Clear Script

The Clear Script^{[note 1]} is an alphabet created in 1648 by the Oirat Buddhist monk Zaya Pandita for the Oirat language.^[1][2][3] It was developed on the basis of the Mongolian script with the goal of distinguishing all sounds in the spoken language, and to make it easier to transcribe Sanskrit and the Tibetic languages.

A border sign in Clear Script (Priyutnensky District, Kalmykia)

Clear Script Oirat alphabet
Script type	Alphabet
Creator	Zaya Pandita
Time period	ca. 1648 – today
Direction	Vertical left-to-right
Languages	Oirat Sanskrit Tibetic
Related scripts
Parent systems	Proto-Sinaitic script Phoenician alphabet Aramaic alphabet Syriac alphabet Sogdian alphabet Old Uyghur alphabet Mongolian script Clear Script
Sister systems	Manchu alphabet Vagindra script
ISO 15924
ISO 15924	Mong (145), ​Mongolian
Unicode
Unicode alias	Mongolian
Unicode range	U+1800 – U+18AF
This article contains phonetic transcriptions in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). For an introductory guide on IPA symbols, see Help:IPA. For the distinction between [ ], / / and ⟨ ⟩, see IPA § Brackets and transcription delimiters.

History

The Clear Script is a Mongolian script, whose obvious closest forebear is vertical Mongolian. This Mongolian script was derived from the Uyghur alphabet. The Clear Script was developed as a better way to write Mongolian, specifically of the Western Mongolian groups of the Oirats and Kalmyks.^[3]: 548 It resolved ambiguities in the written language by assigning symbols to vowels, and adding new symbols and diacritics to show vowels and vowel lengths, and to distinguish between voiced and unvoiced consonants.^{[3]: 548 [2]: 145} Symbols that were preserved from the traditional Mongolian script were assigned a fixed meaning.^[2]: 145

There were even some marks enabling distinctions that were unimportant for words written in the Oirat language but were useful for the transcription of foreign words and names, such as between ši and si.^[2]

Usage

The Clear Script was used by Oirat and neighboring Mongols, mostly in the late 17th and early 18th centuries.^[2] It was widely used by its creator and others to translate Buddhist works so that they might better spread the Buddhist religion throughout western Mongolia. Though the script was useful for translating works from other languages, especially Tibetan, it was also used more informally, as evidenced by some letters from the late 1690s.^[2]

Around the 19th and early 20th centuries, some Altaians in Russia were able utilize the script to read and write texts due to contacts with Mongolian Buddhists.^[4]

The script was used by Kalmyks in Russia until 1924, when it was replaced by the Cyrillic script. In Xinjiang, Oirats still use it, although today Mongolian education takes place in Chakhar Mongolian all across China.

Writing in the Clear Script

This script is a vertical script, as was its 'vertical Mongolian' parent script. Letters and diacritics are written along a central axis. Portions of letters to the right of the axis generally slant up, and portions to the left of the axis generally slant down. The only signs that do not follow these rules are the horizontal signs for S, Š, and part of Ö.^[2] Words are delineated by a space, as well as different letter forms. Though most letters only come in one shape, there are some letters that look different depending on where in the word they occur, whether they are initial, medial, or final.^[3]

Tables

There is an alphabetic order in the Clear Script, as in other related scripts, but the order for it is not the same as its Mongolian parent script. The Clear Script order is: a, e, i, o, u, ö, ü; n, b, x, ɣ, g, k & k’, q, m, l, r, d, t, y, z/ǰ, c/č, s, š, ng, v/w.^{[2]: 150–151}

Vowels

Single vowels[citation needed][3]: 548 [5][6][2]: 151 [7]: 555
Initial	Medial	Final	IPA[5]	Trans­lit.[note 2]		Notes[note 3][note 4]
				Dan.[note 5] & Kara	ALA-LC
All these form ligatures with a preceding bow-shaped consonant.
ᠠ‍	‍ᠠ‍	‍ᠠ	ɑ, ∅	a		Final example ligature: ‍ᡋᠠ ba. This ligated form of final a extends its tail to the left. Confer Kalmyk Oirat а a and [∅] Error: {{Lang}}: Latn text/non-Latn script subtag mismatch (help). This letter's forms are shared with Hudum script a.
ᡄ‍	‍ᡄ‍	‍ᡄ	e, ∅	e		Initial/medial/final example ligature: ᡋᡄ be. Confer Kalmyk Oirat э è and [∅] Error: {{Lang}}: Latn text/non-Latn script subtag mismatch (help).
ᡅ‍	‍ᡅ‍	‍ᡅ	i, ∅	i		Final example ligature: ᡋᡅ bi. This ligated form of final i differs from the one used elsewhere. Confer Kalmyk Oirat и i and [∅] Error: {{Lang}}: Latn text/non-Latn script subtag mismatch (help).
ᡆ‍	‍ᡆ‍	‍ᡆ	ɔ	o		Initial/medial/final example ligature: ᡋᡆ bo. This ligated form of o is fully round. The ligature bo is also identical in form to bü. Confer Kalmyk Oirat о o and [∅] Error: {{Lang}}: Latn text/non-Latn script subtag mismatch (help).
ᡇ‍	‍ᡇ‍	‍ᡇ	ʊ, ∅	u		Initial/medial/final example ligature: ᡋᡇ bu. Confer Kalmyk Oirat у u and [∅] Error: {{Lang}}: Latn text/non-Latn script subtag mismatch (help).
ᡈ‍	‍ᡈ‍	‍ᡈ	ø, ∅	ö		Initial/medial/final example ligature: ᡋᡈ bö. This ligated form of ö is fully round. Confer Kalmyk Oirat ө ô and [∅] Error: {{Lang}}: Latn text/non-Latn script subtag mismatch (help).
ᡉ‍	‍ᡉ‍	‍ᡉ	y, ∅	ü		Initial/medial/final example ligature: ᡋᡉ bü. The ligatures bü and bo are identical in form. Confer Kalmyk Oirat ү ù and [∅] Error: {{Lang}}: Latn text/non-Latn script subtag mismatch (help).

Long vowels[citation needed][3]: 548 [5][6][7]: 555
Initial	Medial	Final	IPA	Trans­lit.		Notes
				Dan.	ALA-LC
ᠠᡃ‍	‍ᠠᡃ‍	—	ɑː	â	ā	Final example ligature: ‍ᡗᠠᡃ kâ. Confer Kalmyk Oirat аа aa and а a.
ᡄᡃ‍	‍ᡄᡃ‍	‍ᡄᡃ ⟨?⟩[note 6]	eː, æː	ê	ē	Confer Kalmyk Oirat ээ èè and э è.
ᡅᡅ‍ ⟨?⟩[note 7]	‍ᡅᡅ‍ ⟨?⟩[note 8]	—	iː	ii	iyi	Diphthongs ending in i are shaped and transliterated in the same manner. Confer Kalmyk Oirat ии ii and и i.
—	—	‍ᡅᡅ			ii
ᡆᡃ‍	‍ᡆᡃ‍	‍ᡆᡃ ⟨?⟩[note 9]	ɔː	ô	ō	Confer Kalmyk Oirat оо oo and о o.
ᡇᡇ᠌‍	‍ᡇᡇ᠌‍	‍ᡇᡇ᠋	ʊː	uu		Confer Kalmyk Oirat уу uu and у u.
ᡈᡃ‍	‍ᡈᡃ‍	‍ᡈᡃ ⟨?⟩[note 10]	øː, æː	ö̂	ȫ	Confer Kalmyk Oirat өө ôô and ө ô.
ᡉᡉ‍	‍ᡉᡉ‍	‍ᡉᡉ	yː	üü		Confer Kalmyk Oirat үү ùù and ү ù.

Consonants

Native consonants[citation needed][9][3]: 548 [5][2]: 151 [6][7]: 555
Initial	Medial	Final	IPA	Trans­lit.		Notes[10]
				Dan. & Kara	ALA-LC
ᠨ‍	‍ᠨ‍	‍ᠨ	n	n		Confer Kalmyk Oirat н n. This letter is shared with Hudum n.
	‍ᠨ᠋‍
ᡋ‍	‍ᡋ‍	‍ᡋ	b	b		Confer Kalmyk Oirat б b. This letter's initial/medial form is shared with Hudum b.
ᡍ‍	‍ᡍ‍	—	x	x		Used before back vowels.[2]: 149  As in ᡍᠠᠷᠠ xara 'black'.[9]: 121 [5]: 95 [note 11] Confer Kalmyk Oirat х h.
ᡎ‍	‍ᡎ‍	—	ɢ	ɣ	ġ	Used before vowels. As in ᡎᠠᠯ ɣal 'fire'.[9]: 63 [5]: 127 [note 12] Confer Kalmyk Oirat һ ḥ.
		—	ɡ	g		As in ᡎᡄᠷ ger 'ger'.[9]: 28 [5]: 136 [note 13] Confer Kalmyk Oirat г g.
ᡍ᠋‍	‍ᡍ᠋‍	—	k	k		Used before front vowels.[2]: 149  As in ᡍᡈᡍᡈ kökö 'blue'.[9]: 95 [5]: 119 [note 14] Confer Kalmyk Oirat к k.
—	‍ᡎ᠋‍	‍ᡎ	ɡ	q		Used syllable-finally,[2]: 151  and irrespective of vowel harmony.[2]: 145  As in ᡔᠠᡎ caq 'time'.[9]: 21 [5]: 244 [note 15] Confer Kalmyk Oirat г g.
ᡏ‍	‍ᡏ‍	‍ᡏ	m	m		Confer Kalmyk Oirat м m. This letter's initial/medial form is shared with Hudum m.
ᠯ‍	‍ᠯ‍	‍ᠯ	l	l		Confer Kalmyk Oirat л l. This letter is shared with Hudum l.
ᠷ‍	‍ᠷ‍	‍ᠷ	r	r		Confer Kalmyk Oirat р r. This letter is shared with Hudum r.
ᡑ‍	‍ᡑ‍	‍ᡑ	d	d		Confer Kalmyk Oirat д d.
ᡐ‍	‍ᡐ‍	—	t	t		Confer Kalmyk Oirat т t.
ᡕ‍	‍ᡕ‍	—	j	y		Confer Kalmyk Oirat й j.
ᠴ‍	‍ᠴ‍	—	z	z, ǰ†	z	†. Ambiguous value (z, ǰ) from the 18th century until post-war reform.[2]: 149–150  As in modern/older ᠴᡇᠨ zun 'summer'.[9]: 50 [5]: 274 [note 16] Confer Kalmyk Oirat з z.
ᡓ‍	‍ᡓ‍	—	d͡ʒ	ǰ	—	Introduced in the 1950s.[2]: 149–150, 187  As in modern ᡓᡅᠯ ǰil? (older ᠴᡅᠯ zil) 'year'.[9]: 24 [5]: 257 [note 17] Confer Kalmyk Oirat ж z̆.
ᡔ‍	‍ᡔ‍	—	t͡s	c, č†	c	†. Ambiguous value (c, č) from the 18th century until post-war reform.[2]: 149–150  As in modern/older ᡔᠠᡅ cai 'tea'.[9]: 120 [5]: 246 [note 18] Confer Kalmyk Oirat ц c.
ᡒ‍	‍ᡒ‍	—	t͡ʃ	č	—	Introduced in the 1950s.[2]: 149–150, 187  As in modern ᡒᡅ či? (older ᡔᡅ ci) 'you'.[9]: 111 [5]: 235 [note 19] Confer Kalmyk Oirat ч č.
ᠰ‍	‍ᠰ‍	‍ᠰ	s	s		Confer Kalmyk Oirat с s. This letter is shared with Hudum s.
ᠱ‍	‍ᠱ‍	‍ᠱ	ʃ	š	ś	Confer Kalmyk Oirat ш s̆. This letter is shared with Hudum š.
—	‍ᡊ‍	‍ᡊ	ŋ	ng		Confer Kalmyk Oirat ң n̦.

Letters used in foreign words[citation needed][3]: 548 [5][6][7]: 555
Initial	Medial	Final	IPA	Translit.		Notes
				Dan. & Kara	ALA-LC
ᡌ‍	‍ᡌ‍	—	p	—	f	Confer Kalmyk Oirat п p.
ᡙ‍	‍ᡙ‍	—			h	Confer Kalmyk Oirat г g.
ᡘ‍	‍ᡘ‍	‍ᡘ			—	Confer Kalmyk Oirat г g.
ᡗ‍	‍ᡗ‍	—	k	k, k’	k	Confer Kalmyk Oirat к k.
ᡚ‍	‍ᡚ‍	—		—	j	Confer Kalmyk Oirat җ z̦̆.
—	‍ᡛ‍	—			ñ
ᡜ‍	‍ᡜ‍	—			j
ᢘ‍	‍ᢘ‍	‍ᢘ			—
ᢙ‍	‍ᢙ‍	—			ź
ᠸ‍	‍ᠸ‍	‍ᠸ			—	Confer Kalmyk Oirat ф f. This letter is shared with Hudum w/v.
ᡖ‍	‍ᡖ‍	‍ᡖ	w	w/v	v	Confer Kalmyk Oirat в v.

Ligatures

Ligatures[6]
Initial	Medial	Final	Trans­lit.		Notes
			Dan.	ALA-LC
ᡋᠠ‍	‍ᡋᠠ‍	‍ᡋᠠ	ba
ᡋᡄ‍	‍ᡋᡄ‍	‍ᡋᡄ	be
ᡋᡅ‍	‍ᡋᡅ‍	‍ᡋᡅ	bi
ᡋᡆ‍	‍ᡋᡆ‍	‍ᡋᡆ	bo		Written the same as bü.
ᡋᡇ‍	‍ᡋᡇ‍	‍ᡋᡇ	bu
ᡋᡈ‍	‍ᡋᡈ‍	‍ᡋᡈ	bö
ᡋᡉ‍	‍ᡋᡉ‍	‍ᡋᡉ	bü		Written the same as bo.
ᡗᠠ‍	‍ᡗᠠ‍	‍ᡗᠠ	ka
ᡍᡄ‍	‍ᡍᡄ‍	‍ᡍᡄ	ke
ᡍᡅ‍	‍ᡍᡅ‍	‍ᡍᡅ	ki
ᡗᡆ‍	‍ᡗᡆ‍	‍ᡗᡆ	ko
ᡗᡇ‍	‍ᡗᡇ‍	‍ᡗᡇ	ku
ᡍᡈ‍	‍ᡍᡈ‍	‍ᡍᡈ	kö
ᡍᡉ‍ ⟨?⟩	‍ᡍᡉ‍ ⟨?⟩	‍ᡍᡉ ⟨?⟩	kü		[note 20]
ᡘᠠ‍	‍ᡘᠠ‍	‍ᡘᠠ	ga
ᡎᡄ‍ ⟨?⟩	‍ᡎᡄ‍ ⟨?⟩	‍ᡎᡄ ⟨?⟩	ge		[note 21]
ᡎᡅ‍ ⟨?⟩	‍ᡎᡅ‍ ⟨?⟩	‍ᡎᡅ ⟨?⟩	gi		[note 22]
ᡘᡆ‍	‍ᡘᡆ‍	‍ᡘᡆ	go
ᡘᡇ‍	‍ᡘᡇ‍	‍ᡘᡇ	gu
ᡎᡈ‍	‍ᡎᡈ‍	‍ᡎᡈ	gö
ᡎᡉ‍	‍ᡎᡉ‍	‍ᡎᡉ	gü
Other bow-shaped ligatures are formed in the same manner.

See also

• Mongolian writing systems
• Mongolian script
• Soyombo alphabet

Notes

1. • Oirat: ᡐᡆᡑᡆ
     ᡋᡅᡒᡅᡎ / Тодо бичиг, romanized: todo bičiq / todo bičig, [todo bit͡ʃ(ə)k]
   • Mongolian: Тод бичиг / ᠲᠣᠳᠣ
     ᠪᠢᠴᠢᠭ, romanized: tod bichig / todo bičig, [tɔd bit͡ʃək]
   • Russian Buryat: Тодо бэшэг, romanized: Todo besheg, [tɔdɔ bɛʃək]
2. Transliteration
3. Modern Kalmyk Oirat (Cyrillic) equivalent (?)
4. GOST 7.79-2000 (ISO 9:1995)^{[8]:  9, 16}
5. Daniels
6. Should appear without a final left-pointing tail.
7. Should appear with an intervocalic tooth.
8. Should appear with an intervocalic tooth.
9. Should appear without a final left-pointing tail.
10. Should appear without a final left-pointing tail.
11. Confer Kalmyk Oirat хар har; Hudum ᠬᠠᠷ᠎ᠠ qar‑a; Khalkha хар khar.
12. Confer Kalmyk Oirat һал ḥal; Hudum ᠭᠠᠯ ɣal; Khalkha гал gal.
13. Confer Kalmyk Oirat гер ger; Hudum ᠭᠡᠷ ger; Khalkha гэр ger.
14. Confer Kalmyk Oirat көк kök; Hudum ᠬᠥᠬᠡ köke; Khalkha хөх khökh.
15. Confer Kalmyk Oirat цаг cag; Hudum ᠴᠠᠭ čaɣ; Khalkha цаг tsag.
16. Confer Kalmyk Oirat зун zun; Hudum ᠵᠤᠨ ǰun; Khalkha зун zun.
17. Confer Kalmyk Oirat җил z̦̆il; Hudum ᠵᠢᠯ ǰil; Khalkha жил jil.
18. Confer Kalmyk Oirat цә ca̋; Hudum ᠴᠠᠢ čai; Khalkha цай tsai.
19. Confer Kalmyk Oirat чи či; Hudum ᠴᠢ či; Khalkha чи chi.
20. Should appear as a bow with a down-pointing tooth, followed by a round ü.
21. Should appear in line with be and ke.
22. Should appear in line with bi and ki.