- Malayalam script
Infobox Writing system
name = Malayalam
languages = MalayalamKonkani
type =Abugida
time = c.1100 –present
fam1=Proto-Canaanite alphabet
fam2=Phoenician alphabet
fam3=Aramaic alphabet
fam4=Brāhmī
fam5=Grantha
sisters=Sinhala
Tamil
unicode = [http://www.unicode.org/charts/PDF/U0D00.pdf U+0D00–U+0D7F]
iso15924 = MlymThe Malayalam script is anabugida of theBrahmic family , used to write theMalayalam language . From the Brahmi script, theGrantha script emerged as one of the earliest Southern scripts. It further evolved into the Malayalam script. The Malayalam script covers all the symbols ofSanskrit as well as special Dravidian letters. The alphabet is classified into two categories: swarams (orvowel s) and vyanjanams (orconsonant s).Vowels
There is no distinction of case, i.e. no uppercase and lowercase letters. Diacritics, or vowel signs, are used to associate a vowel to a consonant. When no diacritic is used, the vowel sound 'a' is assumed. To denote the absence of a vowel specifically, a "chandrakkala" Unicode|് (also called "virama") is used.
Other symbols
In addition to these symbols, there are many more symbols to indicate ligatures of the various consonants with each other.
Digits
Malayalam digits are written as follows:
Unicode for Malayalam
The
See also
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External links
* [http://www.jaimalayalam.com Website including resources for learning Malayalam script]
* [http://www.unicode.org/charts/PDF/U0D00.pdf Unicode Code Chart for Malayalam (PDF Format)]
* [http://www.alanwood.net/unicode/fonts_windows.html#malayalam Malayalam Unicode fonts]
* [http://www.iit.edu/~laksvij/language/malayalam.html Indian Language Converter] Web-based tool to transliterate from Romanised English to Unicode Malayalam
* [http://vle.marthomacentre.org.uk/ 'moodle' in Malayalam] Virtual Learning Environment
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