Pallava alphabet
Pallava | |
---|---|
Type | |
Languages | Tamil, Prakrit, Sanskrit |
Time period | 6th century AD to 9th century AD |
Parent systems |
Brāhmī
|
Child systems | Grantha alphabet |
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] 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 | 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
- Sivaramamurti, C, Indian Epigraphy and South Indian Scripts. Bulletin of the Madras Government Museum. Chennai 1999
References
- ↑ "Javanese alphabet, pronunciation and language (aksara jawa)". Omniglot.com. Retrieved 2012-03-11.
- ↑ "Burmese/Myanmar script and pronunciation". Omniglot.com. Retrieved 2012-03-11.
- ↑ "Khmer/Cambodian alphabet, pronunciation and language". Omniglot.com. Retrieved 2012-03-11.
- ↑ http://www.ancientscripts.com/thai.html
- ↑ "Lao alphabet, pronunciation and language". Omniglot.com. Retrieved 2012-03-11.
- ↑ "Pallava script". SkyKnowledge.com. 2010-12-30.
External links
- Media related to Pallava script at Wikimedia Commons
- Examples of Pallava at SkyKnowledge.com