Pallava alphabet

Pallava
Type
Languages Tamil, Prakrit, Sanskrit
Time period
 6th century AD to 9th century AD
Parent systems
Child systems
 Grantha, Kawi, Khmer
Sister systems
 Vatteluttu alphabet

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

Southeast Asian scripts such as Grantha, Javanese,[1] Kawi, Baybayin, Mon, Burmese,[2] Khmer,[3] Tai Tham, Thai[4] Lao,[5] Sinhalese,[6] and the New Tai Lue alphabets are either direct or indirect derivations from the Kadamba-Pallava alphabet.[7]

Form

Pallava script at the 8th century Kailasanatha temple in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu.

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 nga ca cha ja jha* nya 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 ā i ī 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. ↑ Jayarajan, Paul M. (1976-01-01). History of the Evolution of the Sinhala Alphabet. Colombo Apothecaries' Company, Limited.
  7. ↑ "Pallava script". SkyKnowledge.com. 2010-12-30.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.