Maui  

The Maui script was invented by Ian James as an alternative way of writing
Pacific languages such as Maori. It is a kind of syllabary where syllables are
assembled phonetically from parts, and made to form distinct, singular forms.
There is also a sense of the third dimension in the syllabic shapes, and they
look a little like carved beads.

The Maui script is named after the great god-hero of Maori mythology, who –
among other things – pulled New Zealand out of the ocean on the end of his fishing
line. There is a suggestion of small marine animals or plants in the shapes of the
assembled syllables, as things Maui himself may have shaken off his line. There
is also an aesthetic perhaps reminiscent of the Easter Island script (Rongorongo),
or the more complex Mayan glyphs.

Notable Features

• Type of writing system: Phonologically designed syllabary.
• Each syllable has a unique, solid form,vbut is easily assembled from parts.
• Resembles Mayan or Rongorongo glyphs.
• Used to write: or use with Pacific languages, but easily adaptable to languages
  with more complex phonologies & syllable structures.
• Direction of writing: written in panels from left to right.

Maui script

The consonant part

Nearly all syllables have a region of consonantal onset, one of three represented by the central voluted shape:

There is a rough match here to velar, dental and labial regions respectively.

In front of this shape, a modifier is attached to specify more clearly which
consonant is being used. Absence of a modifier implies a plosive.

Here, the diamond indicates lack of a useful phoneme in this particular rendition.
The asterisk indicates a non-phonemic glyph, shown below. A language may arrange the
modifier table differently to the way it is here, to make better use of the three-fold
space. One example might use the unvoiced nasals to signify non-phonemic elements, and
use the “special” modifier for other phonemes.

The vowel part

The vowel shapes simply attach to the right of the assembled consonant.
Multiple vowels can attach in series; this is a common effect in Maori, for
example. Also, having /l/ and approximant /r/ among the vowels means we needn’t
break the syllable for these smooth sounds.

Special glyphs & combinations

Shown here are the 3 non-phonemic glyphs, as well as glyphs for special phonemic
situations. The vowel-like phonemes /l/ and approximant /r/ may start a syllable,
and are then given the modifier shown here. Other vowel-initial syllables would use
the glottal plosive consonant as onset (“special unvoiced K”). For syllabic patterns
other than the simple CV of Pacific languages, most modified consonants can be written
without a vowel. Except for plosives, which use the closed oval forms given here
(voicing marks may also be drawn on these to make solo or final /g/, /d/ and /b/).

Sample texts

Transliteration:

Pookarekare ana ngaa wai o Waiapu;
whiti atu koe hine marino ana e.
E hine e hoki mai ra;
ka mate ahau i te aroha e.
Maori love song

Transliteration:

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.
(Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)