Clear Script
| Clear Script Oirat alphabet | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Script type | |
| Creator | Zaya Pandita |
Time period | ca. 1648 – today |
| Direction | Vertical left-to-right  |
| Languages | Oirat Sanskrit Tibetic |
| Related scripts | |
Parent systems | |
Sister systems | Manchu alphabet Vagindra script |
| ISO 15924 | |
| ISO 15924 | Mong(145), Mongolian |
| Unicode | |
Unicode alias | Mongolian |
| U+1800 – U+18AF | |
The Clear Script[note 1] is an alphabet created in 1648 by the OiratBuddhist monkZaya 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.
History
[edit]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]: 548 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]: 548 [2]: 145 Symbols that were preserved from the traditional Mongolian script were assigned a fixed meaning.[2]: 145
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 ši and si.[2]
Usage
[edit]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.
Writing in the Clear Script
[edit]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 S, Š, and part of Ö.[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]
Tables
[edit]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. The Clear Script order is: a, e, i, o, u, ö, ü; n, b, x, ɣ, g, k & k’, q, m, l, r, d, t, y, z/ǰ, c/č, s, š, ng, v/w.[2]: 150–151
Vowels
[edit]| Single vowels[citation needed][3]: 548 [5][6][2]: 151 [7]: 555 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial | Medial | Final | IPA[5] | Translit. | Notes[note 3] | |
| Dan. | ALA- | |||||
| All these form ligatures with a preceding bow-shaped consonant. | ||||||
| ᠠ | ᠠ | ᠠ | ɑ, ∅ | a | Final example ligature: ᡋᠠba. This ligated form of final a extends its tail to the left. Confer Kalmyk Oiratаa and [∅] Error: {{Lang}}: Latn text/non-Latn script subtag mismatch (help). This letter's forms are shared with Hudum scripta. | |
| ᡄ | ᡄ | ᡄ | e, ∅ | e | Initial/medial/final example ligature: ᡋᡄbe. Confer Kalmyk Oirat эè and [∅] Error: {{Lang}}: Latn text/non-Latn script subtag mismatch (help). | |
| ᡅ | ᡅ | ᡅ | i, ∅ | i | Final example ligature: ᡋᡅbi. This ligated form of final i differs from the one used elsewhere. Confer Kalmyk Oirat иi and [∅] Error: {{Lang}}: Latn text/non-Latn script subtag mismatch (help). | |
| ᡆ | ᡆ | ᡆ | ɔ | o | Initial/medial/final example ligature: ᡋᡆbo. This ligated form of o is fully round. The ligature bo is also identical in form to bü. Confer Kalmyk Oirat оo and [∅] Error: {{Lang}}: Latn text/non-Latn script subtag mismatch (help). | |
| ᡇ | ᡇ | ᡇ | ʊ, ∅ | u | Initial/medial/final example ligature: ᡋᡇbu. Confer Kalmyk Oirat уu and [∅] Error: {{Lang}}: Latn text/non-Latn script subtag mismatch (help). | |
| ᡈ | ᡈ | ᡈ | ø, ∅ | ö | Initial/medial/final example ligature: ᡋᡈbö. This ligated form of ö is fully round. Confer Kalmyk Oirat өô and [∅] Error: {{Lang}}: Latn text/non-Latn script subtag mismatch (help). | |
| ᡉ | ᡉ | ᡉ | y, ∅ | ü | Initial/medial/final example ligature: ᡋᡉbü. The ligatures bü and bo are identical in form. Confer Kalmyk Oirat үù and [∅] Error: {{Lang}}: Latn text/non-Latn script subtag mismatch (help). | |
| Long vowels[citation needed][3]: 548 [5][6][7]: 555 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial | Medial | Final | IPA | Translit. | Notes | |
| Dan. | ALA-LC | |||||
| ᠠᡃ | ᠠᡃ | — | ɑː | â | ā | Final example ligature: ᡗᠠᡃkâ. Confer Kalmyk Oirat ааaa and аa. |
| ᡄᡃ | ᡄᡃ | ᡄᡃ ⟨?⟩[note 6] | eː, æː | ê | ē | Confer Kalmyk Oirat ээèè and эè. |
| ᡅᡅ ⟨?⟩[note 7] | ᡅᡅ ⟨?⟩[note 8] | — | iː | ii | iyi | Diphthongs ending in i are shaped and transliterated in the same manner. Confer Kalmyk Oirat ииii and иi. |
| — | — | ᡅᡅ | ii | |||
| ᡆᡃ | ᡆᡃ | ᡆᡃ ⟨?⟩[note 9] | ɔː | ô | ō | Confer Kalmyk Oirat ооoo and оo. |
| ᡇᡇ᠌ | ᡇᡇ᠌ | ᡇᡇ᠋ | ʊː | uu | Confer Kalmyk Oirat ууuu and уu. | |
| ᡈᡃ | ᡈᡃ | ᡈᡃ ⟨?⟩[note 10] | øː, æː | ö̂ | ȫ | Confer Kalmyk Oirat өөôô and өô. |
| ᡉᡉ | ᡉᡉ | ᡉᡉ | yː | üü | Confer Kalmyk Oirat үүùù and үù. | |
Consonants
[edit]| Native consonants[citation needed][9][3]: 548 [5][2]: 151 [6][7]: 555 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial | Medial | Final | IPA | Translit. | Notes[10] | |
| Dan. & Kara | ALA-LC | |||||
| ᠨ | ᠨ | ᠨ | n | n | Confer Kalmyk Oirat нn. This letter is shared with Hudum n. | |
| ᠨ᠋ | ||||||
| ᡋ | ᡋ | ᡋ | b | b | Confer Kalmyk Oirat бb. This letter's initial/medial form is shared with Hudum b. | |
| ᡍ | ᡍ | — | x | x | Used before back vowels.[2]: 149 As in ᡍᠠᠷᠠxara 'black'.[9]: 121 [5]: 95 [note 11] Confer Kalmyk Oirat хh. | |
| ᡎ | ᡎ | — | ɢ | ɣ | ġ | Used before vowels. As in ᡎᠠᠯɣal 'fire'.[9]: 63 [5]: 127 [note 12] Confer Kalmyk Oirat һḥ. |
.svg){kind=small} | | — | ɡ | g | As in ᡎᡄᠷger 'ger'.[9]: 28 [5]: 136 [note 13] Confer Kalmyk Oirat гg. | |
| ᡍ᠋ | ᡍ᠋ | — | k | k | Used before front vowels.[2]: 149 As in ᡍᡈᡍᡈkökö 'blue'.[9]: 95 [5]: 119 [note 14] Confer Kalmyk Oirat кk. | |
| — | ᡎ᠋ | ᡎ | ɡ | q | Used syllable-finally,[2]: 151 and irrespective of vowel harmony.[2]: 145 As in ᡔᠠᡎcaq 'time'.[9]: 21 [5]: 244 [note 15] Confer Kalmyk Oirat гg. | |
| ᡏ | ᡏ | ᡏ | m | m | Confer Kalmyk Oirat мm. This letter's initial/medial form is shared with Hudum m. | |
| ᠯ | ᠯ | ᠯ | l | l | Confer Kalmyk Oirat лl. This letter is shared with Hudum l. | |
| ᠷ | ᠷ | ᠷ | r | r | Confer Kalmyk Oirat рr. This letter is shared with Hudum r. | |
| ᡑ | ᡑ | ᡑ | d | d | Confer Kalmyk Oirat дd. | |
| ᡐ | ᡐ | — | t | t | Confer Kalmyk Oirat тt. | |
| ᡕ | ᡕ | — | j | y | Confer Kalmyk Oirat йj. | |
| ᠴ | ᠴ | — | z | z, ǰ† | z | †. Ambiguous value (z, ǰ) from the 18th century until post-war reform.[2]: 149–150 As in modern/older ᠴᡇᠨzun 'summer'.[9]: 50 [5]: 274 [note 16] Confer Kalmyk Oirat зz. |
| ᡓ | ᡓ | — | d͡ʒ | ǰ | — | Introduced in the 1950s.[2]: 149–150, 187 As in modern ᡓᡅᠯǰil? (older ᠴᡅᠯzil) 'year'.[9]: 24 [5]: 257 [note 17] Confer Kalmyk Oirat жz̆. |
| ᡔ | ᡔ | — | t͡s | c, č† | c | †. Ambiguous value (c, č) from the 18th century until post-war reform.[2]: 149–150 As in modern/older ᡔᠠᡅcai 'tea'.[9]: 120 [5]: 246 [note 18] Confer Kalmyk Oirat цc. |
| ᡒ | ᡒ | — | t͡ʃ | č | — | Introduced in the 1950s.[2]: 149–150, 187 As in modern ᡒᡅči? (older ᡔᡅci) 'you'.[9]: 111 [5]: 235 [note 19] Confer Kalmyk Oirat чč. |
| ᠰ | ᠰ | ᠰ | s | s | Confer Kalmyk Oirat сs. This letter is shared with Hudum s. | |
| ᠱ | ᠱ | ᠱ | ʃ | š | ś | Confer Kalmyk Oirat шs̆. This letter is shared with Hudum š. |
| — | ᡊ | ᡊ | ŋ | ng | Confer Kalmyk Oirat ңn̦. | |
| Letters used in foreign words[citation needed][3]: 548 [5][6][7]: 555 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial | Medial | Final | IPA | Translit. | Notes | |
| Dan. & Kara | ALA-LC | |||||
| ᡌ | ᡌ | — | p | — | f | Confer Kalmyk Oirat пp. |
| ᡙ | ᡙ | — | h | Confer Kalmyk Oirat гg. | ||
| ᡘ | ᡘ | ᡘ | — | Confer Kalmyk Oirat гg. | ||
| ᡗ | ᡗ | — | k | k, k’ | k | Confer Kalmyk Oirat кk. |
| ᡚ | ᡚ | — | — | j | Confer Kalmyk Oirat җz̦̆. | |
| — | ᡛ | — | ñ | |||
| ᡜ | ᡜ | — | j | |||
| ᢘ | ᢘ | ᢘ | — | |||
| ᢙ | ᢙ | — | ź | |||
| ᠸ | ᠸ | ᠸ | — | Confer Kalmyk Oirat фf. This letter is shared with Hudum w/v. | ||
| ᡖ | ᡖ | ᡖ | w | w/v | v | Confer Kalmyk Oirat вv. |
Ligatures
[edit]| Ligatures[6] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial | Medial | Final | Translit. | Notes | |
| Dan. | ALA-LC | ||||
| ᡋᠠ | ᡋᠠ | ᡋᠠ | ba | ||
| ᡋᡄ | ᡋᡄ | ᡋᡄ | be | ||
| ᡋᡅ | ᡋᡅ | ᡋᡅ | bi | ||
| ᡋᡆ | ᡋᡆ | ᡋᡆ | bo | Written the same as bü. | |
| ᡋᡇ | ᡋᡇ | ᡋᡇ | bu | ||
| ᡋᡈ | ᡋᡈ | ᡋᡈ | bö | ||
| ᡋᡉ | ᡋᡉ | ᡋᡉ | bü | Written the same as bo. | |
| ᡗᠠ | ᡗᠠ | ᡗᠠ | ka | ||
| ᡍᡄ | ᡍᡄ | ᡍᡄ | ke | ||
| ᡍᡅ | ᡍᡅ | ᡍᡅ | ki | ||
| ᡗᡆ | ᡗᡆ | ᡗᡆ | ko | ||
| ᡗᡇ | ᡗᡇ | ᡗᡇ | ku | ||
| ᡍᡈ | ᡍᡈ | ᡍᡈ | kö | ||
| ᡍᡉ ⟨?⟩ | ᡍᡉ ⟨?⟩ | ᡍᡉ ⟨?⟩ | kü | [note 20] | |
| ᡘᠠ | ᡘᠠ | ᡘᠠ | ga | ||
| ᡎᡄ ⟨?⟩ | ᡎᡄ ⟨?⟩ | ᡎᡄ ⟨?⟩ | ge | [note 21] | |
| ᡎᡅ ⟨?⟩ | ᡎᡅ ⟨?⟩ | ᡎᡅ ⟨?⟩ | gi | [note 22] | |
| ᡘᡆ | ᡘᡆ | ᡘᡆ | go | ||
| ᡘᡇ | ᡘᡇ | ᡘᡇ | gu | ||
| ᡎᡈ | ᡎᡈ | ᡎᡈ | gö | ||
| ᡎᡉ | ᡎᡉ | ᡎᡉ | gü | ||
| Other bow-shaped ligatures are formed in the same manner. | |||||
See also
[edit]
Notes
[edit]- ^
- Oirat: ᡐᡆᡑᡆ
ᡋᡅᡒᡅᡎ / Тодо бичиг, romanized: todo bičiq / todo bičig, [todobit͡ʃ(ə)k] - Mongolian: Тод бичиг / ᠲᠣᠳᠣ
ᠪᠢᠴᠢᠭ, romanized: tod bichig / todo bičig, [tɔdbit͡ʃək] - Russian Buryat: Тодо бэшэг, romanized: Todo besheg, [tɔdɔbɛʃək]
- Oirat: ᡐᡆᡑᡆ
- ^Transliteration
- ^Modern Kalmyk Oirat (Cyrillic) equivalent (?)
- ^GOST 7.79-2000 (ISO 9:1995)[8]: 9, 16
- ^Daniels
- ^Should appear without a final left-pointing tail.
- ^Should appear with an intervocalic tooth.
- ^Should appear with an intervocalic tooth.
- ^Should appear without a final left-pointing tail.
- ^Should appear without a final left-pointing tail.
- ^Confer Kalmyk Oirat харhar; Hudum ᠬᠠᠷᠠqar‑a; Khalkha харkhar.
- ^Confer Kalmyk Oirat һалḥal; Hudum ᠭᠠᠯɣal; Khalkha галgal.
- ^Confer Kalmyk Oirat герger; Hudum ᠭᠡᠷger; Khalkha гэрger.
- ^Confer Kalmyk Oirat көкkök; Hudum ᠬᠥᠬᠡköke; Khalkha хөхkhökh.
- ^Confer Kalmyk Oirat цагcag; Hudum ᠴᠠᠭčaɣ; Khalkha цагtsag.
- ^Confer Kalmyk Oirat зунzun; Hudum ᠵᠤᠨǰun; Khalkha зунzun.
- ^Confer Kalmyk Oirat җилz̦̆il; Hudum ᠵᠢᠯǰil; Khalkha жилjil.
- ^Confer Kalmyk Oirat цәca̋; Hudum ᠴᠠᠢčai; Khalkha цайtsai.
- ^Confer Kalmyk Oirat чиči; Hudum ᠴᠢči; Khalkha чиchi.
- ^Should appear as a bow with a down-pointing tooth, followed by a round ü.
- ^Should appear in line with be and ke.
- ^Should appear in line with bi and ki.
References
[edit]- ^Yakhantova, N. (2006). "The Mongolian and Oirat Translations of the Sutra of Golden Light"(PDF) (in Chinese and English). Archived from the original(PDF) on 2016-04-07.
- ^ abcdefghijklmnopqrKara, György (2005). Books of the Mongolian Nomads: More Than Eight Centuries of Writing Mongolian. Indiana University, Research Institute for Inner Asian Studies. ISBN 978-0-933070-52-3.
- ^ abcdefghDaniels, Peter T.; Bright, William (1996). The World's Writing Systems. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-507993-7.
- ^Kos'min, V. K. (2007). "Mongolian Buddhism's Influence on the Formation and Development of Burkhanism in Altai". Anthropology & Archeology of Eurasia. 45 (3): 43–72. doi:10.2753/aae1061-1959450303. ISSN 1061-1959. S2CID 145805201.
- ^ abcdefghijklmnn/a, Čoyiǰungǰab; Na., Gereltü (1998-05-10). Oyirad ayalɣun-u ügesᠣᠶᠢᠷᠠᠳ ᠠᠶᠠᠯᠭᠤᠨ ᠤ ᠦᠭᠡᠰ(PDF) (in Mongolian). Hohhot: Inner Mongolia University. ISBN 7-81015-892-9. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
- ^ abcde"Tod-Oirat-Old Kalmyk romanization table"(PDF). Library of Congress. 2012. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
- ^ abcd"The Unicode Standard, Version 15.0 – Core Specification Chapter 13: South and Central Asia-II, Other Modern Scripts"(PDF). Unicode Standard 15.0.0. 2022-09-13. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
- ^GOST 7.79-2000 (ISO 9-95; Sistema standartov po informatsii, bibliotechnomu i izdatelskomu delu. Pravila transliteratsii kirillovskogo pisma latinskim alfavitom)ГОСТ 7.79-2000 (ИСО 9-95; Система стандартов по информации, библиотечному и издательскому делу. Правила транслитерации кирилловского письма латинским алфавитом)(PDF) (in Russian).
- ^ abcdefghijSmirnov, Parmen (1857). Kratkiy russko-kalmytskiy slovarКраткій русско-калмыцкій словарь(PDF) (in Russian). Kazan. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^"Bolor Dictionary". Retrieved 2023-02-06.
