Uchen: Difference between revisions
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Wylie transliteration: dbu can | The '''uchen''' script is an ''abugida'' (meaning the consonants have an implicit vowel) of Indic origin used to write the Tibetan language (also the Dzongkha, Ladakhi, and sometimes Balti languages). The meaning of the words ''u chen'' (Wylie transliteration: dbu can) is "with a head", while the hand-written cursive form used in everyday writing is called ''umé'' (Wylie transliteration: dbu med) meaning "without a head". | ||
==History== | |||
The creation of the Tibetan script is attributed to [[Thonmi Sambhota]] of the mid-7th century. The tradition holds that Thonmi Sambhota, a minister of [[Songtsen Gampo]] (569-649), was sent to India to study the art of writing, and upon his return introduced the '''uchen''' script. The form of the letters is based on an Indic script of that period, but which specific Indic script inspired the '''uchen''' alphabet remains controversial. | |||
There were three orthographic standardizations after the script's invention. The most important one - an official one aimed to facilitate the translation of Buddhist scriptures - took place during the early 9th century. While the spoken language has continued to evolve, in most cases losing the pronunciation of complex consonant clusters, the Tibetan orthography has not altered since then. | |||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibetan_script Tibetan Scripts] | *[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibetan_script Wikipedia: Tibetan Scripts] | ||
[[Category: Scripts]] | [[Category: Scripts]] | ||
Revision as of 09:53, 25 June 2007
The uchen script is an abugida (meaning the consonants have an implicit vowel) of Indic origin used to write the Tibetan language (also the Dzongkha, Ladakhi, and sometimes Balti languages). The meaning of the words u chen (Wylie transliteration: dbu can) is "with a head", while the hand-written cursive form used in everyday writing is called umé (Wylie transliteration: dbu med) meaning "without a head".
History
The creation of the Tibetan script is attributed to Thonmi Sambhota of the mid-7th century. The tradition holds that Thonmi Sambhota, a minister of Songtsen Gampo (569-649), was sent to India to study the art of writing, and upon his return introduced the uchen script. The form of the letters is based on an Indic script of that period, but which specific Indic script inspired the uchen alphabet remains controversial.
There were three orthographic standardizations after the script's invention. The most important one - an official one aimed to facilitate the translation of Buddhist scriptures - took place during the early 9th century. While the spoken language has continued to evolve, in most cases losing the pronunciation of complex consonant clusters, the Tibetan orthography has not altered since then.