| 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 | |
| This article containsphonetic transcriptions in theInternational Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). For an introductory guide on IPA symbols, seeHelp:IPA. For the distinction between[ ],/ / and ⟨ ⟩, seeIPA § Brackets and transcription delimiters. | |
TheClear Script[note 1] is an alphabet created in 1648 by theOiratBuddhist monkZaya Pandita for theOirat language.[1][2][3] It was developed on the basis of theMongolian script with the goal of distinguishing all sounds in the spoken language, and to make it easier to transcribeSanskrit and theTibetic languages.
The Clear Script is a Mongolian script, whose obvious closest forebear is vertical Mongolian. This Mongolian script was derived from theUyghur 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 anddiacritics 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 betweenši andsi.[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, someAltaians in Russia were able utilize the script to read and write texts due to contacts with Mongolian Buddhists.[4]
The script was used byKalmyks inRussia until 1924, when it was replaced by theCyrillic script. InXinjiang, Oirats still use it, although today Mongolian education takes place inChakhar 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 forS,Š, and part ofÖ.[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. 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
| 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 finala extends its tail to the left. ConferKalmyk Oiratаa and [∅]Error: {{Lang}}: Latn text/non-Latn script subtag mismatch (help). This letter's forms are shared withHudum scripta. | |
| ᡄ | ᡄ | ᡄ | e, ∅ | e | Initial/medial/final example ligature:ᡋᡄbe. Confer Kalmyk Oiratэè and [∅]Error: {{Lang}}: Latn text/non-Latn script subtag mismatch (help). | |
| ᡅ | ᡅ | ᡅ | i, ∅ | i | Final example ligature:ᡋᡅbi. This ligated form of finali differs from the one used elsewhere. Confer Kalmyk Oiratиi 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 ofo is fully round. The ligaturebo is also identical in form tobü. Confer Kalmyk Oiratоo and [∅]Error: {{Lang}}: Latn text/non-Latn script subtag mismatch (help). | |
| ᡇ | ᡇ | ᡇ | ʊ, ∅ | u | Initial/medial/final example ligature:ᡋᡇbu. Confer Kalmyk Oiratуu 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 ofö is fully round. Confer Kalmyk Oiratөô and [∅]Error: {{Lang}}: Latn text/non-Latn script subtag mismatch (help). | |
| ᡉ | ᡉ | ᡉ | y, ∅ | ü | Initial/medial/final example ligature:ᡋᡉbü. The ligaturesbü andbo are identical in form. Confer Kalmyk Oiratүù 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 Oiratааaa andаa. |
| ᡄᡃ | ᡄᡃ | ᡄᡃ ⟨?⟩[note 6] | eː,æː | ê | ē | Confer Kalmyk Oiratээèè andэè. |
| ᡅᡅ ⟨?⟩[note 7] | ᡅᡅ ⟨?⟩[note 8] | — | iː | ii | iyi | Diphthongs ending ini are shaped and transliterated in the same manner. Confer Kalmyk Oiratииii andиi. |
| — | — | ᡅᡅ | ii | |||
| ᡆᡃ | ᡆᡃ | ᡆᡃ ⟨?⟩[note 9] | ɔː | ô | ō | Confer Kalmyk Oiratооoo andоo. |
| ᡇᡇ᠌ | ᡇᡇ᠌ | ᡇᡇ᠋ | ʊː | uu | Confer Kalmyk Oiratууuu andуu. | |
| ᡈᡃ | ᡈᡃ | ᡈᡃ ⟨?⟩[note 10] | øː, æː | ö̂ | ȫ | Confer Kalmyk Oiratөөôô andөô. |
| ᡉᡉ | ᡉᡉ | ᡉᡉ | yː | üü | Confer Kalmyk Oiratүүùù andүù. | |
| 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 Oiratнn. This letter is shared with Hudumn. | |
| ᠨ᠋ | ||||||
| ᡋ | ᡋ | ᡋ | b | b | Confer Kalmyk Oiratбb. This letter's initial/medial form is shared with Hudumb. | |
| ᡍ | ᡍ | — | x | x | Used before back vowels.[2]: 149 As inᡍᠠᠷᠠxara 'black'.[9]: 121 [5]: 95 [note 11] Confer Kalmyk Oiratхh. | |
| ᡎ | ᡎ | — | ɢ | ɣ | ġ | Used before vowels. As inᡎᠠᠯɣal 'fire'.[9]: 63 [5]: 127 [note 12] Confer Kalmyk Oiratһḥ. |
.svg) | | — | ɡ | g | As inᡎᡄᠷger 'ger'.[9]: 28 [5]: 136 [note 13] Confer Kalmyk Oiratгg. | |
| ᡍ᠋ | ᡍ᠋ | — | k | k | Used before front vowels.[2]: 149 As inᡍᡈᡍᡈkökö 'blue'.[9]: 95 [5]: 119 [note 14] Confer Kalmyk Oiratкk. | |
| — | ᡎ᠋ | ᡎ | ɡ | q | Used syllable-finally,[2]: 151 and irrespective of vowel harmony.[2]: 145 As inᡔᠠᡎcaq 'time'.[9]: 21 [5]: 244 [note 15] Confer Kalmyk Oiratгg. | |
| ᡏ | ᡏ | ᡏ | m | m | Confer Kalmyk Oiratмm. This letter's initial/medial form is shared with Hudumm. | |
| ᠯ | ᠯ | ᠯ | l | l | Confer Kalmyk Oiratлl. This letter is shared with Huduml. | |
| ᠷ | ᠷ | ᠷ | r | r | Confer Kalmyk Oiratрr. This letter is shared with Hudumr. | |
| ᡑ | ᡑ | ᡑ | d | d | Confer Kalmyk Oiratдd. | |
| ᡐ | ᡐ | — | t | t | Confer Kalmyk Oiratтt. | |
| ᡕ | ᡕ | — | j | y | Confer Kalmyk Oiratйj. | |
| ᠴ | ᠴ | — | z | z,ǰ† | z | †. Ambiguous value (z,ǰ) from the 18th century until post-war reform.[2]: 149–150 As in modern/olderᠴᡇᠨzun 'summer'.[9]: 50 [5]: 274 [note 16] Confer Kalmyk Oiratзz. |
| ᡓ | ᡓ | — | d͡ʒ | ǰ | — | Introduced in the 1950s.[2]: 149–150, 187 As in modernᡓᡅᠯǰil? (olderᠴᡅᠯzil) 'year'.[9]: 24 [5]: 257 [note 17] Confer Kalmyk Oiratжz̆. |
| ᡔ | ᡔ | — | t͡s | c,č† | c | †. Ambiguous value (c,č) from the 18th century until post-war reform.[2]: 149–150 As in modern/olderᡔᠠᡅcai 'tea'.[9]: 120 [5]: 246 [note 18] Confer Kalmyk Oiratцc. |
| ᡒ | ᡒ | — | t͡ʃ | č | — | Introduced in the 1950s.[2]: 149–150, 187 As in modernᡒᡅči? (olderᡔᡅci) 'you'.[9]: 111 [5]: 235 [note 19] Confer Kalmyk Oiratчč. |
| ᠰ | ᠰ | ᠰ | s | s | Confer Kalmyk Oiratсs. This letter is shared with Hudums. | |
| ᠱ | ᠱ | ᠱ | ʃ | š | ś | Confer Kalmyk Oiratшs̆. This letter is shared with Hudumš. |
| — | ᡊ | ᡊ | ŋ | ng | Confer Kalmyk Oiratңn̦. | |
| 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 Oiratпp. |
| ᡙ | ᡙ | — | h | Confer Kalmyk Oiratгg. | ||
| ᡘ | ᡘ | ᡘ | — | Confer Kalmyk Oiratгg. | ||
| ᡗ | ᡗ | — | k | k,k’ | k | Confer Kalmyk Oiratкk. |
| ᡚ | ᡚ | — | — | j | Confer Kalmyk Oiratҗz̦̆. | |
| — | ᡛ | — | ñ | |||
| ᡜ | ᡜ | — | j | |||
| ᢘ | ᢘ | ᢘ | — | |||
| ᢙ | ᢙ | — | ź | |||
| ᠸ | ᠸ | ᠸ | — | Confer Kalmyk Oiratфf. This letter is shared with Hudumw/v. | ||
| ᡖ | ᡖ | ᡖ | w | w/v | v | Confer Kalmyk Oiratвv. |
| 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 asbü. | |
| ᡋᡇ | ᡋᡇ | ᡋᡇ | bu | ||
| ᡋᡈ | ᡋᡈ | ᡋᡈ | bö | ||
| ᡋᡉ | ᡋᡉ | ᡋᡉ | bü | Written the same asbo. | |
| 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. | |||||
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