Writing systems of Southeast Asia

A manuscript from the early 1800s from central Sumatra, in Batak Toba language, one of many languages from Indonesia.

Southeast Asia uses various non-Latin-based writing systems. The writing systems below are listed by language family.

Austroasiatic languages

Main article: Austroasiatic languages

• Khmer script (for Khmer language)[1]
• Khom script (for Bahnaric languages)[2]
• Chữ Nôm (historical writing for Vietnamese language)[3]

Austronesian languages

Main article: Austronesian languages

Most Austronesian languages use Latin script today. Some non-Latin-based writing systems are listed below.

• Jawi alphabet (for Malay and a number of other languages)[4]
• Cham script (for Cham language)[5]
• Eskayan script (for Eskayan language)[6]
• Kawi script (used across Maritime Southeast Asia)[7]
  • Balinese script[8]
  • Batak script[9]
  • Baybayin[10]
    • Buhid script[11]
    • Hanunó'o script[12]
    • Kulitan alphabet (for Kapampangan language)
    • Tagbanwa script[13]
  • Javanese script[14]
  • Lontara script[15]
  • Makasar script
  • Old Sundanese script
    • Sundanese script[16]
  • Rejang script[17]
  • Rencong script
  • Buda script
  • Gangga Melayu[18]

Hmong-Mien languages

Main articles: Hmong–Mien languages and Hmong writing

• Romanized Popular Alphabet (Hmong RPA)
• Pollard script[19]
• Pahawh Hmong[20]
• Nyiakeng Puachue Hmong
• Eebee Hmong

Kra-Dai languages

Main article: Kra–Dai languages

Many Southwestern Tai languages are written using Brāhmī-derived alphabets. Zhuang languages were traditionally written with Chinese characters, but are now usually written with romanized alphabets.

• Thai script[21]
• Lao script[22]
• Sawndip
• Shan script[23]
• Tai Viet script[24]
• Tai Le script[25]
• New Tai Lue alphabet[26]
• Tai Tham script[27]
• Tai Yo script

Tibeto-Burman languages

Main article: Tibeto-Burman languages

• Burmese alphabet[28]
  • S'gaw Karen alphabet
• Ersu Shaba
• Kayah Li alphabet[29]
• Fraser alphabet[30] (used to write the Lisu language)
• Naxi script[31]
  • Geba syllabary
  • Dongba symbols
• Zomi script
• Tangut script[32]
• Tibetan script[33]
• Tujia script[34]
• Yi script[35]

See also

• Classification schemes for Southeast Asian languages
• Writing systems of Africa

References

1. Omniglot. Khmer. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
2. Sidwell, Paul. (2008). The Khom script of the Kommodam rebellion. International Journal of the Sociology of Language, 2008(192), 15-25.
3. Omniglot. Chữ-nôm script. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
4. Omniglot. Malay (Bahasa Melayu). Retrieved 19 March 2019.
5. Omniglot. Cham. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
6. Omniglot. Eskayan. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
7. Omniglot. Kawi alphabet. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
8. "Balinese alphabet, language and pronunciation". Omniglot.com. 2008-04-16. Retrieved 2014-05-12.
9. "Batak alphabet". Omniglot.com. Retrieved 2014-05-12.
10. "Tagalog alphabets, pronunciation and language". Omniglot.com. 2007-12-24. Retrieved 2014-05-12.
11. "Buhid/Mangyan alphabet". Omniglot.com. Retrieved 2014-05-12.
12. "Hanunó'o alphabet, language and pronunciation". Omniglot.com. Retrieved 2014-05-12.
13. "Tagbanwa alphabet and languages". Omniglot.com. Retrieved 2014-05-12.
14. "Javanese alphabet, pronunciation and language (aksara jawa)". Omniglot.com. Retrieved 2014-05-12.
15. "Lontara script". Omniglot.com. Retrieved 2014-05-12.
16. "Sundanese language, script and pronunciation". Omniglot.com. Retrieved 2014-05-12.
17. "Rejang alphabet and language". Omniglot.com. 2009-12-31. Retrieved 2014-05-12.
18. Kern, R. A. (Jan–Jun 1908). "A Malay Cipher Alphabet". The Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland. 38: 207–211.
19. "Pollard Script". Omniglot.com. Retrieved 2014-05-12.
20. "Hmong language, alphabets and pronunciation". Omniglot.com. Retrieved 2014-05-12.
21. "Thai language, alphabet and pronunciation". Omniglot.com. Retrieved 2014-05-12.
22. "Lao alphabet, pronunciation and language". Omniglot.com. Retrieved 2014-05-12.
23. "Shan alphabet, pronunciation and language". Omniglot.com. Retrieved 2014-05-12.
24. "Tai Dam alphabet, pronunciation and language". Omniglot.com. Retrieved 2014-05-12.
25. "Dehong Dai script and language". Omniglot.com. Retrieved 2014-05-12.
26. "New Tai Lue script". Omniglot.com. Retrieved 2014-05-12.
27. "Lanna alphabet (Tua Mueang)". Omniglot.com. Retrieved 2014-05-12.
28. "Burmese/Myanmar script and pronunciation". Omniglot.com. Retrieved 2014-05-12.
29. "Kayah Li / Karenni alphabet". Omniglot.com. Retrieved 2014-05-12.
30. "Fraser alphabet". Omniglot.com. Retrieved 2014-05-12.
31. "Naxi scripts (Dongba, Geba and Latin) and language". Omniglot.com. Retrieved 2014-05-12.
32. "Tangut script and language". Omniglot.com. Retrieved 2014-05-12.
33. "Tibetan alphabet, pronunciation and language". Omniglot.com. Retrieved 2014-05-12.
34. "Tujia language, alphabet and pronunciation". Omniglot.com. Retrieved 2014-05-12.
35. "Yi script and language". Omniglot.com. Retrieved 2014-05-12.