲ] |
ސ | s | s | s | [s̺] |
ޑ | d | ḍ | d | [ɖ] |
ޒ | z | z | z | [z̺] |
ޓ | t | ṭ | t | [ʈ] |
ޔ | y | y | j | [j] |
ޕ | p | p | p | [p] |
ޖ | j | j | dž | [dʒ] |
ޗ | ch | c | c | [tʃ] |
Thaana | Malé Latin | ISO 15919 | Czech/Slovak [lower-alpha 1] | IPA transcription |
---|---|---|---|---|
އަ | a | a | a | [a] |
އާ | aa | ā | á | [aː] |
އި | i | i | i | [i] |
އީ | ee | ī | í | [iː] |
އު | u | u | u | [u] |
އޫ | oo | ū | ó | [uː] |
އެ | e | e | e | [e] |
އޭ | ey | ē | é | [eː] |
އޮ | o | o | o | [o] |
އޯ | oa | ō | ó | [oː] |
Thaana, Tãnaa, Taana or Tāna is the present writing system of the Maldivian language spoken in the Maldives. Thaana has characteristics of both an abugida and a true alphabet, with consonants derived from indigenous and Arabic numerals, and vowels derived from the vowel diacritics of the Arabic abjad. Maldivian orthography in Thaana is largely phonemic.
Huvadhu, Suvadive, Suvaidu or Suvadiva is the atoll with most islands in the world. The atoll is located in the Indian Ocean. It is south of the Suvadiva Channel in the Republic of Maldives with a total area of 3152 km2, of which 38.5 km2 is dry land. The atoll contains 255 islands.
Haa Dhaalu Atoll is the code name based on the letters of the Maldivian alphabet commonly used to refer to the administrative division officially known as South Thiladhunmathi Atoll in the Maldives.
Vaavu Atoll is an administrative division of the Maldives, comprising the natural atolls of Felidhu Atoll and the Vattaru Reef.
Landhoo is one of the inhabited islands of Southern Miladhunmadulhu Atoll, administrative code Noonu Atoll.
The culture of the Maldives is derived from a number of sources, the most important of which is its proximity to the shores of Sri Lanka and South India. The population is mainly Indo-Aryan from the anthropological point of view. Islam is considered the religion of the country and only Muslims can become legal citizens.
Dhives Akuru, later called Dhivehi Akuru is a script formerly used for the Maldivian language. The name can be alternatively spelled Dives Akuru or Divehi Akuru using the ISO 15919 Romanization scheme, as the "d" is unaspirated.
Several Dhivehi scripts have been used by Maldivians during their history. The early Dhivehi scripts fell into the abugida category, while the more recent Thaana has characteristics of both an abugida and a true alphabet. An ancient form of Nagari script, as well as the Arabic and Devanagari scripts, have also been extensively used in the Maldives, but with a more restricted function. Latin was official only during a very brief period of the Islands' history.
Hinduism in the Maldives describes the practice of the Hindu religion in the Maldives archipelago. Evidence suggests that Hinduism had a presence in pre-Islamic Maldives. Archaeological remains survive from the 8th or 9th century CE portraying Hindu deities such as Shiva, Lakshmi and the sage Agastya.
Maldivian mythology or Maldivian folklore is the body of myths, tales and anecdotes belonging to the oral tradition of Maldivians. Even though some of the Maldivian myths were already mentioned briefly by British commissioner in Ceylon HCP Bell towards the end of the 19th century, their study and publication were carried out only quite recently by Spanish writer and artist Xavier Romero-Frias, at a time when that ancestral worldview was quickly disappearing.
Maldives fish is cured tuna traditionally produced in Maldives. It is a staple of the Maldivian cuisine, Sri Lankan cuisine, as well as the cuisine of the Southern Indian states and territories of Lakshadweep, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, and in the past it was one of the main exports from Maldives to Sri Lanka, where it is known as umbalakaḍa (උම්බලකඩ) in Sinhala and masikaruvadu in Tamil. It is also produced in small scale using traditional methods in Lakshadweep Islands in India. It is known as massmin in Lakshadweep.
Maldivian cuisine, also called Dhivehi cuisine, is the cuisine of the Republic of Maldives and of Minicoy, India. The traditional cuisine of Maldivians is based on three main items and their derivatives: coconuts, fish and starches.
Lōmāfānu are Maldivian waqf grants in the form of copper plates on which inscriptions have been engraved. Many ancient Maldivian historical texts are found only in lōmāfānu form, with the oldest of the plates dating from the twelfth century AD. The Divehi script used on the plates was named "Eveyla Akuru" by H. C. P. Bell, who claimed that it resembled medieval Sinhala script.
Dhivehi Latin or Maldivian Latin, known colloquially as Malé Latin or Nasiri Latin, is a Latin Maldivian alphabet briefly mandated in the Maldives from 1976, but the country reverted to the native Thaana and Arabic alphabets in 1978. Maldivian Latin is still widely used in non-academic literature for romanizing Maldivian, however its rules are not strictly adhered to by most Maldivians.
The Giraavaru people are indigenous people of the Giravaaru islands that is part of Maldives. They are considered to be the earliest island community of the Maldives, predating Buddhism and the arrival of Indo-Aryan speakers in the archipelago. Their ancestors were ancient Tamil people who they referred to as 'Tamila'. Other mainstream Maldivians considered them to be of lower social status. They lived on the island of Giravaru until 1972, but were later relocated to Male', the nation's capital where they were assimilated in with the local social groups.
Xavier Romero Frías is a Spanish writer and scholar. He lived among the Maldivians over a 13-year period. His present residence is in Bangkok, Thailand.
Maldivian, also known by its endonym Dhivehi or Divehi, is an Indo-Aryan language spoken in the South Asian island country of Maldives and on Minicoy Island, Lakshadweep, a union territory of India.
Mas huni is a typical Maldivian breakfast, comprising tuna, onion, coconut, and chili. All ingredients are finely chopped and mixed with the grated meat of the coconut. This dish is usually eaten with freshly baked roshi (flatbread) and sweetened hot tea.
Launaea sarmentosa is a perennial herb species in the family Asteraceae. It is native to coastal areas in Africa, Madagascar, the Seychelles, Mauritius, India, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Southeast Asia. It is naturalized in Western Australia.
Gulha is a typical and popular Maldivian short eat.