Brahmic scripts
| Writing systems |
|---|
 |
| Abjad |
| Abugida |
| Alphabetical |
| Logographic and Syllabic |
The Brahmic scripts are a group of writing systems that started in South Asia. It belongs to the Abugida script family. They are used all over the subcontinent and parts of Southeast Asia. These scripts come from the Brahmi script. Many languages in South and Southeast Asia, belonging to different language families,[1] use these scripts
History
[change | change source]Brahmic scripts are divided into Northern and Southern Brahmic scripts. The Northern Brahmic scripts led to the Gupta script during the Gupta period, which later developed into various cursive scripts in the medieval period. Examples include Nagari, Siddham, and Sharada scripts.[2]
Southern Brahmi evolved into Kadamba, Pallava, and Vatteluttu scripts, which further developed into other scripts in South India and Southeast Asia. Brahmic scripts reached Southeast Asia through trade and South Asian cultural influence, leading to the development of local varieties. By the 8th century, these scripts had separated into various regional scripts in South and Southeast Asia.[3]
List of Brahmic scripts
[change | change source]The Brahmic scripts are divided into two groups, the Northern Brahmic and the Southern Brahmic. Following is the list of Brahmic scripts:[4]
Northern Brahmic
[change | change source]
Map of Indo-Aryan languages of South Asia that use or used the Northern Brahmic scripts (except Dardic languages of northern Pakistan in light pink). - Tocharian (Slanting Brahmi)
Southern Brahmic
[change | change source]
Map of Dravidian languages that use the Southern Brahmic languages in South Asia (except Brahui language in south-western Pakistan). - Pallava
- Tamil
- Grantha
- Khmer
- Cham
- Kawi
- Mon–Burmese
- Modern Mon
- Burmese
- Chakma
- S'gaw Karen
- Shan
- Tanchangya
- Lik-Tai scripts
- Tai Tham
- Pyu
- Vatteluttu
- Pallava
- Sinhala
- Bhattiprolu
References
[change | change source]- ↑ DeFrancis, John; Unger, J Marshall (1997). "Peter T. Daniels & William Bright (eds.), The world's writing systems. Oxford & New York: Oxford University Press, 1996. Pp. xlvi, 920". Language in Society. 26 (3): 436–439. doi:10.1017/s0047404500019588. ISSN 0047-4045.
- ↑ Merriam, LL (2022). "Brahmi Script: Origins in the Indus Valley". scholar.archive.org.
- ↑ DeFrancis, John; Unger, J Marshall (1997). "Peter T. Daniels & William Bright (eds.), The world's writing systems. Oxford & New York: Oxford University Press, 1996. Pp. xlvi, 920". Language in Society. 26 (3): 436–439. doi:10.1017/s0047404500019588. ISSN 0047-4045.
- ↑ Sproat, Richard (2006-07-20). "Brahmi-derived scripts, script layout, and segmental awareness". Written Language & Literacy. 9 (1): 45–66. doi:10.1075/wll.9.1.05spr. ISSN 1387-6732.
