Pallava alphabet

Pallava
Type
Languages Tamil, Prakrit
Time period
 6th century CE to 9th century CE
Parent systems
Brāhmī
  • Southern Brāhmī
    • Pallava
Sister systems
 Vatteluttu alphabet

The Pallava script, a Brahmic script, was developed under the Pallava dynasty of Southern India around the 6th century CE.

Southeast Asian scripts such as Javanese,[1] Kawi, Baybayin, Mon, Burmese,[2] Khmer,[3] Tai Tham, Thai[4] Lao,[5] and the New Tai Lue alphabets are either direct or indirect derivations from the Pallava alphabet.[6]

Form

The form shown here is based on examples from the 7th century AD. Letters labeled * have uncertain sound value, as they have little occurrence in Southeast Asia. (Chart of images based on Pallava glyphs presented at SkyKnowledge.com.)

Consonants

Each consonant has an inherent /a/, which will be sounded if no vowel sign is attached. If two consonants follow one another without intervening vowel, the second consonant is made into a subscript form, and attached below the first.

ka kha ga gha ṅa ca cha ja jha* ña ṭa ṭha* ḍa ḍha* ṇa ta tha
da dha na pa pha ba bha ma ya ra la va śa ṣa sa ha

Independent Vowels

a aa i ii u e o ai* au*

Bibliography

References

  1. ↑ "Javanese alphabet, pronunciation and language (aksara jawa)". Omniglot.com. Retrieved 2012-03-11.
  2. ↑ "Burmese/Myanmar script and pronunciation". Omniglot.com. Retrieved 2012-03-11.
  3. ↑ "Khmer/Cambodian alphabet, pronunciation and language". Omniglot.com. Retrieved 2012-03-11.
  4. ↑ http://www.ancientscripts.com/thai.html
  5. ↑ "Lao alphabet, pronunciation and language". Omniglot.com. Retrieved 2012-03-11.
  6. ↑ "Pallava script". SkyKnowledge.com. 2010-12-30.

External links