Difference between revisions of "Tibetan alphabet"
(Created page with "===Origin=== {{DisplayImages|1858|43|1295|1441}} During the 7th Century AD Sron-btsan sgam-po, a king in southern Tibet, sent Thon-mi Sambhota, one of his ministers, to India ...") |
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===Origin=== | ===Origin=== | ||
{{DisplayImages|1858|43|1295|1441}} | {{DisplayImages|1858|43|1295|1441}} | ||
| − | During the 7th Century AD Sron-btsan sgam-po, a king in southern Tibet, sent Thon-mi Sambhota, one of his ministers, to India to gather information on Buddhism. The minister then reputedly devised a script for Tibetan based on the Devanagari model and also wrote a grammar of Tibetan based on Sanskrit grammars. | + | During the 7th Century AD [[Sron-btsan sgam-po]], a [[king]] in southern [[Tibet]], sent [[Thon-mi Sambhota]], one of his ministers, to [[India]] to [[gather]] [[information]] on [[Buddhism]]. The minister then reputedly devised a script for [[Tibetan]] based on the {{Wiki|Devanagari}} model and also wrote a {{Wiki|grammar}} of [[Tibetan]] based on [[Sanskrit]] grammars. |
| − | The new Tibetan alphabet was used to write Tibetan translations of Buddhists texts. The first Sanskrit-Tibetan dictionary, Mahavyutpatti, appeared in the 9th century. Wood block printing, introduced from China, was used in Tibet from an early date and is still used in a few monasteries. | + | The new [[Tibetan]] [[alphabet]] was used to write [[Tibetan]] translations of [[Buddhists]] texts. The first Sanskrit-Tibetan {{Wiki|dictionary}}, [[Mahavyutpatti]], appeared in the 9th century. Wood block [[printing]], introduced from [[China]], was used in [[Tibet]] from an early date and is still used in a few [[monasteries]]. |
| − | Tibetan literature is mainly concerned with Buddhist themes and includes works translated from Sanskrit and Chinese and original Tibetan works. There are also literary works about the Bon religion, a pre-Buddhist religion indigenous to Tibet. The most unusual genre of Tibetan literature is that of gter-ma or 'rediscovered' texts - reputedly the work of ancient masters which have been hidden in remote caves for many centuries. | + | {{Wiki|Tibetan literature}} is mainly concerned with [[Buddhist]] themes and includes works translated from [[Sanskrit and Chinese]] and original [[Tibetan]] works. There are also {{Wiki|literary}} works about the [[Bon religion]], a pre-Buddhist [[religion]] indigenous to [[Tibet]]. The most unusual genre of {{Wiki|Tibetan literature}} is that of [[gter-ma]] or 'rediscovered' texts - reputedly the work of {{Wiki|ancient}} [[masters]] which have been hidden in remote [[caves]] for many centuries. |
===Notable Features=== | ===Notable Features=== | ||
| − | * The Tibetan alphabet is syllabic, like many of the alphabets of India and South East Asia. Each letter has an inherent vowel /a/. Other vowels can be indicated using a variety of diacritics which appear above or below the main letter. | + | * The [[Tibetan]] [[alphabet]] is syllabic, like many of the alphabets of [[India]] and [[South East]] {{Wiki|Asia}}. Each [[letter]] has an [[inherent]] vowel /a/. Other vowels can be indicated using a variety of diacritics which appear above or below the main [[letter]]. |
* Syllables are separated by a dot. | * Syllables are separated by a dot. | ||
* Consonant clusters are written with special conjunct letters. | * Consonant clusters are written with special conjunct letters. | ||
| − | * Tibetan is a tonal language, though the tones are not marked in the writing system. | + | * [[Tibetan]] is a tonal [[language]], though the tones are not marked in the [[writing]] system. |
===Used to write:=== | ===Used to write:=== | ||
| − | '''Tibetan''' is a Sino-Tibetan language spoken by about 6 million people in China (Tibet, Qinghai, etc), India, Bhutan, Sikkim, Ladakh and Nepal. In Mongolia Tibetan is considered the Classical language of Buddhism and was widely taught until quite recently. | + | '''[[Tibetan]]''' is a Sino-Tibetan [[language]] spoken by about 6 million [[people]] in [[China]] ([[Tibet]], {{Wiki|Qinghai}}, etc), [[India]], [[Bhutan]], [[Sikkim]], {{Wiki|Ladakh}} and [[Nepal]]. In [[Mongolia]] [[Tibetan]] is considered the Classical [[language]] of [[Buddhism]] and was widely taught until quite recently. |
| − | '''Dzongkha''' or '''Bhutanese''' is the official language of Bhutan and is spoken by about 500,000 people. It is a Sino-Tibetan language which is fairly closely related to Tibetan and distantly related to Chinese. | + | '''Dzongkha''' or '''{{Wiki|Bhutanese}}''' is the official [[language]] of [[Bhutan]] and is spoken by about 500,000 [[people]]. It is a Sino-Tibetan [[language]] which is fairly closely related to [[Tibetan]] and distantly related to {{Wiki|Chinese}}. |
| − | ===The Tibetan alphabet=== | + | ===The [[Tibetan]] [[alphabet]]=== |
| − | The form of the alphabet shown below is used for printing. Cursive versions of the alphabet are used for informal writing. | + | The [[form]] of the [[alphabet]] shown below is used for [[printing]]. Cursive versions of the [[alphabet]] are used for informal [[writing]]. |
Consonants | Consonants | ||
| Line 28: | Line 28: | ||
[[File:Tibetan_cons.gif|frameless|450px|]] | [[File:Tibetan_cons.gif|frameless|450px|]] | ||
| − | Extra consonants for writing Sanskrit loan words | + | Extra consonants for [[writing]] [[Sanskrit]] loan words |
[[File:Tibetan_cons2.gif|frameless|450px|]] | [[File:Tibetan_cons2.gif|frameless|450px|]] | ||
| Line 49: | Line 49: | ||
==Links== | ==Links== | ||
| − | Free Tibetan fonts<br/> | + | Free [[Tibetan]] fonts<br/> |
http://www.nitartha.org/downloads.html<br/> | http://www.nitartha.org/downloads.html<br/> | ||
| − | Nitartha international - Tibetan software<br/> | + | Nitartha international - [[Tibetan]] {{Wiki|software}}<br/> |
http://www.nitartha.org/<br/> | http://www.nitartha.org/<br/> | ||
| − | Information on Tibet and the Tibetan language<br/> | + | [[Information]] on [[Tibet]] and the [[Tibetan language]]<br/> |
http://www.tibet.dk/<br/> | http://www.tibet.dk/<br/> | ||
| − | Tibetan on the Mac<br/> | + | [[Tibetan]] on the Mac<br/> |
http://www.interlog.com/~pierrer<br/> | http://www.interlog.com/~pierrer<br/> | ||
Latest revision as of 05:58, 18 January 2014
Origin
During the 7th Century AD Sron-btsan sgam-po, a king in southern Tibet, sent Thon-mi Sambhota, one of his ministers, to India to gather information on Buddhism. The minister then reputedly devised a script for Tibetan based on the Devanagari model and also wrote a grammar of Tibetan based on Sanskrit grammars.
The new Tibetan alphabet was used to write Tibetan translations of Buddhists texts. The first Sanskrit-Tibetan dictionary, Mahavyutpatti, appeared in the 9th century. Wood block printing, introduced from China, was used in Tibet from an early date and is still used in a few monasteries.
Tibetan literature is mainly concerned with Buddhist themes and includes works translated from Sanskrit and Chinese and original Tibetan works. There are also literary works about the Bon religion, a pre-Buddhist religion indigenous to Tibet. The most unusual genre of Tibetan literature is that of gter-ma or 'rediscovered' texts - reputedly the work of ancient masters which have been hidden in remote caves for many centuries.
Notable Features
- The Tibetan alphabet is syllabic, like many of the alphabets of India and South East Asia. Each letter has an inherent vowel /a/. Other vowels can be indicated using a variety of diacritics which appear above or below the main letter.
- Syllables are separated by a dot.
- Consonant clusters are written with special conjunct letters.
- Tibetan is a tonal language, though the tones are not marked in the writing system.
Used to write:
Tibetan is a Sino-Tibetan language spoken by about 6 million people in China (Tibet, Qinghai, etc), India, Bhutan, Sikkim, Ladakh and Nepal. In Mongolia Tibetan is considered the Classical language of Buddhism and was widely taught until quite recently.
Dzongkha or Bhutanese is the official language of Bhutan and is spoken by about 500,000 people. It is a Sino-Tibetan language which is fairly closely related to Tibetan and distantly related to Chinese.
The Tibetan alphabet
The form of the alphabet shown below is used for printing. Cursive versions of the alphabet are used for informal writing.
Consonants
Extra consonants for writing Sanskrit loan words
Conjunct consonants
Vowels diacritics
Numerals
Sample
Links
Free Tibetan fonts
http://www.nitartha.org/downloads.html
Nitartha international - Tibetan software
http://www.nitartha.org/
Information on Tibet and the Tibetan language
http://www.tibet.dk/
Tibetan on the Mac
http://www.interlog.com/~pierrer
