|
|
|
|
The Lontara script is an Brahmic script traditionally used for the Bugis language, Makassarese language, and Mandar languages of Sulawesi in modern Indonesia. It is also known as the Buginese script. It was largely replaced by the Latin alphabet during the period of Dutch colonization. The term Lontara is derived from the Malay name for palmyra palm, Lontar, whose leaves are traditionally used for manuscripts. In Buginese, this script is called urupu sulapa eppa which means "four-corner letters".
UsageAlthough the Latin alphabet has largely replaced Lontara, it is still used to a limited extent in Bugis and Makasar. In Bugis, its usage is limited to ceremonial purposes, such as wedding ceremonies. In Makasar, Lontara is additionally used for personal documents such as letters and notes. Those who are skilled in writing the script are known as palontara, 'writing specialists'. Historically, Lontara was used for a wide range of documents including contracts, trade laws, treaties, and maps. The term Lontara has also come to refer to literature regarding Bugis history and geneology. StructureLontara is written from left to right. Each consonant carries an inherent /a/ vowel. Different vowels are marked as super-subscript or collinear adjuncts to consonants. Vowels (here shown on the zero consonant ᨕ) are ᨕ /a/, ᨕᨗ /i/, ᨕᨘ /u/, ᨙᨕ /e/, ᨕᨚ /o/, ᨕᨛ /ə/. The two final consonants, nasal /ŋ/ and glottal stop /ʔ/, are not written. Additionally, there is no marker for gemination, so that a stop consonant like ᨄ may be read as /pa/, /ppa/, /paʔ/, /ppaʔ/, /paŋ/, or /ppaŋ/.[1] For instance, ᨔᨑ can be read as sara 'sorrow', sara' 'rule', or sarang 'nest'. The Buginese people take advantage of this defective element of the script in a language game called Basa to Bakkéq (ᨅᨔ ᨈᨚ ᨅᨙᨀ, 'Language of Bakkeq people')[clarify] which is closely related to élong maliung bettuanna (ᨙᨕᨒᨚ ᨆᨒᨗᨕᨘ ᨅᨛᨈᨘᨕᨊ, literally 'song with deep meaning') riddles.[2] Phonology
* /ʔ/ only occurs finally, and is therefore not written. Buginese in UnicodeThe Unicode range for Buginese is U+1A00 ... U+1A1F. Grey areas indicate non-assigned code points.
Sample text
Once there was a story, once upon a time, about a princess in Luwu with leprosy. References
See alsoExternal links
CommentsNo comments have been added. |
Switch Language
Popular PagesEmail this PageSyndicate
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
