Abugida (Alphasyllabary)
Definition
A script system in which consonant characters carry inherent vowels modified by diacritical marks; Devanagari, Bengali, Tamil, and Thai are abugidas.
- Script type
- Consonant carries an inherent vowel
- Vowel marking
- Diacritics modify the inherent vowel
- Examples
- Devanagari, Bengali, Tamil, Thai
- Contrasts with
- Abjads (no inherent vowel)
Common questions
How does an abugida differ from an abjad?+
An abugida consonant already carries a default vowel sound that diacritics can modify, while an abjad consonant carries no vowel information at all until the reader supplies it.
Why do vowel diacritics matter for handwriting comparison?+
Their placement, size and stroke order above or below the consonant become individualizing habits distinct from the shape of the base consonant character.
Is Devanagari used for only one language?+
No, it is shared across several languages including Hindi, Marathi, Nepali and Sanskrit, each with its own conventions that an examiner should be aware of.
Related terms
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- Logograph
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- Nuqat
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- OSAC (NIST)
- Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science under the US National Institute of Standards and Technology; the successor body to SWGDOC,...
- Shirorekha
- The horizontal headline stroke at the top of most Devanagari consonant characters, joining adjacent letters; its individual variation in height, pressure, continuity,...
- Stroke Order
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