Balinese script
Template:Short description Template:Expand language Template:Infobox writing system Template:Writing systems in Indonesia Template:Contains special characters
The Balinese script, (Balinese: ᬅᬓ᭄ᬱᬭᬩᬮᬶ, Template:Lang, Template:Small Template:IPA<ref>https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/aksara</ref>) also known as hanacaraka (Template:Langx), is an abugida used in the island of Bali, Indonesia, commonly for writing the Austronesian Balinese language, Old Javanese, MalayTemplate:Sfn and the liturgical language Sanskrit. With some modifications, the script is also used to write the Sasak language, used in the neighboring island of Lombok.<ref name=uni>Template:Cite web</ref> In the present day it is also sometimes used to write the national language Indonesian.
The script is a descendant of the Brahmi script, and so has many similarities with the modern scripts of South and Southeast Asia. The Balinese script, along with the Javanese script, is considered the most elaborate and ornate among Brahmic scripts of Southeast Asia.<ref name=ins>Kuipers, Joel (2003). Indic Scripts of Insular Southeast Asia: Changing Structures and Functions Template:Webarchive. Tokyo: Tokyo University of Foreign Studies.</ref>
Though everyday use of the script has largely been supplanted by the Latin alphabet, the Balinese script has a significant prevalence in many of the island's traditional ceremonies and is strongly associated with the Hindu religion. The script is mainly used today for copying Template:Lang or palm leaf manuscripts containing religious texts.<ref name=ins/><ref name=fox>Fox, Richard (2013). Rival Styles of Writing, Rival Styles of Practical Reasoning. Heidelberg: Institut für Ehtnologie.</ref>
Earliest record
Belanjong pillar
The Belanjong pillar, also Blanjong pillar or Blanjong inscription (Indonesian: Prasasti Blanjong, Balinese: ᬧ᭄ᬭᬰᬵᬲ᭄ᬢᬶᬩ᭄ᬮᬜ᭄ᬚᭀᬂ), is a pillar established in 914 CE in the harbour of Belanjong, in the southern area of Sanur in Bali. This is the earliest evidence of Balinese literary script and language.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
Language-script and Date
The inscription is written in both the Indian Sanskrit language and Old Balinese language, using two scripts, the Nagari script and the Old Balinese script (which is used to write both Balinese and Sanskrit).<ref>Haer, p. 275</ref> The Old Balinese in pre-Nagari script is on one side of the pillar, while the Sanskrit inscription in Pallava-derived old Javanese script (also called Kawi script)<ref name="books.google.com">A short history of Bali by Robert Pringle p. 46</ref> is on the other side.<ref name="Cvxw67f7-8wC p.141">The people of Bali Angela Hobart p. 141</ref>
The pillar is dated according to the Indian Shaka era, on the seventh day of the waxing half ('saptāmyāṁ sita') of the month Phalguna of the Śaka year 835, which corresponds to 4 February 914 CE as calculated by Louis-Charles Damais.<ref name="damais47">Louis-Charles Damais (1947) Études balinaises: I. La colonnette de Sanur p. 127</ref><ref name="damais59">Louis-Charles Damais (1959) "Ouvrages d'Études Indonésiennes", Bulletin de l'École Française d'Extrême-Orient, 49, 2, pp. 685-686.</ref>
Characteristics
There are 47 letters in the Balinese script, each representing a syllable with inherent vowel Template:IPA or Template:IPA at the end of a sentence, which changes depending on the diacritics around the letter. Pure Balinese can be written with 18 consonant letters and 9 vowel letters, while Sanskrit transliteration or loan words from Sanskrit and Old Javanese utilizes the full set. A set of modified letters are also used for writing the Sasak language. Each consonant has a conjunct form called gantungan which nullifies the inherent vowel of the previous syllable.<ref name=ida>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=ishida>Template:Cite web</ref>
Punctuation includes a comma, period, colon, as well as marks to introduce and end section of a text. Musical notation uses letter-like symbols and diacritical marks in order to indicate pitch information. Text are written left to right without word boundaries (Scriptio continua).<ref name=uni/>
There is also a set of "holy letters" called Template:Lang which appears in religious texts and protective talismans. Most of them are constructed using diacritic Template:Lang with corresponding characters. A number of additional characters, known to be used inline in text (as opposed to decoratively on drawings), remains under study and those characters are expected to be proposed as Balinese extensions in due course.<ref name=uni/>
Letters
A basic letter in Balinese is called Template:Lang (Template:Lang), and each letter stands for a syllable with inherent vowel /a/.
Consonants
Consonants are called Template:Lang (Template:Lang) or Template:Lang (Template:Lang). Balinese script has 33 consonants, of which only 18 called Template:Lang (Template:Lang) are used for writing basic vocabulary in Balinese language. The other 15, known as Template:Lang (Template:Lang), are mainly used for writing Sanskrit and Kawi loanwords in Balinese language. The consonants can be arranged into Sanskrit order and Template:Lang traditional order.
Template:Lang traditional order
The modern Balinese languages does not make use of the whole inventory of consonants inherited from Sanskrit. The 18 consonants used in Balinese (Template:Langx) are traditionally arranged following the Javanese Template:Lang sequence, in which 20 letters form a four-line pangram narrating the myth of Aji Saka. The remaining consonants (Template:Langx) are used in Sanskrit transcription.
Consonant clusters
As in other members of the Brahmic family, consonant clusters are written cursively, by combining a consonant an appended letter (Template:Langx) or attached letter (Template:Langx). For example, Template:Angbr, a Template:Angbr appended with Template:Angbr is pronounced [nda]. Each consonant letter has a corresponding Template:Lang or Template:Lang.
A consonant may be marked with both a Template:Lang or Template:Lang and a vowel diacritic (Template:Lang), but attaching two or more Template:Lang to one letter is forbidden. When three consonants occur together, vowel-killer (Template:Lang) may be used in the middle of a word. For example, in the word Template:Langx, the consonant cluster mbl is spelled Template:Angbr.<ref>Tinggen, p. 27</ref>
For a few letters, Template:Angbr, Template:Angbr, Template:Angbr and Template:Angbr adding a Template:Lang or Template:Lang also eliminates the letter's inherent vowel Template:IPA.
Vowels
Vowels, called Template:Lang (Template:Lang) or Template:Lang (Template:Lang), can be written as independent letters when vowels appear in initial position.
Diacritics
Diacritics (Template:Langx (Template:Lang) are symbols that cannot stand by themselves. When they are attached to the independent letters, they affect the pronunciation. The three types of diacritics are Template:Lang, Template:Lang, and Template:Lang.
Vowel diacritics
Vowel diacritics (Template:Langx) change the inherent vowel of a consonant letter. For example, the letter Template:Angbr plus Template:Angbr becomes Template:Angbr.
Template:Lang (Template:Lang), except Template:Lang, adds a final consonant to a syllable. It can be used together with Template:Lang. For example, the letter Template:Lang (Template:Lang) with Template:Lang (Template:Lang) becomes Template:Lang (Template:Lang); Template:Lang (Template:Lang) with Template:Lang (Template:Lang) and Template:Lang (Template:Lang) becomes Template:Lang (Template:Lang). Compared to Devanagari, Template:Lang is analogous to visarga, Template:Lang to anusvara, and Template:Lang to virama.
Template:Lang is zero vowel diacritics as in other Brahmic scripts in Balinese script. Template:Lang, as virama in Devanagari, suppress the inherent vowel Template:IPA in the consonant letter. Template:Lang is used on impossibility of gantungan and gempelan usage such as succeeded by punctuation marks, attachment of two or more gantungan to one letter (Template:Lang, lit. three layers), preservation of combination (Template:Lang, Template:Lang rather than Template:Lang) and disambiguation.<ref name="Pedoman Perubahan Ejaan" />
| Template:Lang Template:Lang | ||||
| Balinese script | IPA | Translit. | Name | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Template:Lang | [h] | h | Template:Lang |
 |
Template:Lang | [r] | r | Template:Lang |
| Template:Lang | [ŋ] | ng | Template:Lang | |
| Template:Lang | [∅] | Template:Lang | ||
Template:Lang (Template:Lang) is appended below consonant letters. Template:Lang are the appended (Template:Lang) forms of the Template:Lang (semivowel) consonants. Template:Lang is the appended form of the vowel Template:Lang (Template:Lang).
Numerals
Template:Main Balinese numerals are written in the same manner as Arabic numerals. For example, 25 is written with the Balinese numbers 2 and 5.
| Template:Letter | Template:Letter | Template:Letter | Template:Letter | Template:Letter | Template:Letter | Template:Letter | Template:Letter | Template:Letter | Template:Letter |
If the number is written in the middle of a text, carik has to be written before and after the number to differentiate it from the text. Below is an example of how a date is written using Balinese numerals (date: 1 July 1982, location: Bali): Template:Br
| Balinese script | Transliteration |
|---|---|
Template:Lang |
Bali, 1 Juli 1982. |
Other symbols
There are some special symbols in the Balinese script. Some of them are punctuation marks, and the others are religious symbols. The symbols are described in the following list:
| Symbol | Symbol | Name | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Template:Lang | Template:Lang Template:Lang |
Written in the middle of a sentence, like a comma (,). Also, written surrounding numerals to differentiate them from the text. | |
| Template:Lang | Template:Lang Template:Lang |
Written at the end of a sentence, like a full stop (.). | |
| Template:Lang | Template:Lang | Functions like a colon (:). | |
| Center | Template:Lang | Template:Lang | Used at the end of a prose, letter, or verse. |
| Template:Lang | Template:Lang or Template:Lang | Used at the beginning of a prose, letter, or verse. | |
| Template:Lang | Template:Lang | Used at the beginning of religious texts. This symbol is a ligature of the letters Template:Lang, Template:Lang, Template:Lang, and Template:Lang, forming the word Template:Lang, which roughly means "praying for safety". | |
| Template:Lang | Template:Lang | Sacred symbol of Hinduism. This symbol is pronounced "Ong" or "Om". |
Orthography
Balinese language
Loanword from Sanskrit and Old Javanese
Balinese have many loanwords from Sanskrit and Old Javanese. In general, the Balinese orthography in Balinese script preserve the original orthography. The preservation of original orthography result on several rules:
- assimilation rule, which based on articulation rule (Kalvi / Shiksha),
- Template:Lang (Template:Transliteration) rule, which the word is spelled based on the source,
- Template:Lang (Template:Transliteration) rule, which several words has doubled consonant.
Assimilation
Assimilation in Balinese occurs within the conjuncts/consonant clusters. Balinese script represents assimilation occurred, however Latin script sometimes may not represent this. In general, alveolar consonants are assimilated into palatal, retroflex or labial. There are more specific descriptions in assimilation combination:<ref name="Pedoman Pasang Aksara Bali">Template:Cite book</ref>
- Template:Lang [n] assimilated into Template:Lang [ɲ] if succeeded by palatal consonants, such as consonant cluster nc Template:Lang and nj Template:Lang. For example, word Template:Lang is written as Template:Lang (Template:IPA), not written as Template:Lang (Template:IPA).
- Template:Lang [s] assimilated into Template:Lang [ɕ] if succeeded by palatal consonants, such as consonant cluster sc Template:Lang. For example, word Template:Lang is written as Template:Lang (Template:IPA), not written as Template:Lang (Template:IPA).
- Template:Lang [d] assimilated into Template:Lang [dʒ] if succeeded by palatal consonants, such as consonant cluster dny Template:Lang. For example, word Template:Lang is written as Template:Lang (Template:IPA), not written as Template:Lang (Template:IPA).
- Template:Lang [n] assimilated into Template:Lang [ɳ] if preceded by retroflex consonants, such as consonant cluster rn Template:Lang. For example, word Template:Lang is written as Template:Lang (Template:IPA), not written as Template:Lang (Template:IPA).
- Template:Lang [s] assimilated into Template:Lang [ʂ] if succeeded by retroflex consonants, such as consonant cluster st (ṣṭ) Template:Lang and sn (ṣṇ) Template:Lang. For example, word Template:Lang (Template:Lang, lie) is written as Template:Lang (Template:IPA), not written as Template:Lang (Template:IPA).
- Template:Lang [n] assimilated into Template:Lang [m] if succeeded by labial consonants. For example, word Template:Lang is written as Template:Lang (Template:IPA), not written as Template:Lang (Template:IPA).
Liquid Consonant-Schwa Combination
Liquid consonant, Template:Lang [r] and Template:Lang [l], may not be combined with Template:Lang (pepet, schwa) [ə] as Template:Lang and Template:Lang. These combination, rě [rə] and lě [lə], should be written as Template:Lang (re repa) and Template:Lang (le lenga). Word kěrěng (lit. eat a lot) and lekad are written as Template:Lang and Template:Lang. While combination of Template:Lang (gantungan [l]) and Template:Lang (pepet) is possible as in Template:Lang (bleganjur), combination of Template:Lang (cakra or gantungan [r]) and Template:Lang pepet is not allowed. If the combination follows a word which ends in a consonant, Template:Lang (gempelan re repa) may be used as in Template:Lang (Pak Rěrěh, Mr. Rěrěh). If the combination is in a word, Template:Lang (guwung macelek) may be used instead as in Template:Lang (Krěsna, Krishna).<ref name="Pedoman Pasang Aksara Bali" /><ref name="Balinese script notes">Template:Cite web</ref>
Latin Script Transliteration
Latin script transliteration into Balinese script is based on phonetics. As vocabulary expands, foreign sounds are introduced and have no equivalent on Balinese script. In general, transliteration of foreign sounds is shown as below.<ref name="Celah-Celah Kunci Aksara Bali">Template:Cite book</ref>
| Sound | Balinese letter | Example | Balinese Script |
|---|---|---|---|
| [f] | ᬧ | telephone | Template:Langx |
| [v] | ᬧ | vitamin | Template:Langx |
| [z] | ᬚ | ||
| [z] | ᬲ | ijaza | Template:Langx |
Sasak language
The Sasak language, spoken in Lombok Island east of Bali, is related to Balinese, is written in a version of the Balinese script known as Aksara Sasak, which is influenced by the Javanese script<ref name="omniglot_sasak"/> and is given additional characters for loanwords of foreign origin.
| Sasak letter |
Name<ref name="omniglot_sasak">Template:Cite web</ref> | IPA<ref name="omniglot_sasak"/> | Derived from |
Javanese equivalent |
Arabic equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Template:Lang | qaf | Template:IPA | Template:Lang | Template:Script | Template:Script |
| Template:Lang | xot | Template:IPA | Template:Lang | Template:Script | Template:Script |
| Template:Lang | tsir | Template:IPA | Template:Lang | Template:Script | Template:Script |
| Template:Lang | ef | Template:IPA | Template:Lang | Template:Script | Template:Script |
| Template:Lang | ve | Template:IPA | Template:Lang | Template:Script | Template:Script |
| Template:Lang | zal | Template:IPA | Template:Lang | Template:Script | Template:Script |
| Template:Lang | asyura | Template:IPA | Template:Lang | Template:Script | Template:Script |
Fonts
There are some fonts for Balinese script as of 2016. Bali Simbar, Bali Galang, JG Aksara Bali, Aksara Bali, Tantular Bali, Lilitan, Geguratan and Noto Sans Balinese are some fonts that included Balinese script. The fonts have different degree of compatibility each other, and most contain critical flaws.<ref name="Bringing Balinese to iOS" />
Bali Simbar is first font for Balinese script by I Made Suatjana Dipl Ing at 1999.<ref name="Bali Simbar">Template:Cite web</ref> Bali Simbar is not compatible for Mac-OS and Unicode.<ref name="Bali Simbar" /><ref name="Bringing Balinese to iOS">Template:Cite web</ref> JG Aksara Bali, was designed by Jason Glavy, has over 1400 Balinese glyphs, including a huge selection of precomposed glyph clusters.<ref name="Bringing Balinese to iOS" /> The latest version of JG Aksara Bali was released on 2003, thus has no compatibility with Unicode.<ref name="Bringing Balinese to iOS" /> Bali Simbar and JG Aksara Bali, in particular, may cause conflicts with other writing systems, as the font uses code points from other writing systems to complement Balinese's extensive repertoire as Balinese script was not included in Unicode at the creation time.<ref name="Bali Simbar" /><ref name="Bringing Balinese to iOS" />
Aksara Bali by Khoi Nguyen Viet is the first hacked Unicode Balinese font with a brute-force OpenType implementation. The results depend on how well other OpenType features are implemented in the renderer. The font has about 370 Balinese glyphs, but does not display the vowel Template:Angle bracket correctly.<ref name="Bringing Balinese to iOS" /> The team of Aditya Bayu Perdana, Ida Bagus Komang Sudarma, and Arif Budiarto has created a small series of Balinese fonts: Tantular Bali, Lilitan, and Geguratan, all using hacked Unicode and a brute-force OpenType implementation. Tantular has about 400 Balinese glyphs.<ref name="Bringing Balinese to iOS" /> These all have serious flaws.<ref name="Bringing Balinese to iOS" />
Another Unicode font is Noto Sans Balinese from Google.<ref name="Noto Sans Balinese">Template:Cite web</ref> However, Noto Sans Balinese exhibits several critical flaws, such as an inability to correctly display more than one diacritic per consonant.<ref name="Bringing Balinese to iOS" />
The free font Bali Galang, maintained by Bemby Bantara Narendra, displays correctly apart from the consonant-spanning vowels Template:Angle bracket and Template:Angle bracket. However, those vowels can be manually substituted by their graphic components, Template:Angle bracket and Template:Angle bracket followed by the length sign (tedung), which together display as Template:Angle bracket and Template:Angle bracket. It also automatically assimilates some consonants within words. It displays corresponding Balinese glyphs instead of Latin letters.
Unicode
Template:Main Balinese script was added to the Unicode Standard in July, 2006 with the release of version 5.0.
The Unicode block for Balinese is U+1B00–U+1B7F:
Template:Unicode chart Balinese
Sample text
Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
- Balinese script
- Romanised
- IPA
/ˈsami manʊˈsane ˈsane ɲruˈwadi ˈwantaʰ mərˈdɛka tur maˈduwe kawtaˈmaan lan hakˈhak ˈsane ˈpatəh/ /ˈsami kaluˈgrahin paˈpineh lan iˈdəp tur maŋˈdane ˈpadə masaˈwitrə məlaˈrapan səmaˈŋat pakulawraˈgaan/
- English
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Gallery
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Page from a Bible printed with Balinese script -
Balinese palm-leaf manuscript -
Sign at Pura Puseh Temple, Batuan, Bali -
Street sign in Singaraja, written in Latin and Balinese script -
Klungkung Regent's Office sign -
A date in Latin and Balinese script
