Oriya alphabet
Origin
The Oriya script developed from the Kalinga script, one of the many
descendents of the Brahmi
script of ancient India. The earliest known inscription in the Oriya
language, in the Kalinga script, dates from 1051.
The curved appearance of the Oriya script is a result of the practice
of writing on palm leaves, which have a tendency to tear if you use
too many straight lines.
Notable features
- Type of writing system: syllabic alphabet in which all consonants have an inherent
vowel. Diacritics, which can appear above, below, before or after
the consonant they belong to, are used to change the inherent vowel. - When they appear the the beginning of a syllable, vowels are written
as independent letters. - When certain consonants occur together, special conjunct symbols
are used which combine the essential parts of each letter. - Direction of writing: left to right in horizontal lines.
Used to write:
Oriya, an Indo-Aryan language spoken by about 31 million
people mainly in the Indian state of Orissa, and also in West Bengal, Jharkhand,
and Gujarat. Oriya is closely related to Bengali and
Assamese.
Also used to write a number of the other languages spoken in Orissa
and Sanskrit.
Oriya alphabet
Vowels and vowel diacritics with k
Consonants
Some conjunct consonants
Numerals
Sample text
Sabu manuṣẏa janmukāḷaru svadhāna,
ṣamainaṅkara narsẏāḍā o
adhikāra samāna, sanainaṅaṭhāre
prabã o bibake niha ṭachi, samaine paraspara paba
brādahaba paiṣaṣa kari ṭhārpha
jakirā ḍarakāra.
Translation
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)
Tower of Babel in Oriya |
Useful phrases in Oriya
Links
Information about the Oriya language
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oriya_language
Oriya learning materials and lessons
http://www.odia.org
http://www.languageshome.com/English-Oriya.htm
https://www.glovico.org/en/oriya
Oriya <> English dictionary (uses dynamic fonts)
http://lightning.prohosting.com/~shabda/
Free Oriya fonts
http://www.wazu.jp/gallery/Fonts_Oriya.html
http://www.eodissa.com
Online Oriya news
http://www.thesamaja.com
http://www.odia.org