Writing systems of Southeast Asia explained

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

Austroasiatic languages

See 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

See 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

See main article: 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

See 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

See 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

Notes and 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. Web site: Balinese alphabet, language and pronunciation . Omniglot.com . 2008-04-16 . 2014-05-12.
9. Web site: Batak alphabet . Omniglot.com . 2014-05-12.
10. Web site: Tagalog alphabets, pronunciation and language . Omniglot.com . 2007-12-24 . 2014-05-12.
11. Web site: Buhid/Mangyan alphabet . Omniglot.com . 2014-05-12.
12. Web site: Hanunó'o alphabet, language and pronunciation . Omniglot.com . 2014-05-12.
13. Web site: Tagbanwa alphabet and languages . Omniglot.com . 2014-05-12.
14. Web site: Javanese alphabet, pronunciation and language (aksara jawa) . Omniglot.com . 2014-05-12.
15. Web site: Lontara script . Omniglot.com . 2014-05-12.
16. Web site: Sundanese language, script and pronunciation . Omniglot.com . 2014-05-12.
17. Web site: Rejang alphabet and language . Omniglot.com . 2009-12-31 . 2014-05-12.
18. R. A.. Kern. A Malay Cipher Alphabet. The Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland. 38. Jan–Jun 1908. 207–211.
19. Web site: Pollard Script . Omniglot.com . 2014-05-12.
20. Web site: Hmong language, alphabets and pronunciation . Omniglot.com . 2014-05-12.
21. Web site: Thai language, alphabet and pronunciation . Omniglot.com . 2014-05-12.
22. Web site: Lao alphabet, pronunciation and language . Omniglot.com . 2014-05-12.
23. Web site: Shan alphabet, pronunciation and language . Omniglot.com . 2014-05-12.
24. Web site: Tai Dam alphabet, pronunciation and language . Omniglot.com . 2014-05-12.
25. Web site: Dehong Dai script and language . Omniglot.com . 2014-05-12.
26. Web site: New Tai Lue script . Omniglot.com . 2014-05-12.
27. Web site: Lanna alphabet (Tua Mueang) . Omniglot.com . 2014-05-12.
28. Web site: Burmese/Myanmar script and pronunciation . Omniglot.com . 2014-05-12.
29. Web site: Kayah Li / Karenni alphabet . Omniglot.com . 2014-05-12.
30. Web site: Fraser alphabet . Omniglot.com . 2014-05-12.
31. Web site: Naxi scripts (Dongba, Geba and Latin) and language . Omniglot.com . 2014-05-12.
32. Web site: Tangut script and language . Omniglot.com . 2014-05-12.
33. Web site: Tibetan alphabet, pronunciation and language . Omniglot.com . 2014-05-12.
34. Web site: Tujia language, alphabet and pronunciation . Omniglot.com . 2014-05-12.
35. Web site: Yi script and language . Omniglot.com . 2014-05-12.