Re: Abugida and akshara?

--- In qalam@yahoogroups.com, "Peter Constable" <petercon@...> wrote:

> > From: Nicholas Bodley [mailto:nbodley@...]
>
>
> > Do these terms have meanings that are similar, if not almost the same?
>
> No; the two refer to quite different things.
>
> An abugida is a type of script, characterized (roughly -- I'm sure I'll
> be corrected if there is a more preferred definition) by having
> syllables with the same initial consonant written using a single form
> for the consonant with various marks modifying that consonant form to
> signify the syllable rhymes.

I beleive Peter Daniels would insist that the absence of a modifying
mark signified some specific ('implicit' or 'inherent') vowel rather
than zero.

If I understand correctly, the modern Lao script is therefore either
'artificial' or an alphabet whereas the very similar Thai script is an
abugida. I may be wrong - perhaps Lao is a compulsorily pointed abjad!

Richard.

>
> Akshara is a term used in relation to Indic scripts to refer to what is
> sometimes also called an orthographic syllable or cluster. An akshara
> generally has one independent vowel letter, or at least one consonant
> letter in its nominal form (it may have one or more additional
> consonants in some altered form), or a conjunct ligature (in some cases
> referred to as an "akhand".
>
>
> Peter Constable