Soyombo script

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The Soyombo script (from Sanskrit: svayambhu self-existent) was a syllabic script for Mongolian, created by Ondur Gegeen (the first Jebtsundamba Khutughtu) in 1686. Although he aimed to transliterate Sanskrit and Tibetan words in Buddhist literature precisely, which is impossible using the classical Mongolian script, the script did not become widely used.

It was modelled after the Lantsha script, an Indian script combining syllabics. A syllable is composed by adding an initial consonantal sign, a vocalic sign and an optional final consonantal sign to the base mark, which acts as the frame of the syllable. Like Devanagari, the base mark has "a" as the inherent vowel. Unlike the classical Mongolian script, it is written horizontally from left to right. Although it is systematic and accurate, the script is verbose and unable to write shorthand.

The punctuation mark that is used to mark the start of text is called "Soyombo" and is used in various ways including the national flag of Mongolia.

External link

• Soyombo script - Omniglot