Mongolian script
The traditional Mongolian script, also known as the Hudum Mongol bichig, was the first writing system created specifically for the Mongolian language, and was the most widespread until the introduction of Cyrillic in 1946. It is traditionally written in vertical lines Top-Down, right across the page. Derived from the Old Uyghur alphabet, it is a true alphabet, with separate letters for consonants and vowels. It has been adapted for such languages as Oirat and Manchu. Alphabets based on this classical vertical script continue to be used in Mongolia and Inner Mongolia to write Mongolian, Xibe and, experimentally, Evenki.
| Mongolian script ᠮᠣᠩᠭᠣᠯ ᠪᠢᠴᠢᠭ | |
|---|---|
A poem by Injinash | |
| Script type | |
| Creator | Tata-tonga |
Time period | c. 1204 – 1941 (used as main script) 1941 – Present (used as co script) |
| Direction | Vertical up-to-down, left-to-right |
| Languages | Mongolian language |
| Related scripts | |
Parent systems | |
Child systems | Manchu alphabet
Oirat alphabet (Clear script) Buryat alphabet Galik alphabet Evenki alphabet |
| ISO 15924 | |
| ISO 15924 | Mong (145), Mongolian |
| Unicode | |
Unicode alias | Mongolian |
| |
Computer operating systems have been slow to adopt support for Mongolian script; almost all have incomplete support or other text rendering difficulties.