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| Avoiuli | |
|---|---|
 A stone carved with Avoiuli writing | |
| Script type | alphabet |
| Creator | Viraleo Boborenvanua |
Period | c. 1990 – present |
| Direction | Boustrophedon, left-to-right  |
| Languages | Raga,Bislama,Apma, other languages used in Vanuatu |
Avoiuli (fromRagaavoi 'talk about' anduli 'draw' or 'paint')[1] is a writing system used by theTuraga indigenous movement onPentecost Island inVanuatu. It was devised by Chief Viraleo Boborenvanua over a 14-year period, based on designs found in traditionalsand drawings, and intended as a native alternative to theLatin alphabet. It is used mainly for writing in the area's nativeRaga language, although it can also be used for other languages includingApma,Bislama andEnglish.[2]
The Avoiuli alphabet comprises characters equivalent to the lettersA–Z, decimal numerals and other symbols, including a range of currency symbols representing thelivatu and specific items of traditional value such as pigs and dyed mats. Like the Western orthography used to writeRaga, it represents thevelar nasalng andprenasalised consonantngg using modified forms of the lettersn andg respectively, but represents thelabiovelar consonantsbw,mw andvw usingdigraphs. Although in some respects it is a relatively straightforward imitation of theLatin alphabet, Avoiuli has a few distinctive features.[3]
Like the sand drawings on which it is based, Avoiuli words are designed to be formed in a single stroke. The script can be written either left-to-right or right-to-left (with the letter shapes reversed, though the majority are symmetrical anyway). It is intended to be written inboustrophedon style, with alternating lines of left-to-right and right-to-left writing, but it is common for it to follow the left-to-right convention of the Latin script.
Capital letters in Avoiuli are similar to lowercase but are enlarged and drawn around a + shaped 'frame', a feature also seen in traditional sand drawings. Capital letters are not used much in everyday writing.
Students learn to write in Avoiuli at Turaga's traditional school at Lavatmanggemu in north-eastern Pentecost, and at affiliated 'custom schools', paying substantial school fees for the privilege. Avoiuli is also used in record-keeping by theTangbunia indigenous bank.
The letters of Avoiuli script. In the official Latin orthography, the 'NG' and 'NGG' shown here are written⟨N̄⟩ and⟨Ḡ⟩. The Avoiulidigraphs 'BW', 'VW' and 'MW' parallel the Latin convention. There are letters to transliterate the rest of the basic Latin script, as well as additional vowels for other languages of Vanuatu.
The numerals of Avoiuli script. There are also numerals for higher numbers.[citation needed]
