From Handwiki - Reading time: 14 min| Clear Script Oirat alphabet | |
|---|---|
| Type | |
| Languages | Oirat Sanskrit Tibetic |
| Creator | Zaya Pandita |
Time period | ca. 1648 – today |
Parent systems | Proto-Sinaitic script
|
Sister systems | Manchu alphabet Vagindra script |
| Direction | Top-to-bottom |
| ISO 15924 | Mong, 145 |
Unicode alias | Mongolian |
| U+1800 – U+18AF | |
The Clear Script (Template:Lang-xal, [todo bit͡ʃ(ə)k]; Mongolian: Тод бичиг / ᠲᠣᠳᠣ
ᠪᠢᠴᠢᠭ, romanized: tod bichig / todo bičig, [tɔd bit͡ʃək], Template:Lang-bxr, ([tɔdɔ bɛʃək]), or just todo) is an alphabet created in 1648 by the Oirat Buddhist monk Zaya Pandita for the Oirat language.[1][2][3] It was developed on the basis of the Mongolian script with the goal of distinguishing all sounds in the spoken language, and to make it easier to transcribe Sanskrit and the Tibetic languages.
The Clear Script is a Mongolian script, whose obvious closest forebear is vertical Mongolian. This Mongolian script was derived from the Uyghur alphabet. The Clear Script was developed as a better way to write Mongolian, specifically of the Western Mongolian groups of the Oirats and Kalmyks.[3](p548) It resolved ambiguities in the written language by assigning symbols to vowels, and adding new symbols and diacritics to show vowels and vowel lengths, and to distinguish between voiced and unvoiced consonants.[3](p548)[2](p145) Symbols that were preserved from the traditional Mongolian script were assigned a fixed meaning.[2](p145)
There were even some marks enabling distinctions that were unimportant for words written in the Oirat language but were useful for the transcription of foreign words and names, such as between Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. and Script error: The function "transl" does not exist..[2]
The Clear Script was used by Oirat and neighboring Mongols, mostly in the late 17th and early 18th centuries.[2] It was widely used by its creator and others to translate Buddhist works so that they might better spread the Buddhist religion throughout western Mongolia. Though the script was useful for translating works from other languages, especially Tibetan, it was also used more informally, as evidenced by some letters from the late 1690s.[2]
Around the 19th and early 20th centuries, some Altaians in Russia were able utilize the script to read and write texts due to contacts with Mongolian Buddhists.[4]
The script was used by Kalmyks in Russia until 1924, when it was replaced by the Cyrillic script. In Xinjiang, Oirats still use it, although today Mongolian education takes place in Chakhar Mongolian all across China.
This script is a vertical script, as was its 'vertical Mongolian' parent script. Letters and diacritics are written along a central axis. Portions of letters to the right of the axis generally slant up, and portions to the left of the axis generally slant down. The only signs that do not follow these rules are the horizontal signs for Script error: The function "transl" does not exist., Script error: The function "transl" does not exist., and part of Script error: The function "transl" does not exist..[2] Words are delineated by a space, as well as different letter forms. Though most letters only come in one shape, there are some letters that look different depending on where in the word they occur, whether they are initial, medial, or final.[3]
There is an alphabetic order in the Clear Script, as in other related scripts, but the order for it is not the same as its Mongolian parent script: Script error: The function "transl" does not exist., Script error: The function "transl" does not exist., Script error: The function "transl" does not exist., Script error: The function "transl" does not exist., Script error: The function "transl" does not exist., Script error: The function "transl" does not exist., Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.; Script error: The function "transl" does not exist., Script error: The function "transl" does not exist., Script error: The function "transl" does not exist., Script error: The function "transl" does not exist., Script error: The function "transl" does not exist., Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. & Script error: The function "transl" does not exist., Script error: The function "transl" does not exist., Script error: The function "transl" does not exist., Script error: The function "transl" does not exist., Script error: The function "transl" does not exist., Script error: The function "transl" does not exist., Script error: The function "transl" does not exist., Script error: The function "transl" does not exist., Script error: The function "transl" does not exist., Script error: The function "transl" does not exist., Script error: The function "transl" does not exist., Script error: The function "transl" does not exist., Script error: The function "transl" does not exist., Script error: The function "transl" does not exist..[2](pp150–151)
| Single vowels[citation needed][3](p548)[5][6][2](p151)[7](p555) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial | Medial | Final | IPA[5] | Translit. |
Notes[note 2] | |
| Dan. |
ALA- | |||||
| All these form ligatures with a preceding bow-shaped consonant. | ||||||
| ᠠ | ᠠ | ᠠ | ɑ, ∅ | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Final example ligature: ᡋᠠ Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.. Note that the tail of a final Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. extends to the left in ligatures.
Confer Kalmyk Oirat а Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. and [∅] Error: {{Lang}}: Latn text/non-Latn script subtag mismatch (help). This letter's forms are shared with Hudum script Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.. | |
| ᡄ | ᡄ | ᡄ | e, ∅ | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Initial/medial/final example ligature: ᡋᡄ Script error: The function "transl" does not exist..
Confer Kalmyk Oirat э Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. and [∅] Error: {{Lang}}: Latn text/non-Latn script subtag mismatch (help). | |
| ᡅ | ᡅ | ᡅ | i, ∅ | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Final example ligature: ᡋᡅ Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.. Note that the shape of a final Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. differs in ligatures.
Confer Kalmyk Oirat и Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. and [∅] Error: {{Lang}}: Latn text/non-Latn script subtag mismatch (help). | |
| ᡆ | ᡆ | ᡆ | ɔ | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Initial/medial/final example ligature: ᡋᡆ Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.. Note that Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. and Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. look identical. Also note the rounded shape of Script error: The function "transl" does not exist..
Confer Kalmyk Oirat о Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. and [∅] Error: {{Lang}}: Latn text/non-Latn script subtag mismatch (help). | |
| ᡇ | ᡇ | ᡇ | ʊ, ∅ | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Initial/medial/final example ligature: ᡋᡇ Script error: The function "transl" does not exist..
Confer Kalmyk Oirat у Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. and [∅] Error: {{Lang}}: Latn text/non-Latn script subtag mismatch (help). | |
| ᡈ | ᡈ | ᡈ | ø, ∅ | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Initial/medial/final example ligature: ᡋᡈ Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.. Note the rounded shape of Script error: The function "transl" does not exist..
Confer Kalmyk Oirat ө Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. and [∅] Error: {{Lang}}: Latn text/non-Latn script subtag mismatch (help). | |
| ᡉ | ᡉ | ᡉ | y, ∅ | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Initial/medial/final example ligature: ᡋᡉ Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.. Note that Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. and Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. look identical.
Confer Kalmyk Oirat ү Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. and [∅] Error: {{Lang}}: Latn text/non-Latn script subtag mismatch (help). | |
| Long vowels[citation needed][3](p548)[5][6][7](p555) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial | Medial | Final | IPA | Translit. | Notes | |
| Dan. | ALA-LC | |||||
| ᠠᡃ | ᠠᡃ | — | ɑː | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Final example ligature: ᡗᠠᡃ Script error: The function "transl" does not exist..
Confer Kalmyk Oirat аа Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. and а Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.. |
| ᡄᡃ | ᡄᡃ | ᡄᡃ ⟨?⟩[note 5] |
eː, æː | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Confer Kalmyk Oirat ээ Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. and э Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.. |
| ᡅᡅ ⟨?⟩[note 6] |
ᡅᡅ ⟨?⟩[note 7] |
— | iː | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Diphthongs ending in Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. are shaped and transliterated in the same manner.
Confer Kalmyk Oirat ии Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. and и Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.. |
| — | — | ᡅᡅ | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | |||
| ᡆᡃ | ᡆᡃ | ᡆᡃ ⟨?⟩[note 8] |
ɔː | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Confer Kalmyk Oirat оо Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. and о Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.. |
| ᡇᡇTemplate:Fvs | ᡇᡇTemplate:Fvs | ᡇᡇTemplate:Fvs | ʊː | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Confer Kalmyk Oirat уу Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. and у Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.. | |
| ᡈᡃ | ᡈᡃ | ᡈᡃ ⟨?⟩[note 9] |
øː, æː | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Confer Kalmyk Oirat өө Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. and ө Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.. |
| ᡉᡉ | ᡉᡉ | ᡉᡉ | yː | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Confer Kalmyk Oirat үү Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. and ү Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.. | |
| Native consonants[citation needed][9][3](p548)[5][2](p151)[6][7](p555) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial | Medial | Final | IPA | Translit. | Notes[10] | |
| Dan. & Kara | ALA-LC | |||||
| ᡋ | ᡋ | ᡋ | b | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Confer Kalmyk Oirat б Script error: The function "transl" does not exist..
This letter's initial/medial form is shared with Hudum Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.. | |
| ᡏ | ᡏ | ᡏ | m | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Confer Kalmyk Oirat м Script error: The function "transl" does not exist..
This letter's initial/medial form is shared with Hudum Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.. | |
| ᠯ | ᠯ | ᠯ | l | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Confer Kalmyk Oirat л Script error: The function "transl" does not exist..
This letter is shared with Hudum Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.. | |
| ᠰ | ᠰ | ᠰ | s | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Confer Kalmyk Oirat с Script error: The function "transl" does not exist..
This letter is shared with Hudum Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.. | |
| ᠱ | ᠱ | ᠱ | ʃ | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Confer Kalmyk Oirat ш Script error: The function "transl" does not exist..
This letter is shared with Hudum Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.. |
| ᠨ | ᠨ | ᠨ | n | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Confer Kalmyk Oirat н Script error: The function "transl" does not exist..
This letter is shared with Hudum Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.. | |
| ᠨTemplate:Fvs | ||||||
| ᡍ | ᡍ | — | x | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Used before back vowels.[2](p149)
As in ᡍᠠᠷᠠ Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. 'black'.[9](p121)[5](p95)[note 10] Confer Kalmyk Oirat х Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.. | |
| ᡍTemplate:Fvs | ᡍTemplate:Fvs | — | k | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Used before front vowels.[2](p149)
As in ᡍᡈᡍᡈ Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. 'blue'.[9](p95)[5](p119)[note 11] Confer Kalmyk Oirat к Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.. | |
| ᡎ | ᡎ | — | ɢ | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Used before vowels.
As in ᡎᠠᠯ Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. 'fire'.[9](p63)[5](p127)[note 12] Confer Kalmyk Oirat һ Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.. |
| — | ᡎTemplate:Fvs | ᡎ | ɡ | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Used syllable-finally,[2](p151) and irrespective of vowel harmony.[2](p145)
As in ᡔᠠᡎ Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. 'time'.[9](p21)[5](p244)[note 13] Confer Kalmyk Oirat г Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.. | |
| — | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | As in ᡎᡄᠷ Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. 'ger'.[9](p28)[5](p136)[note 14]
Confer Kalmyk Oirat г Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.. | ||||
| ᡐ | ᡐ | — | t | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Confer Kalmyk Oirat т Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.. | |
| ᡑ | ᡑ | ᡑ | d | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Confer Kalmyk Oirat д Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.. | |
| ᡔ | ᡔ | — | t͡s | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist., Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.† | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | †. Ambiguous value (Script error: The function "transl" does not exist., Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.) from the 18th century until post-war reform.[2](pp149–150)
As in modern/older ᡔᠠᡅ Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. 'tea'.[9](p120)[5](p246)[note 15] Confer Kalmyk Oirat ц Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.. |
| ᡒ | ᡒ | — | t͡ʃ | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | — | Introduced in the 1950s.[2](pp149–150, 187)
As in modern ᡒᡅ Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.? (older ᡔᡅ Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.) 'you'.[9](p111)[5](p235)[note 16] Confer Kalmyk Oirat ч Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.. |
| ᠴ | ᠴ | — | z | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist., Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.† | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | †. Ambiguous value (Script error: The function "transl" does not exist., Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.) from the 18th century until post-war reform.[2](pp149–150)
As in modern/older ᠴᡇᠨ Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. 'summer'.[9](p50)[5](p274)[note 17] Confer Kalmyk Oirat з Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.. |
| ᡓ | ᡓ | — | d͡ʒ | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | — | Introduced in the 1950s.[2](pp149–150, 187)
As in modern ᡓᡅᠯ Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.? (older ᠴᡅᠯ Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.) 'year'.[9](p24)[5](p257)[note 18] Confer Kalmyk Oirat ж Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.. |
| ᡕ | ᡕ | — | j | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Confer Kalmyk Oirat й Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.. | |
| ᠷ | ᠷ | ᠷ | r | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Confer Kalmyk Oirat р Script error: The function "transl" does not exist..
This letter is shared with Hudum Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.. | |
| — | ᡊ | ᡊ | ŋ | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Confer Kalmyk Oirat ң Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.. | |
| Letters used in foreign words[citation needed][3](p548)[5][6][7](p555) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial | Medial | Final | IPA | Translit. | Notes | |
| Dan. & Kara | ALA-LC | |||||
| ᡌ | ᡌ | — | p | — | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Confer Kalmyk Oirat п Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.. |
| ᡙ | ᡙ | — | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Confer Kalmyk Oirat г Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.. | ||
| ᡘ | ᡘ | ᡘ | — | Confer Kalmyk Oirat г Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.. | ||
| ᡗ | ᡗ | — | k | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist., Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Confer Kalmyk Oirat к Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.. |
| ᡚ | ᡚ | — | — | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Confer Kalmyk Oirat җ Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.. | |
| — | ᡛ | — | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | |||
| ᡜ | ᡜ | — | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | |||
| ᢘ | ᢘ | ᢘ | — | |||
| ᢙ | ᢙ | — | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | |||
| ᠸ | ᠸ | ᠸ | — | Confer Kalmyk Oirat ф Script error: The function "transl" does not exist..
This letter is shared with Hudum Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.. | ||
| ᡖ | ᡖ | ᡖ | w | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Confer Kalmyk Oirat в Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.. |
| Ligatures[6] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial | Medial | Final | Translit. | Notes | |
| Dan. | ALA-LC | ||||
| ᡋᠠ | ᡋᠠ | ᡋᠠ | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | ||
| ᡋᡄ | ᡋᡄ | ᡋᡄ | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | ||
| ᡋᡅ | ᡋᡅ | ᡋᡅ | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | ||
| ᡋᡆ | ᡋᡆ | ᡋᡆ | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Written the same as Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.. | |
| ᡋᡇ | ᡋᡇ | ᡋᡇ | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | ||
| ᡋᡈ | ᡋᡈ | ᡋᡈ | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | ||
| ᡋᡉ | ᡋᡉ | ᡋᡉ | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Written the same as Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.. | |
| ᡗᠠ | ᡗᠠ | ᡗᠠ | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | ||
| ᡍᡄ | ᡍᡄ | ᡍᡄ | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | ||
| ᡍᡅ | ᡍᡅ | ᡍᡅ | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | ||
| ᡗᡆ | ᡗᡆ | ᡗᡆ | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | ||
| ᡗᡇ | ᡗᡇ | ᡗᡇ | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | ||
| ᡍᡈ | ᡍᡈ | ᡍᡈ | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | ||
| ᡍᡉ ⟨?⟩ |
ᡍᡉ ⟨?⟩ |
ᡍᡉ ⟨?⟩ |
Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | [note 19] | |
| ᡘᠠ | ᡘᠠ | ᡘᠠ | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | ||
| ᡎᡄ ⟨?⟩ |
ᡎᡄ ⟨?⟩ |
ᡎᡄ ⟨?⟩ |
Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | [note 20] | |
| ᡎᡅ ⟨?⟩ |
ᡎᡅ ⟨?⟩ |
ᡎᡅ ⟨?⟩ |
Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | [note 21] | |
| ᡘᡆ | ᡘᡆ | ᡘᡆ | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | ||
| ᡘᡇ | ᡘᡇ | ᡘᡇ | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | ||
| ᡎᡈ | ᡎᡈ | ᡎᡈ | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | ||
| ᡎᡉ | ᡎᡉ | ᡎᡉ | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | ||
| Other bow-shaped ligatures are formed in the same manner. | |||||