Sogdian
The Sogdian script developed from the Aramaic and was first used
during the 4th century AD. The earliest form of the script, shown below,
was used to write letters and for inscriptions. A cursive version of
the script was used in secular documents, royal proclamations, and
Buddhist and Manichaen manuscripts. The Sogdian script largely fell
out of use during the 10th century, though was used to some extent
until the 13th century.
Sogdian is an extinct member of the eastern branch of Middle Iranian
languages once spoken in Sogdiana, a region that includes parts of
China (Xinjiang), Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Pakistan. Yaqnabi, a language
spoken in Tajikistan is thought to be a modern descentant of Sogdian.
Notable features
- Type of writing system: abjad / consonant alphabet
- Direction of writing: right to left in horizontal lines,
or sometimes left to right in vertical columns - Letters in Ancient Sogdian do not change their shape when
joined, but in later versions of Sogdian, they do
Sogdian Ancient Letters
Sogdian Sutra Script
Sample text in Ancient Sogdian Letters
Transliteration
at βaγw xutāw βarak nanyē-θβār kanak
(ēw-)zār βrēwar āfrīwan namācyu
spātzānūk kaδ-uti wēšanu βaγān(u)
βyart pišt con xēpθ βantē nanē-βantē
Translation
To the Divine Master Barak(?) Nanethvar Kanak a thousand, ten thousand greetings,
reverently with bended knees when received by their divinities. Written by his own
servent Nanevante.
An Ancient Letter found in a mailbag in the Great Wall of China
Source: The World’s Writing Systems; by Peter T. Daniels & William Bright;
Oxford University Press 1996
Links
Information about the Sogdian language and alphabet
http://www.ancientscripts.com/sogdian.html
http://iranianlanguages.com/midiranian/sogdian.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sogdian_alphabet