Meitei script

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Meitei script
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The Meitei Alphabet chart divided into the original 18, additional letters and lonsum characters
Script type
Period
6th-18th centuries AD,[1] revived 1930 – present
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Official scriptfor Meitei language in India
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LanguagesMeitei (Manipuri) language
Related scripts
Parent systems
Sister systems
Tibetan,[2][3][4] Lepcha, Khema, ʼPhags-pa, Marchen
ISO 15924
ISO 15924Page Template:Mono/styles.css has no content.Mtei Page Template:Mono/styles.css has no content.(337), ​Meitei Mayek (Meithei, Meetei)
Unicode
Unicode alias
Meetei Mayek
Meetei Mayek (Unicode block)

Template:Contains special characters

Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Sidebar/configuration' not found. The Meitei script (Template:Langx), also known as the Kanglei script (Template:Langx)[5] or the Kok Sam Lai script (Template:Langx), after its first three letters[6][7] is an abugida in the Brahmic scripts family used to write the Meitei language, the official language of Manipur, Assam and one of the 22 official languages of India. It is first known from engravings on 6th century CE coins and copper plate inscriptions,[8] as verified by the various publications of the National Sahitya Akademi.[1] It was used until the 18th century, when it was replaced by the Bengali alphabet. A few manuscripts survive. In the 20th century, the script was revived and is again being used.[9] Beginning in 2021, the Government of Manipur began to use the Meitei alongside the Bengali-Assamese script, per the Manipur Official Language (Amendment) Act, 2021.[10]

Since Meitei does not have voiced consonants, there are only fifteen consonant letters used for native words, plus three letters for pure vowels. Nine additional consonants letters inherited from Indic languages are available for writing loan words. There are seven vowel diacritics and a final consonant (Script error: No such module "IPA".) diacritic. The names of the twenty-seven letters are based on parts of the human body.[11]

History

Yumbanlol (Yumpanlol), a group of 6th century ancient Meitei language copper plate inscriptions, written in Meetei script.

Regarding epigraphic records, Meitei script appears in the Yumbanlol (Yumpanlol), composed in the 6th century C.E. It was a group of copper plate inscriptions about an ancient Meitei language literary work.[12][13]

The Old Manipuri script also appears on coins issued during the reigns of Meitei Kings, Ura Konthouba (c. 568-653 CE) and Ayangba (c. 821-910 CE). These coins are presently preserved in the Mutua Museum in Imphal.[1]

The origin of the official script of Manipur is derived from religious book Wakoklon Puya.[14] But, there has been some controversy regarding the origin of the Meitei script. The Meitei script is a Brahmic abugida. According to Singh (1962), an archaic form of the script had developed by the 11th century, and it was in use until the early 18th century, when it was replaced by the Bengali script.[15] By contrast, Tomba (1993) claims that the script is a development of c. 1930, with all supposedly older documents being deliberate forgeries.[16] According to K.S. Singh and Mahoharan (1993), as per the modifications of the phonemic distributions of Meitei language, the script belongs to the Tibetan group of scripts.[2]

The earliest stone inscription, found in the village of Khoibu, Manipur, is also believed to date to time of Ura Konthouba. This inscription is presently kept in the Manipur State Museum, Imphal.[1]

Another early copper plate Meitei inscription dates to the 8th century CE, inscribed during the reign of King Khongtekcha (c. 721 AD). It was discovered by scholar Yumjao from Phayeng in 1935. It is one of the earliest known examples of Meitei literature.[17][18][19]

A stone inscription found[year needed] at Khoibu in Tengnoupal district, of current Manipur state, contains royal edicts of king Senbi Kiyamba (d. 1508), representing the earliest portion of the Chietharol Kumbaba or Royal Chronicle of Manipur. It is one of the primary texts in the Meitei script.[20][better source needed]

A Meitei language stone inscription in Meitei script about a royal decree of a Meitei king found in the sacred site of God Panam Ningthou in Andro, Imphal East, Manipur.
Meitei manuscript

Recent developments

In 1980, a modernized version of the writing system was approved by Manipuri law for use in educational institutions.[21][22] The modernised version of the Meitei script was encoded in Unicode in 2009.

in 2022, a joint meeting consensus of the Meetei Erol Eyek Loinasillol Apunba Lup, the All Manipur Working Journalists' Union and the Editors' Guild, Manipur agreed that Meitei language newspapers would switch from the Bengali script to the Meitei script from 15 January 2023.[23][24][25][26][27]

Letters

One of the unique features of this script is the use of body parts in naming the letters.[28] Every letter is named after a human body part in the Meitei language. For example, the first letter "kok" means "head"; the second letter "sam" means "hair"; the third letter "lai" means "forehead", and so on.[29] This association appears in the book Wakoklon Heelel Thilel Salai Amailon Pukok Puya, which details how each script originated received its nomenclature and which is widely considered to be the source of the Meitei script.[30] Some letters have a second form (lonsom) that is used at the end of a word and are used to indicate stop consonants.

Meitei letter "Ama" (lit. One) in the symbol of Sanamahism (traditional Meitei religion)

In the traditional Meitei religion of Sanamahism Meitei letters and numerals are believed to be the creations of the supreme God.[31][32]

Primary letters

The original 18 letters used in the Meitei Mayek writing system
Letter
(inc. IPA)[33] 		Name Meaning(s)[a] Lonsum
Template:Letter Template:Langx head or brain Template:Script/Meetei Mayek
Template:Letter Template:Langx throat, palate, neck
Template:Letter Template:Langx pharynx, larynx Template:Script/Meetei Mayek
Template:Letter Template:Langx lips
Template:Letter Template:Langx saliva Template:Script/Meetei Mayek
Template:Letter Template:Langx breast, chest, ribs
Template:Letter Template:Langx ear Template:Script/Meetei Mayek
Template:Letter Template:Langx eyelash Template:Script/Meetei Mayek
Template:Letter Template:Langx anus, buttocks, or uterus
Template:Letter Template:Langx eye Template:Script/Meetei Mayek
Template:Letter Template:Langx spine
Template:Letter Template:Langx God Template:Script/Meetei Mayek
Template:Letter Template:Langx navel, heart
Template:Letter Template:Langx hair
Template:Letter Template:Langx joint
Template:Letter Template:Langx
Template:Langx 		immortality, heaven, divinity, birth
Template:Letter Template:Langx blood Template:Script/Meetei Mayek
Template:Letter Template:Langx skin

Additional consonants

Letter
(inc. IPA)[33] 		Name Evolved from
Template:Letter Template:Langx Template:Script/Meetei Mayek
Template:Letter Template:Langx Template:Script/Meetei Mayek
Template:Letter Template:Langx Template:Script/Meetei Mayek
Template:Letter Template:Langx Template:Script/Meetei Mayek
Template:Letter Template:Langx Template:Script/Meetei Mayek
Template:Letter Template:Langx Template:Script/Meetei Mayek
Template:Letter Template:Langx Template:Script/Meetei Mayek
Template:Letter Template:Langx Template:Script/Meetei Mayek
Template:Letter Template:Langx Template:Script/Meetei Mayek
Template:Letter Template:Langx Template:Script/Meetei Mayek
Template:Letter Template:Langx Template:Script/Meetei Mayek
Template:Letter Template:Langx Template:Script/Meetei Mayek
Template:Letter Template:Langx Template:Script/Meetei Mayek
Template:Letter Template:Langx Template:Script/Meetei Mayek
Template:Letter Template:Langx Template:Script/Meetei Mayek
Template:Letter Template:Langx Template:Script/Meetei Mayek
Template:Letter Template:Langx Template:Script/Meetei Mayek
Template:Letter Template:Langx Template:Script/Meetei Mayek

Independent vowels

In Meitei Mayek, vowels are not listed separately before the consonants, unlike in most Brahmic scripts. Instead, they appear within the main sequence of the script, making it structurally different from scripts like Devanagari.

Independent vowels are used only when a word starts with a vowel, just like in most Indic scripts. Otherwise, vowels appear as diacritics attached to consonants.

Meitei Mayek has seven independent vowel letters, including ⟨ꯑ⟩, which is used as a default vowel carrier, similar to ⟨अ⟩ in Devanagari:

Template:Letter Template:Letter Template:Letter Template:Letter Template:Letter Template:Letter Template:Letter

Examples:

  • ꯑꯣꯏꯅꯥ (oina) – ‘like ( comparatively ) / left'
  • ꯑꯣꯖꯥ (oja) - 'teacher'

Since Meitei Mayek preserves independent vowels, it functions similarly to Brahmic scripts in terms of structure, even though the vowel ordering differs from most Indic alphabets.

Vowel diacritics

Syllables are written by adding vowel diacritics (cheitap eeyek) to consonants.

Diacritics[38]
diacritic Template:Letter Template:Letter Template:Letter Template:Letter Template:Letter Template:Letter Template:Letter Template:Letter
Template:Script/Meetei Mayek plus diacritic Template:Letter Template:Letter Template:Letter Template:Letter Template:Letter Template:Letter Template:Letter Template:Letter
Template:Script/Meetei Mayek plus diacritic Template:Letter Template:Letter Template:Letter Template:Letter Template:Letter Template:Letter Template:Letter Template:Letter

Numerals

Meitei numerals 0–9
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Unicode

Meetei Mayek (Meitei script) was added to the Unicode Standard in October, 2009 with the release of version 5.2.

The Unicode block for the Meitei script is U+ABC0 – U+ABFF.

Characters for historical orthographies are part of the Meetei Mayek Extensions block at U+AAE0 – U+AAFF.

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Official Unicode Consortium code chart (PDF)
  0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 A B C D E F
U+ABCx Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek
U+ABDx Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek
U+ABEx Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek
U+ABFx Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek
Notes
1.Page Template:Citation/styles.css has no content.^Template:Unicode version
2.Page Template:Citation/styles.css has no content.^Grey areas indicate non-assigned code points
Meetei Mayek ExtensionsPage Template:Citation/styles.css has no content.[1]Page Template:Citation/styles.css has no content.[2]
Official Unicode Consortium code chart (PDF)
  0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 A B C D E F
U+AAEx Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek
U+AAFx Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek Template:Script/Meetei Mayek   Template:Script/Meetei Mayek  
Notes
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2.Page Template:Citation/styles.css has no content.^Grey areas indicate non-assigned code points

Software

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A typical Meitei Mayek keyboard

Meitei Mayek keyboards and other input methods are available at or supported by:

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Some of the meanings rendered by some letters (characters) are different according to different sources. So, if found different, they're added together in the same section.[34][35][36][37]

References

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  15. ^ K.B. Singh, The Meiteis of Manipur (1989 [1962]), p. 157.
  16. ^ Frans Welman, Out of Isolation – Exploring a Forgotten World (2011), 468f., citing O.Tomba, The Need to rewrite Manipuri History, Imphal, 1993.
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Bibliography

  • Chelliah, Shobhana L. (1997). A grammar of Meithei. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter. Template:ISBN.
  • Chelliah, Shobhana L. (2002). Early Meithei manuscripts. In C. I. Beckwith (Ed.), Medieval Tibeto-Burman languages: PIATS 2000: Tibetan studies: Proceedings of the ninth seminar of the International Association of Tibetan Studies, Leiden 2000 (pp. 59–71). Leiden, Netherlands: Brill.
  • Chelliah, Shobhana L. (2002). A glossary of 39 basic words in archaic and modern Meithei. In C. I. Beckwith (Ed.), Medieval Tibeto-Burman languages: PIATS 2000: Tibetan studies: Proceedings of the ninth seminar of the International Association of Tibetan Studies, Leiden 2000 (pp. 189–190). Leiden, Netherlands: Brill.

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