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{{Short description|Alphabet used for writing the Mandaic language}}
{{Infobox Writing system
{{Infobox Writing system
| name=Mandaic
| name=Mandaic
| languages = [[Mandaic language|Classical Mandaic]]<br/>[[Neo-Mandaic]]
| languages = [[Mandaic language|Classical Mandaic]]<br/>[[Neo-Mandaic]]
|fam1=[[Phoenician alphabet|Phoenician]]
| fam1 = [[Phoenician alphabet|Phoenician]]
|fam2=[[Aramaic alphabet|Aramaic]]
| fam2 = [[Aramaic alphabet|Aramaic]]
| type=Alphabet
| type = Alphabet
| time = 2nd century AD — present
| unicode = [https://www.unicode.org/charts/PDF/U0840.pdf U+0840–U+085F]
| unicode = [https://www.unicode.org/charts/PDF/U0840.pdf U+0840–U+085F]
|iso15924=Mand
|iso15924=Mand
Line 13: Line 15:
{{Contains special characters
{{Contains special characters
| special = uncommon [[Unicode]] characters
| special = uncommon [[Unicode]] characters
| fix = Help:Multilingual support
| fix = Help:Multilingual support#Mandaic
| image = Replacement character.svg
| image = Replacement character.svg
| link = Specials (Unicode block)#Replacement character
| link = Specials (Unicode block)#Replacement character
Line 20: Line 22:
}}
}}


The '''Mandaic alphabet''' is thought to have evolved between the 2nd and 7th century CE from either a cursive form of [[Aramaic alphabet|Aramaic]] (as did [[Syriac alphabet|Syriac]]) or from the Parthian chancery script.<ref name="TUSME">{{cite book|title=The Unicode Standard, Version 10.0|chapter=Chapter 9: Middle East-I, Modern and Liturgical Scripts|publisher=Unicode, Inc|date=June 2017|location=Mountain View, CA|url=https://www.unicode.org/versions/Unicode10.0.0/ch09.pdf| isbn=978-1-936213-16-0}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|first=Charles G.|last=Häberl|date=February 2006|title=Iranian Scripts for Aramaic Languages: The Origin of the Mandaic Script|url=https://rucore.libraries.rutgers.edu/rutgers-lib/33352/PDF/1/play/|journal=Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research|volume= |issue=341|pages=53–62|doi=10.7282/T37D2SGZ}}</ref> The exact roots of the script are difficult to determine.<ref name="DBWWS">{{cite book | title=[[The World's Writing Systems]] | year=1996 | editor1-last=Daniels | editor1-first=Peter T. | editor2-last=Bright | editor2-first=William | publisher=Oxford University Press, Inc | isbn=978-0195079937 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780195079937/page/511 511–513] }}</ref>
The '''Mandaic alphabet''' is a [[writing system]] primarily used to write the [[Mandaic language]]. It is thought to have evolved between the second and seventh century CE from either a cursive form of [[Aramaic alphabet|Aramaic]] (as did [[Syriac alphabet|Syriac]]) or from [[Inscriptional Parthian]].<ref name="TUSME">{{cite book|title=The Unicode Standard, Version 10.0|chapter=Chapter 9: Middle East-I, Modern and Liturgical Scripts|publisher=Unicode, Inc|date=June 2017|location=Mountain View, CA|url=https://www.unicode.org/versions/Unicode10.0.0/ch09.pdf| isbn=978-1-936213-16-0}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|first=Charles G.|last=Häberl|date=February 2006|title=Iranian Scripts for Aramaic Languages: The Origin of the Mandaic Script|url=https://rucore.libraries.rutgers.edu/rutgers-lib/33352/PDF/1/play/|journal=Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research|issue=341|pages=53–62|doi=10.7282/T37D2SGZ}}</ref> The exact roots of the script are difficult to determine.<ref name="DBWWS">{{cite book | title=[[The World's Writing Systems]] | year=1996 | editor1-last=Daniels | editor1-first=Peter T. | editor2-last=Bright | editor2-first=William | publisher=Oxford University Press, Inc | isbn=978-0195079937 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780195079937/page/511 511–513] }}</ref>
It was developed by members of the [[Mandaeism|Mandaean faith]] of southern [[Mesopotamia]] to write the [[Mandaic language]] for [[Liturgy|liturgical]] purposes.<ref name="TUSME"/> Classical Mandaic and its descendant [[Neo-Mandaic]] are still in limited use.<ref name="TUSME"/> The script has changed very little over centuries of use.<ref name="DBWWS"/><ref name="TUSME"/>
It was developed by members of the [[Mandaeism|Mandaean faith]] of [[Lower Mesopotamia]] to write the [[Mandaic language]] for [[liturgy|liturgical purposes]].<ref name="TUSME"/> Classical Mandaic and its descendant [[Neo-Mandaic]] are still in limited use.<ref name="TUSME"/> The script has changed very little over centuries of use.<ref name="DBWWS"/><ref name="TUSME"/>


The Mandaic name for the script is ''Abagada'' or ''Abaga'', after the first letters of the [[alphabet]]. Rather than the traditional [[Semitic script|Semitic letter names]] (''aleph'', ''beth'', ''gimel''), they are known as ''a'', ''ba'', ''ga'' and so on.<ref name="MandadaicHandbook">{{cite book|first=Rudolf|last=Macúch|authorlink=Rudolf Macúch|title=Handbook of Classical and Modern Mandaic|publisher=De Gruyter|date=1965|location=Berlin|pages=7–26}}</ref>
The Mandaic name for the script is ''Abagada'' or ''Abaga'', after the first letters of the [[alphabet]]. Rather than the traditional [[Phoenician alphabet|Semitic letter names]] (''aleph'', ''beth'', ''gimel''), they are known as ''a'', ''ba'', ''ga'' and so on.<ref name="MandadaicHandbook">{{cite book|first=Rudolf|last=Macúch|author-link=Rudolf Macúch|title=Handbook of Classical and Modern Mandaic|publisher=De Gruyter|date=1965|location=Berlin|pages=7–26}}</ref>


It is written from right to left in horizontal lines. It is a [[cursive]] script, but not all letters connect within a word. Spaces separate individual words.
It is written from right to left in horizontal lines. It is a [[cursive]] script, but not all letters connect within a word. Spaces separate individual words.

⚫
[[File:Mandaic chart from the Handbook of Classical and Modern Mandaic.png|thumb|Mandaic chart]]
During the past few decades, Majid Fandi al-Mubaraki, a Mandaean living in Australia, has digitized many Mandaean texts using [[typesetting|typeset]] Mandaic script.<ref>[https://www.mandaeannetwork.com/ Mandaean Network].</ref>


==Letters==
==Letters==
⚫
[[File:Mandaic chart from the Handbook of Classical and Modern Mandaic.png|thumb|Mandaic alphabet chart]]


The Mandaic alphabet contains 22 letters (in the same order as the Aramaic alphabet) and the digraph ''adu''. The alphabet is formally closed by repeating the first letter, ''a'', so that it has a symbolic count of 24 letters:<ref name="MandadaicDictionary">{{cite book|first1=Ethel Stefana|last1=Drower|authorlink1=E. S. Drower|first2=Rudolf|last2=Macúch|authorlink2=Rudolf Macúch|title=A Mandaic Dictionary|publisher=Clarendon Press|date=1963|location=London|pages=1, 491|url=https://vk.com/doc2355792_437013170?hash=ba0879093b7c0832ba&dl=455c2a717365d1bf7d}}</ref><ref name="Mandaeans1937">{{cite book|first=Ethel Stefana|last=Drower|authorlink=E. S. Drower|title=The Mandaeans of Iraq and Iran: Their Cults, Customs, Magic, Legends, and Folklore|publisher=Clarendon Press|date=1937|location=Oxford|pages=[https://archive.org/details/MN41560ucmf_1/page/n389 240]–243|url=https://archive.org/details/MN41560ucmf_1}}</ref>
The Mandaic alphabet contains 22 letters (in the same order as the Aramaic alphabet) and the digraph ''adu''. The alphabet is formally closed by repeating the first letter, ''a'', so that it has a symbolic count of 24 letters:<ref name="MandadaicDictionary">{{cite book|first1=Ethel Stefana|last1=Drower|author-link1=E. S. Drower|first2=Rudolf|last2=Macúch|author-link2=Rudolf Macúch|title=A Mandaic Dictionary|publisher=Clarendon Press|date=1963|location=London|pages=1, 491|url=https://vk.com/doc2355792_437013170?hash=ba0879093b7c0832ba&dl=455c2a717365d1bf7d}}</ref><ref name="Mandaeans1937">{{cite book|first=Ethel Stefana|last=Drower|author-link=E. S. Drower|title=The Mandaeans of Iraq and Iran: Their Cults, Customs, Magic, Legends, and Folklore|publisher=Clarendon Press|date=1937|location=Oxford|pages=[https://archive.org/details/MN41560ucmf_1/page/n389 240]–243|url=https://archive.org/details/MN41560ucmf_1}}</ref>


{|class="wikitable nounderlines Unicode"
{|class="wikitable nounderlines Unicode"
|+ Mandaic alphabet<ref>This table can be viewed correctly using Firefox and the font [[Help:Multilingual support#Mandaic|Noto Sans Mandaic]].</ref>
|+ Mandaic alphabet<ref>This table can be viewed correctly using Firefox and the font [[Help:Multilingual support#Mandaic|Noto Sans Mandaic]].</ref>
|-
|-
! rowspan="2" | # !! rowspan="2" | Name<ref name="DBWWS"/> !! rowspan="2" | Letter !! colspan="3" | Joining behavior !! colspan="2" | [[Transliteration]] !! rowspan="2" | [[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]]<ref name="DBWWS"/> !! rowspan="2" | [[Unicode]]<br/>code&nbsp;point
! rowspan="2" | # !! rowspan="2" | Name<ref name="DBWWS"/> !! rowspan="2" | Letter !! colspan="3" | Joining behavior !! colspan="3" | [[Transliteration]] !! rowspan="2" | [[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]]<ref name="DBWWS"/> !! rowspan="2" | [[Unicode]]<br/>code&nbsp;point
|-
|-
! Right !! Medial !! Left !! Latin<ref name="DBWWS"/> !! Hebrew<ref name="MandadaicDictionary"/>
! Right !! Medial !! Left !! Syriac !! Latin<ref name="DBWWS"/> !! Hebrew<ref name="MandadaicDictionary"/>
|-
|-
| 1, 24 || a || {{huge|ࡀ}} || {{huge|ـࡀ}} || style="background-color:#CCCCCC;" | || style="background-color:#CCCCCC;" | || a || א || a || U+0840 HALQA
| 1, 24 || a || {{Script|Mand|ࡀ}} || {{Script|Mand|ـࡀ}} || style="background-color:#CCCCCC;" | || style="background-color:#CCCCCC;" | || {{Lang|syr|ܐ}} || a || א || /a/ || U+0840 HALQA
|-
|-
| 2 || ba || {{huge|ࡁ}} || {{huge|ـࡁ}} || {{huge|ـࡁـ}} || {{huge|ࡁـ}} || b || ב || b || U+0841 AB
| 2 || ba || {{Script|Mand|ࡁ}} || {{Script|Mand|ـࡁ}} || {{Script|Mand|ـࡁـ}} || {{Script|Mand|ࡁـ}} || {{Lang|syr|ܒ}} || b || ב || /b/ || U+0841 AB
|-
|-
| 3 || ga || {{huge|ࡂ}} || {{huge|ـࡂ}} || {{huge|ـࡂـ}} || {{huge|ࡂـ}} || g || ג || g || U+0842 AG
| 3 || ga || {{Script|Mand|ࡂ}} || {{Script|Mand|ـࡂ}} || {{Script|Mand|ـࡂـ}} || {{Script|Mand|ࡂـ}} || {{Lang|syr|ܓ}} || g || ג || /ɡ/ || U+0842 AG
|-
|-
| 4 || da || {{huge|ࡃ}} || {{huge|ـࡃ}} || {{huge|ـࡃـ}} || {{huge|ࡃـ}} || d || ד || d || U+0843 AD
| 4 || da || {{Script|Mand|ࡃ}} || {{Script|Mand|ـࡃ}} || {{Script|Mand|ـࡃـ}} || {{Script|Mand|ࡃـ}} || {{Lang|syr|ܕ}} || d || ד || /d/ || U+0843 AD
|-
|-
| 5 || ha || {{huge|ࡄ}} || {{huge|ـࡄ}} || {{huge|ـࡄـ}} || {{huge|ࡄـ}} || h || ה || h || U+0844 AH
| 5 || ha || {{Script|Mand|ࡄ}} || {{Script|Mand|ـࡄ}} || {{Script|Mand|ـࡄـ}} || {{Script|Mand|ࡄـ}} || {{Lang|syr|ܗ}} || h || ה || /h/ || U+0844 AH
|-
|-
| 6 || wa || {{huge|ࡅ}} || {{huge|ـࡅ}} || {{huge|ـࡅـ}} || {{huge|ࡅـ}} || u || ו || u, w || U+0845 USHENNA
| 6 || wa || {{Script|Mand|ࡅ}} || {{Script|Mand|ـࡅ}} || {{Script|Mand|ـࡅـ}} || {{Script|Mand|ࡅـ}} || {{Lang|syr|ܘ}} || u || ו || /u, w/ || U+0845 USHENNA
|-
|-
| 7 || za || {{huge|ࡆ}} || {{huge|ـࡆ}} || style="background-color:#CCCCCC;" | || style="background-color:#CCCCCC;" | || z || ז || z || U+0846 AZ
| 7 || za || {{Script|Mand|ࡆ}} || {{Script|Mand|ـࡆ}} || style="background-color:#CCCCCC;" | || style="background-color:#CCCCCC;" | || {{Lang|syr|ܙ}} || z || ז || /z/ || U+0846 AZ
|-
|-
| 8 || eh || {{huge|ࡇ}} || {{huge|ـࡇ}} || style="background-color:#CCCCCC;" | || style="background-color:#CCCCCC;" | || -ẖ || ח || χ || U+0847 IT
| 8 || eh || {{Script|Mand|ࡇ}} || {{Script|Mand|ـࡇ}} || style="background-color:#CCCCCC;" | || style="background-color:#CCCCCC;" | || {{Lang|syr|ܚ}} || -ẖ || ח || /χ/ || U+0847 IT
|-
|-
| 9 || ṭa || {{huge|ࡈ}} || {{huge|ـࡈ}} || {{huge|ـࡈـ}} || {{huge|ࡈـ}} || ṭ || ט || tˠ || U+0848 ATT
| 9 || ṭa || {{Script|Mand|ࡈ}} || {{Script|Mand|ـࡈ}} || {{Script|Mand|ـࡈـ}} || {{Script|Mand|ࡈـ}} || {{Lang|syr|ܛ}} || ṭ || ט || /tˠ/ || U+0848 ATT
|-
|-
| 10 || ya || {{huge|ࡉ}} || {{huge|ـࡉ}} || style="background-color:#CCCCCC;" | || style="background-color:#CCCCCC;" | || i || י || i, j || U+0849 AKSA
| 10 || ya || {{Script|Mand|ࡉ}} || {{Script|Mand|ـࡉ}} || style="background-color:#CCCCCC;" | || style="background-color:#CCCCCC;" | || {{Lang|syr|ܝ}} || i || י || /i, j/ || U+0849 AKSA
|-
|-
| 11 || ka || {{huge|ࡊ}} || {{huge|ـࡊ}} || {{huge|ـࡊـ}} || {{huge|ࡊـ}} || k || כ || k || U+084A AK
| 11 || ka || {{Script|Mand|ࡊ}} || {{Script|Mand|ـࡊ}} || {{Script|Mand|ـࡊـ}} || {{Script|Mand|ࡊـ}} || {{Lang|syr|ܟ}} || k || כ || /k/ || U+084A AK
|-
|-
| 12 || la || {{huge|ࡋ}} || {{huge|ـࡋ}} || {{huge|ـࡋـ}} || {{huge|ࡋـ}} || l || ל || l || U+084B AL
| 12 || la || {{Script|Mand|ࡋ}} || {{Script|Mand|ـࡋ}} || {{Script|Mand|ـࡋـ}} || {{Script|Mand|ࡋـ}} || {{Lang|syr|ܠ}} || l || ל || /l/ || U+084B AL
|-
|-
| 13 || ma || {{huge|ࡌ}} || {{huge|ـࡌ}} || {{huge|ـࡌـ}} || {{huge|ࡌـ}} || m || מ || m || U+084C AM
| 13 || ma || {{Script|Mand|ࡌ}} || {{Script|Mand|ـࡌ}} || {{Script|Mand|ـࡌـ}} || {{Script|Mand|ࡌـ}} || {{Lang|syr|ܡ}} || m || מ || /m/ || U+084C AM
|-
|-
| 14 || na || {{huge|ࡍ}} || {{huge|ـࡍ}} || {{huge|ـࡍـ}} || {{huge|ࡍـ}} || n || נ || n || U+084D AN
| 14 || na || {{Script|Mand|ࡍ}} || {{Script|Mand|ـࡍ}} || {{Script|Mand|ـࡍـ}} || {{Script|Mand|ࡍـ}} || {{Lang|syr|ܢ}} || n || נ || /n/ || U+084D AN
|-
|-
| 15 || sa || {{huge|ࡎ}} || {{huge|ـࡎ}} || {{huge|ـࡎـ}} || {{huge|ࡎـ}} || s || ס || s || U+084E AS
| 15 || sa || {{Script|Mand|ࡎ}} || {{Script|Mand|ـࡎ}} || {{Script|Mand|ـࡎـ}} || {{Script|Mand|ࡎـ}} || {{Lang|syr|ܣ}} || s || ס || /s/ || U+084E AS
|-
|-
| 16 || e ||{{huge|ࡏ}} || {{huge|ـࡏ}} || {{huge|ـࡏـ}} || {{huge|ࡏـ}} || ʿ || ע || e || U+084F IN
| 16 || e ||{{Script|Mand|ࡏ}} || {{Script|Mand|ـࡏ}} || {{Script|Mand|ـࡏـ}} || {{Script|Mand|ࡏـ}} || {{Lang|syr|ܥ}} || ʿ || ע || /e/ || U+084F IN
|-
|-
| 17 || pa || {{huge|ࡐ}} || {{huge|ـࡐ}} || {{huge|ـࡐـ}} || {{huge|ࡐـ}} || p || פ || p || U+0850 AP
| 17 || pa || {{Script|Mand|ࡐ}} || {{Script|Mand|ـࡐ}} || {{Script|Mand|ـࡐـ}} || {{Script|Mand|ࡐـ}} || {{Lang|syr|ܦ}} || p || פ || /p/ || U+0850 AP
|-
|-
| 18 || ṣa || {{huge|ࡑ}} || {{huge|ـࡑ}} || {{huge|ـࡑـ}} || {{huge|ࡑـ}} || ṣ || צ ||sˠ || U+0851 ASZ
| 18 || ṣa || {{Script|Mand|ࡑ}} || {{Script|Mand|ـࡑ}} || {{Script|Mand|ـࡑـ}} || {{Script|Mand|ࡑـ}} || {{Lang|syr|ܨ}} || ṣ || צ || /sˠ/ || U+0851 ASZ
|-
|-
| 19 || qa || {{huge|ࡒ}} || {{huge|ـࡒ}} || {{huge|ـࡒـ}} || {{huge|ࡒـ}} || q || ק || q || U+0852 AQ
| 19 || qa || {{Script|Mand|ࡒ}} || {{Script|Mand|ـࡒ}} || {{Script|Mand|ـࡒـ}} || {{Script|Mand|ࡒـ}} || {{Lang|syr|ܩ}} || q || ק || /q/ || U+0852 AQ
|-
|-
| 20 || ra ||{{huge|ࡓ}} || {{huge|ـࡓ}} || {{huge|ـࡓـ}} || {{huge|ࡓـ}} || r || ר || r || U+0853 AR
| 20 || ra ||{{Script|Mand|ࡓ}} || {{Script|Mand|ـࡓ}} || {{Script|Mand|ـࡓـ}} || {{Script|Mand|ࡓـ}} || {{Lang|syr|ܪ}} || r || ר || /r/ || U+0853 AR
|-
|-
| 21 || ša || {{huge|ࡔ}} || {{huge|ـࡔ}} || style="background-color:#CCCCCC;" | || style="background-color:#CCCCCC;" | || š || ש || ʃ || U+0854 ASH
| 21 || ša || {{Script|Mand|ࡔ}} || {{Script|Mand|ـࡔ}} || style="background-color:#CCCCCC;" | || style="background-color:#CCCCCC;" | || {{Lang|syr|ܫ}} || š || ש || /ʃ/ || U+0854 ASH
|-
|-
| 22 || ta || {{huge|ࡕ}} || {{huge|ـࡕ}} || {{huge|ـࡕـ}} || {{huge|ࡕـ}} || t || ת || t || U+0855 AT
| 22 || ta || {{Script|Mand|ࡕ}} || {{Script|Mand|ـࡕ}} || {{Script|Mand|ـࡕـ}} || {{Script|Mand|ࡕـ}} || {{Lang|syr|ܬ}} || t || ת || /t/ || U+0855 AT
|-
|-
| 23 || ḏ ||{{huge|ࡖ}} || {{huge|&#x640;&#x0856;}} || style="background-color:#CCCCCC;" | || style="background-color:#CCCCCC;" | || ḏ- || ד̌ || ð || U+0856&nbsp;DUSHENNA
| 23 || ḏ || {{Script|Mand|ࡖ}} || {{Script|Mand|ـࡖ}} || style="background-color:#CCCCCC;" | || style="background-color:#CCCCCC;" | || {{Lang|syr|ܯ}} || ḏ- || דﬞ‎ || /ð/ || U+0856&nbsp;DUSHENNA
|}
|}


Line 91: Line 95:
A mark similar to an underscore ({{unichar|085A|MANDAIC VOCALIZATION MARK|cwith=◌}}) can be used to distinguish vowel quality for three Mandaic vowels. It is used in teaching materials but may be omitted from ordinary text.<ref name="L208270"/> It is only used with vowels ''a'', ''wa'', and ''ya''. Using the letter ''ba'' as an example:
A mark similar to an underscore ({{unichar|085A|MANDAIC VOCALIZATION MARK|cwith=◌}}) can be used to distinguish vowel quality for three Mandaic vowels. It is used in teaching materials but may be omitted from ordinary text.<ref name="L208270"/> It is only used with vowels ''a'', ''wa'', and ''ya''. Using the letter ''ba'' as an example:


* {{large|ࡁࡀ}} /bā/ becomes {{large|ࡁࡀ&#x085A;}} /ba/
* {{Script|Mand|ࡁࡀ}} /bā/ becomes {{Script|Mand|ࡁࡀ&#x085A;}} /ba/
* {{large|ࡁࡅ}} /bu/ becomes {{large|ࡁࡅ&#x085A;}} /bo/
* {{Script|Mand|ࡁࡅ}} /bu/ becomes {{Script|Mand|ࡁࡅ&#x085A;}} /bo/
* {{large|ࡁࡉ}} /bi/ becomes {{large|ࡁࡉ&#x085A;}} /be/
* {{Script|Mand|ࡁࡉ}} /bi/ becomes {{Script|Mand|ࡁࡉ&#x085A;}} /be/


===Gemination mark===
===Gemination mark===
A dot under a consonant ({{unichar|085B|MANDAIC GEMINATION MARK|cwith=◌}}) can be used to note [[gemination]], indicating what native writers call a "hard" pronunciation.<ref name="L208270"/>
A dot under a consonant ({{unichar|085B|MANDAIC GEMINATION MARK|cwith=◌}}) can be used to note [[gemination]], indicating what native writers call a "hard" pronunciation.<ref name="L208270"/>
Sample words include {{large|ࡀࡊ&#x085B;ࡀ}} (ekka) 'there is', {{large|ࡔࡉࡍ&#x085B;ࡀ}} (šenna) 'tooth', {{large|ࡋࡉࡁ&#x085B;ࡀ}} (lebba) 'heart', and {{large|ࡓࡁ&#x085B;ࡇ}} (rabba) 'great'.<ref name="L208270"/>
Sample words include {{Script|Mand|ࡀࡊ&#x085B;ࡀ}} (ekka) 'there is', {{Script|Mand|ࡔࡉࡍ&#x085B;ࡀ}} (šenna) 'tooth', {{Script|Mand|ࡋࡉࡁ&#x085B;ࡀ}} (lebba) 'heart', and {{Script|Mand|ࡓࡁ&#x085B;ࡀ}} (rabba) 'great'.<ref name="L208270"/>


===Ligatures===
===Ligatures===
The 23rd letter of the alphabet is the digraph ''adu'' (''da'' + ''ya''), the relative particle<ref name="TUSME"/><ref name="MandadaicDictionary"/> (cf. Arabic [[tāʾ marbūṭah]], [[Coptic language|Coptic]] letter "ti", and English [[Ampersand#Its Place in the Alphabet|ampersand]]).
The 23rd letter of the alphabet is the digraph ''adu'' (''da'' + ''ya''), the relative particle<ref name="TUSME"/><ref name="MandadaicDictionary"/> (cf. Arabic [[tāʾ marbūṭah]], [[Coptic language|Coptic]] letter "ti", and English [[Ampersand#Etymology|ampersand]]).


In addition to normal joining behavior, some Mandaic letters can combine to form various [[Typographic ligature|ligatures]]:<ref name="DBWWS"/><ref name="L208270">{{Cite web|url=https://www.unicode.org/L2/L2008/08270r-n3485r-mandaic.pdf|title=L2/08-270R: Proposal for encoding the Mandaic script in the BMP of the UCS|date=2008-08-04|first1=Michael|last1=Everson|authorlink1=Michael Everson|first2=Bob|last2=Richmond}}</ref>
In addition to normal joining behavior, some Mandaic letters can combine to form various [[Typographic ligature|ligatures]]:<ref name="DBWWS"/><ref name="L208270">{{Cite web|url=https://www.unicode.org/L2/L2008/08270r-n3485r-mandaic.pdf|title=L2/08-270R: Proposal for encoding the Mandaic script in the BMP of the UCS|date=2008-08-04|first1=Michael|last1=Everson|author-link1=Michael Everson|first2=Bob|last2=Richmond}}</ref>
* {{large|ࡊࡃ}} /kd/, {{large|ࡗ}} /kḏ/, {{large|ࡊࡉ}} /ki/, {{large|ࡊࡋ}} /kl/, {{large|ࡊࡓ}} /kr/, {{large|ࡊࡕ}} /kt/, and {{large|ࡊࡅ}} /ku/
* {{Script|Mand|ࡊࡃ}} /kd/, {{Script|Mand|ࡗ}} /kḏ/, {{Script|Mand|ࡊࡉ}} /ki/, {{Script|Mand|ࡊࡋ}} /kl/, {{Script|Mand|ࡊࡓ}} /kr/, {{Script|Mand|ࡊࡕ}} /kt/, and {{Script|Mand|ࡊࡅ}} /ku/
* {{large|ࡍࡃ}} /nd/, {{large|ࡍࡉ}} /ni/, {{large|ࡍࡌ}} /nm/, {{large|ࡍࡒ}} /nq/, {{large|ࡍࡕ}} /nt/, and {{large|ࡍࡅ}} /nu/
* {{Script|Mand|ࡍࡃ}} /nd/, {{Script|Mand|ࡍࡉ}} /ni/, {{Script|Mand|ࡍࡌ}} /nm/, {{Script|Mand|ࡍࡒ}} /nq/, {{Script|Mand|ࡍࡕ}} /nt/, and {{Script|Mand|ࡍࡅ}} /nu/
* {{large|ࡐࡋ}} /pl/, {{large|ࡐࡓ}} /pr/, and {{large|ࡐࡅ}} /pu/
* {{Script|Mand|ࡐࡋ}} /pl/, {{Script|Mand|ࡐࡓ}} /pr/, and {{Script|Mand|ࡐࡅ}} /pu/
* {{large|ࡑࡋ}} /ṣl/, {{large|ࡑࡓ}} /ṣr/, and {{large|ࡑࡅ}} /ṣu/
* {{Script|Mand|ࡑࡋ}} /sˤl/, {{Script|Mand|ࡑࡓ}} /sˤr/, and {{Script|Mand|ࡑࡅ}} /sˤu/
* {{large|ࡅࡕ}} /ut/
* {{Script|Mand|ࡅࡕ}} /ut/


Both ''adu'' ({{unichar|0856|MANDAIC LETTER DUSHENNA}}) and the old ligature kḏ ({{unichar|0857|MANDAIC LETTER KAD}}) are treated as single characters in Unicode.
Both ''adu'' ({{unichar|0856|MANDAIC LETTER DUSHENNA}}) and the old ligature kḏ ({{unichar|0857|MANDAIC LETTER KAD}}) are treated as single characters in Unicode.

===Similar characters===
Due to their similar shapes, certain Mandaic characters are sometimes confused with each other by both historical Mandaean scribes and modern scholars, particularly in handwritten manuscripts. These include the following.<ref name="Häberl 2022">{{cite book | last=Häberl | first=Charles | url=https://www.liverpooluniversitypress.co.uk/doi/book/10.3828/9781800856271 | title=The Book of Kings and the Explanations of This World: A Universal History from the Late Sasanian Empire | location=Liverpool | publisher=Liverpool University Press | date=2022 | isbn=978-1-80085-627-1 | pages=33-34}}</ref>
* {{Script|Mand|ࡃ}} /d/, {{Script|Mand|ࡓ}} /r/, {{Script|Mand|ࡏ}} /e/, {{Script|Mand|ࡒ}} /q/
* {{Script|Mand|ࡅ}} /u/, {{Script|Mand|ࡉ}} /i/
* {{Script|Mand|ࡌ}} /m/, {{Script|Mand|ࡕ}} /t/
* {{Script|Mand|ࡊ}} /k/, {{Script|Mand|ࡍ}} /n/, {{Script|Mand|ࡐ}} /p/
* {{Script|Mand|ࡐࡀ}} /pa/, {{Script|Mand|ࡀࡍࡀ}} /ana/, {{Script|Mand|ࡔ}} /ʃ/
* {{Script|Mand|ࡑ}} /sˤ/, {{Script|Mand|ࡄࡍ}} /hn/


==Extensions==
==Extensions==
Line 115: Line 128:


Postclassical and modern Mandaic use many [[Persian language|Persian]] words. Various Mandaic letters can be re-purposed by placing two horizontally-aligned dots underneath ({{unichar|0859|MANDAIC AFFRICATION MARK|cwith=◌}}). This idea is comparable to the four [[Persian alphabet#Novel letters|novel letters in the Persian alphabet]], allowing the alphabet to be used to represent foreign sounds (whether [[Affricate consonant#Affrication|affrication]], [[lenition]], or another sound):<ref name="L208270"/>
Postclassical and modern Mandaic use many [[Persian language|Persian]] words. Various Mandaic letters can be re-purposed by placing two horizontally-aligned dots underneath ({{unichar|0859|MANDAIC AFFRICATION MARK|cwith=◌}}). This idea is comparable to the four [[Persian alphabet#Novel letters|novel letters in the Persian alphabet]], allowing the alphabet to be used to represent foreign sounds (whether [[Affricate consonant#Affrication|affrication]], [[lenition]], or another sound):<ref name="L208270"/>
* {{large|ࡂ}} /g/ becomes {{large|ࡂ&#x0859;}} /γ/
* {{Script|Mand|ࡂ}} /g/ becomes {{Script|Mand|ࡂ&#x0859;}} /ɣ/
* {{large|ࡃ}} /d/ becomes {{large|ࡃ&#x0859;}} /δ/
* {{Script|Mand|ࡃ}} /d/ becomes {{Script|Mand|ࡃ&#x0859;}} /ð/
* {{large|ࡄ}} /h/ becomes {{large|ࡄ&#x0859;}} /ḥ/
* {{Script|Mand|ࡄ}} /h/ becomes {{Script|Mand|ࡄ&#x0859;}} /ħ/
* {{large|ࡈ}} /ṭ/ becomes {{large|ࡈ&#x0859;}} /ẓ/
* {{Script|Mand|ࡈ}} /tˤ/ becomes {{Script|Mand|ࡈ&#x0859;}} /ðˤ/
* {{large|ࡊ}} /k/ becomes {{large|ࡊ&#x0859;}} /χ/
* {{Script|Mand|ࡊ}} /k/ becomes {{Script|Mand|ࡊ&#x0859;}} /x/
* {{large|ࡐ}} /p/ becomes {{large|ࡐ&#x0859;}} /f/
* {{Script|Mand|ࡐ}} /p/ becomes {{Script|Mand|ࡐ&#x0859;}} /f/
* {{large|ࡑ}} /ṣ/ becomes {{large|ࡑ&#x0859;}} /ž/
* {{Script|Mand|ࡑ}} /ṣ/ becomes {{Script|Mand|ࡑ&#x0859;}} /ʒ/
* {{large|ࡔ}} /š/ becomes {{large|ࡔ&#x0859;}} /č/, /ǰ/
* {{Script|Mand|ࡔ}} /ʃ/ becomes {{Script|Mand|ࡔ&#x0859;}} /tʃ/, /dʒ/
* {{large|ࡕ}} /t/ becomes {{large|ࡕ&#x0859;}} /θ/
* {{Script|Mand|ࡕ}} /t/ becomes {{Script|Mand|ࡕ&#x0859;}} /θ/


===Ayin===
===Ayin===


Mandaic [[ayin]] ( ࡘ ) is borrowed from Arabic ayin ({{large|ع}}).<ref name="TUSME"/> Unlike in Arabic, Mandaic ayin does not join with other letters.<ref name="L208270"/>
Mandaic [[ayin]] ({{Script|Mand|&#x0858;}}) is borrowed from Arabic ayin ({{Script|Arab|ع}}).<ref name="TUSME"/> Unlike in Arabic, Mandaic ayin does not join with other letters.<ref name="L208270"/>


==Punctuation and other marks==
==Punctuation and other marks==
Line 135: Line 148:
A horizontal low line ({{unichar|0640|ARABIC TATWEEL}}) can be used to [[Typographic alignment#Justified|justify]] text.<ref name="TUSME"/>
A horizontal low line ({{unichar|0640|ARABIC TATWEEL}}) can be used to [[Typographic alignment#Justified|justify]] text.<ref name="TUSME"/>


==Magical and religious use==
==Religious use==
{{main|Mandaeism}}
{{main|Mandaeism}}
Each letter of the Mandaic alphabet is said to represent a power of life and light.<ref name="Mandaeans1937"/>
Each letter of the Mandaic alphabet is said to represent a power of life and light.<ref name="Mandaeans1937"/>
Mandaeans view their alphabet as magical and sacred.<ref name="Mandaeans1937"/><ref name="TUSME"/>
Mandaeans view their alphabet as magical and sacred.<ref name="Mandaeans1937"/><ref name="TUSME"/>


[[Acrostic]] hymns can be found in [[Mandaic literature]], for example in Book 12 of the ''[[Right Ginza]]''.<ref name="GR Gelbert">{{cite book |url=https://livingwaterbooks.com.au/product/ginza-rba/ |last1=Gelbert |first1=Carlos |title=Ginza Rba |year=2011 |publisher=Living Water Books |location=Sydney |isbn=9780958034630}}</ref>
⚫
The Semitic alphabet contains 22 letters. In order to bring this number to 24, the number of hours in a day, ''adu'' was added and ''a'' was repeated as the last letter of the Mandaic alphabet.<ref name="MandadaicHandbook"/><ref name="Mandaeans1937"/> Without this repetition the alphabet would be considered incomplete for magical purposes.<ref name="MandadaicHandbook"/>

⚫
The Semitic alphabet contains 22 letters. In order to bring this number to 24, the number of hours in a day, ''adu'' was added and ''a'' was repeated as the last letter of the Mandaic alphabet.<ref name="MandadaicHandbook"/><ref name="Mandaeans1937"/> Without this repetition, the alphabet would be considered incomplete for magical purposes.<ref name="MandadaicHandbook"/>


==Unicode==
==Unicode==
Line 164: Line 179:
File:Phoenician.png|Comparison chart from [[Encyclopédie|L'Encyclopedie Diderot & d'Alembert]], volume 2
File:Phoenician.png|Comparison chart from [[Encyclopédie|L'Encyclopedie Diderot & d'Alembert]], volume 2
</gallery>
</gallery>

== See also ==
* [[Syriac alphabet]]


== References ==
== References ==
Line 170: Line 188:
==External links==
==External links==
{{commonscat|Mandaic script}}
{{commonscat|Mandaic script}}
*[http://www.mandaic.org/ Mandaic.org: Mandaic and Neo-Mandaic Texts and Resources] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181104071635/http://www.mandaic.org/ |date=2018-11-04 }}
*[https://www.endangeredalphabets.net/alphabets/mandaic/ Mandaic - Atlas of Endangered Alphabets]
*[http://www.mandaic.org/ Mandaic.org: Mandaic and Neo-Mandaic Texts and Resources]
*[https://fonts.google.com/noto/specimen/Noto+Sans+Mandaic Noto Sans Mandaic] from Google Fonts
*[https://mandaeannetwork.com/Mandaean/mandaean_Mandaic_font_and__Users_Manual_Manda_Mandaic_Unicode_Consortium_download.html Mandaic Regular Font] from the Mandaean Network
*[https://keyman.com/keyboards/mandaic_phonetic Mandaic phonetic keyboard] from SIL Keyman
*[https://mandaic.com/ Mandaic keyboard]


{{list of writing systems}}
{{list of writing systems}}
{{Mandaeism footer}}


[[Category:Aramaic alphabet]]
[[Category:Aramaic alphabet]]
⚫
[[Category:Mandaeism]]
[[Category:Abjad writing systems]]
[[Category:Abjad writing systems]]
[[Category:Scripts encoded in Unicode]]
[[Category:Right-to-left writing systems]]
⚫
[[Category:Mandaic language]]

Latest revision as of 13:25, 14 April 2024

Mandaic
Script type
Alphabet
Time period
2nd century AD — present
DirectionRight-to-left script Edit this on Wikidata
LanguagesClassical Mandaic
Neo-Mandaic
Related scripts
Parent systems
ISO 15924
ISO 15924Mand (140), ​Mandaic, Mandaean
Unicode
Unicode alias
Mandaic
U+0840–U+085F
 This article contains phonetic transcriptions in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). For an introductory guide on IPA symbols, see Help:IPA. For the distinction between [ ], / / and ⟨ ⟩, see IPA § Brackets and transcription delimiters.
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You may need rendering support to display the uncommon Unicode characters in this article correctly.

The Mandaic alphabet is a writing system primarily used to write the Mandaic language. It is thought to have evolved between the second and seventh century CE from either a cursive form of Aramaic (as did Syriac) or from Inscriptional Parthian.[1][2] The exact roots of the script are difficult to determine.[3] It was developed by members of the Mandaean faith of Lower Mesopotamia to write the Mandaic language for liturgical purposes.[1] Classical Mandaic and its descendant Neo-Mandaic are still in limited use.[1] The script has changed very little over centuries of use.[3][1]

The Mandaic name for the script is Abagada or Abaga, after the first letters of the alphabet. Rather than the traditional Semitic letter names (aleph, beth, gimel), they are known as a, ba, ga and so on.[4]

It is written from right to left in horizontal lines. It is a cursive script, but not all letters connect within a word. Spaces separate individual words.

During the past few decades, Majid Fandi al-Mubaraki, a Mandaean living in Australia, has digitized many Mandaean texts using typeset Mandaic script.[5]

Letters

[edit]
Mandaic alphabet chart

The Mandaic alphabet contains 22 letters (in the same order as the Aramaic alphabet) and the digraph adu. The alphabet is formally closed by repeating the first letter, a, so that it has a symbolic count of 24 letters:[6][7]

Mandaic alphabet[8]
# Name[3] Letter Joining behavior Transliteration IPA[3] Unicode
code point
Right Medial Left Syriac Latin[3] Hebrew[6]
1, 24 a ࡀ‎ ـࡀ‎ ܐ a א /a/ U+0840 HALQA
2 ba ࡁ‎ ـࡁ‎ ـࡁـ‎ ࡁـ‎ ܒ b ב /b/ U+0841 AB
3 ga ࡂ‎ ـࡂ‎ ـࡂـ‎ ࡂـ‎ ܓ g ג /ɡ/ U+0842 AG
4 da ࡃ‎ ـࡃ‎ ـࡃـ‎ ࡃـ‎ ܕ d ד /d/ U+0843 AD
5 ha ࡄ‎ ـࡄ‎ ـࡄـ‎ ࡄـ‎ ܗ h ה /h/ U+0844 AH
6 wa ࡅ‎ ـࡅ‎ ـࡅـ‎ ࡅـ‎ ܘ u ו /u, w/ U+0845 USHENNA
7 za ࡆ‎ ـࡆ‎ ܙ z ז /z/ U+0846 AZ
8 eh ࡇ‎ ـࡇ‎ ܚ -ẖ ח /χ/ U+0847 IT
9 ṭa ࡈ‎ ـࡈ‎ ـࡈـ‎ ࡈـ‎ ܛ ṭ ט /tˠ/ U+0848 ATT
10 ya ࡉ‎ ـࡉ‎ ܝ i י /i, j/ U+0849 AKSA
11 ka ࡊ‎ ـࡊ‎ ـࡊـ‎ ࡊـ‎ ܟ k כ /k/ U+084A AK
12 la ࡋ‎ ـࡋ‎ ـࡋـ‎ ࡋـ‎ ܠ l ל /l/ U+084B AL
13 ma ࡌ‎ ـࡌ‎ ـࡌـ‎ ࡌـ‎ ܡ m מ /m/ U+084C AM
14 na ࡍ‎ ـࡍ‎ ـࡍـ‎ ࡍـ‎ ܢ n נ /n/ U+084D AN
15 sa ࡎ‎ ـࡎ‎ ـࡎـ‎ ࡎـ‎ ܣ s ס /s/ U+084E AS
16 e ࡏ‎ ـࡏ‎ ـࡏـ‎ ࡏـ‎ ܥ ʿ ע /e/ U+084F IN
17 pa ࡐ‎ ـࡐ‎ ـࡐـ‎ ࡐـ‎ ܦ p פ /p/ U+0850 AP
18 ṣa ࡑ‎ ـࡑ‎ ـࡑـ‎ ࡑـ‎ ܨ ṣ צ /sˠ/ U+0851 ASZ
19 qa ࡒ‎ ـࡒ‎ ـࡒـ‎ ࡒـ‎ ܩ q ק /q/ U+0852 AQ
20 ra ࡓ‎ ـࡓ‎ ـࡓـ‎ ࡓـ‎ ܪ r ר /r/ U+0853 AR
21 ša ࡔ‎ ـࡔ‎ ܫ š ש /ʃ/ U+0854 ASH
22 ta ࡕ‎ ـࡕ‎ ـࡕـ‎ ࡕـ‎ ܬ t ת /t/ U+0855 AT
23 ḏ ࡖ‎ ـࡖ‎ ܯ ḏ- דﬞ‎ /ð/ U+0856 DUSHENNA

Vowels

[edit]

Unlike most other Semitic alphabets, vowels are usually written out in full. The first letter, a (corresponding to alaph), is used to represent a range of open vowels. The sixth letter, wa, is used for close back vowels (u and o), and the tenth letter, ya is used for close front vowels (i and e). These last two can also serve as the consonants w/v and y. The eighth letter corresponds to the Semitic heth, and is called eh; it is pronounced as a long i-vowel but is used only as a suffix for the third person singular.[7] The sixteenth letter, e (Aramaic ayn), usually represents e at the beginning of a word or, when followed by wa or ya, represents initial u or i respectively.

A mark similar to an underscore (U+085A ◌࡚ MANDAIC VOCALIZATION MARK) can be used to distinguish vowel quality for three Mandaic vowels. It is used in teaching materials but may be omitted from ordinary text.[9] It is only used with vowels a, wa, and ya. Using the letter ba as an example:

  • ࡁࡀ‎ /bā/ becomes ࡁࡀ࡚‎ /ba/
  • ࡁࡅ‎ /bu/ becomes ࡁࡅ࡚‎ /bo/
  • ࡁࡉ‎ /bi/ becomes ࡁࡉ࡚‎ /be/

Gemination mark

[edit]

A dot under a consonant (U+085B ◌࡛ MANDAIC GEMINATION MARK) can be used to note gemination, indicating what native writers call a "hard" pronunciation.[9] Sample words include ࡀࡊ࡛ࡀ‎ (ekka) 'there is', ࡔࡉࡍ࡛ࡀ‎ (šenna) 'tooth', ࡋࡉࡁ࡛ࡀ‎ (lebba) 'heart', and ࡓࡁ࡛ࡀ‎ (rabba) 'great'.[9]

Ligatures

[edit]

The 23rd letter of the alphabet is the digraph adu (da + ya), the relative particle[1][6] (cf. Arabic tāʾ marbūṭah, Coptic letter "ti", and English ampersand).

In addition to normal joining behavior, some Mandaic letters can combine to form various ligatures:[3][9]

  • ࡊࡃ‎ /kd/, ࡗ‎ /kḏ/, ࡊࡉ‎ /ki/, ࡊࡋ‎ /kl/, ࡊࡓ‎ /kr/, ࡊࡕ‎ /kt/, and ࡊࡅ‎ /ku/
  • ࡍࡃ‎ /nd/, ࡍࡉ‎ /ni/, ࡍࡌ‎ /nm/, ࡍࡒ‎ /nq/, ࡍࡕ‎ /nt/, and ࡍࡅ‎ /nu/
  • ࡐࡋ‎ /pl/, ࡐࡓ‎ /pr/, and ࡐࡅ‎ /pu/
  • ࡑࡋ‎ /sˤl/, ࡑࡓ‎ /sˤr/, and ࡑࡅ‎ /sˤu/
  • ࡅࡕ‎ /ut/

Both adu (U+0856 ࡖ MANDAIC LETTER DUSHENNA) and the old ligature kḏ (U+0857 ࡗ MANDAIC LETTER KAD) are treated as single characters in Unicode.

Similar characters

[edit]

Due to their similar shapes, certain Mandaic characters are sometimes confused with each other by both historical Mandaean scribes and modern scholars, particularly in handwritten manuscripts. These include the following.[10]

  • ࡃ‎ /d/, ࡓ‎ /r/, ࡏ‎ /e/, ࡒ‎ /q/
  • ࡅ‎ /u/, ࡉ‎ /i/
  • ࡌ‎ /m/, ࡕ‎ /t/
  • ࡊ‎ /k/, ࡍ‎ /n/, ࡐ‎ /p/
  • ࡐࡀ‎ /pa/, ࡀࡍࡀ‎ /ana/, ࡔ‎ /ʃ/
  • ࡑ‎ /sˤ/, ࡄࡍ‎ /hn/

Extensions

[edit]

Affrication mark

[edit]

Postclassical and modern Mandaic use many Persian words. Various Mandaic letters can be re-purposed by placing two horizontally-aligned dots underneath (U+0859 ◌࡙ MANDAIC AFFRICATION MARK). This idea is comparable to the four novel letters in the Persian alphabet, allowing the alphabet to be used to represent foreign sounds (whether affrication, lenition, or another sound):[9]

  • ࡂ‎ /g/ becomes ࡂ࡙‎ /ɣ/
  • ࡃ‎ /d/ becomes ࡃ࡙‎ /ð/
  • ࡄ‎ /h/ becomes ࡄ࡙‎ /ħ/
  • ࡈ‎ /tˤ/ becomes ࡈ࡙‎ /ðˤ/
  • ࡊ‎ /k/ becomes ࡊ࡙‎ /x/
  • ࡐ‎ /p/ becomes ࡐ࡙‎ /f/
  • ࡑ‎ /ṣ/ becomes ࡑ࡙‎ /ʒ/
  • ࡔ‎ /ʃ/ becomes ࡔ࡙‎ /tʃ/, /dʒ/
  • ࡕ‎ /t/ becomes ࡕ࡙‎ /θ/

Ayin

[edit]

Mandaic ayin (ࡘ‎) is borrowed from Arabic ayin (ع‎).[1] Unlike in Arabic, Mandaic ayin does not join with other letters.[9]

Punctuation and other marks

[edit]

Punctuation is sparsely used in Mandaic text.[9] A break in text can be indicated by two concentric circles (U+085E ࡞ MANDAIC PUNCTUATION).[1]

A horizontal low line (U+0640 ـ ARABIC TATWEEL) can be used to justify text.[1]

Religious use

[edit]
Main article: Mandaeism

Each letter of the Mandaic alphabet is said to represent a power of life and light.[7] Mandaeans view their alphabet as magical and sacred.[7][1]

Acrostic hymns can be found in Mandaic literature, for example in Book 12 of the Right Ginza.[11]

The Semitic alphabet contains 22 letters. In order to bring this number to 24, the number of hours in a day, adu was added and a was repeated as the last letter of the Mandaic alphabet.[4][7] Without this repetition, the alphabet would be considered incomplete for magical purposes.[4]

Unicode

[edit]
Main article: Mandaic (Unicode block)

The Mandaic alphabet was added to the Unicode Standard in October, 2010 with the release of version 6.0.

The Unicode block for Mandaic is U+0840–U+085F:

Mandaic[1][2]
Official Unicode Consortium code chart (PDF)
  0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 A B C D E F
U+084x ࡀ‎ ࡁ‎ ࡂ‎ ࡃ‎ ࡄ‎ ࡅ‎ ࡆ‎ ࡇ‎ ࡈ‎ ࡉ‎ ࡊ‎ ࡋ‎ ࡌ‎ ࡍ‎ ࡎ‎ ࡏ‎
U+085x ࡐ‎ ࡑ‎ ࡒ‎ ࡓ‎ ࡔ‎ ࡕ‎ ࡖ‎ ࡗ‎ ࡘ‎ ࡙‎ ࡚‎ ࡛‎ ࡞‎
Notes
1.^ As of Unicode version 15.1
2.^ Grey areas indicate non-assigned code points
[edit]
  • Bowl with incantation for Buktuya and household, c. 200-600 CE (Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, Canada)
    Bowl with incantation for Buktuya and household, c. 200-600 CE (Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, Canada)
  • Bowl with incantation for Kuktan Pruk during her pregnancy, c. 200-600 CE (Royal Ontario Museum)
    Bowl with incantation for Kuktan Pruk during her pregnancy, c. 200-600 CE (Royal Ontario Museum)
  • Bowl with incantation to protect Anush Busai and his family against bad luck, c. 200-600 CE (Royal Ontario Museum)
    Bowl with incantation to protect Anush Busai and his family against bad luck, c. 200-600 CE (Royal Ontario Museum)
  • Mandaic chart from Das Buch der Schrift (Book of Writing Systems), 1880, Carl Faulmann
    Mandaic chart from Das Buch der Schrift (Book of Writing Systems), 1880, Carl Faulmann
  • Page 314 of Illustrirte Geschichte Der Schrift (Illustrated History of Writing), 1880, Carl Faulmann
    Page 314 of Illustrirte Geschichte Der Schrift (Illustrated History of Writing), 1880, Carl Faulmann
  • Page 315 of Illustrirte Geschichte Der Schrift
    Page 315 of Illustrirte Geschichte Der Schrift
  • Page 316 of Illustrirte Geschichte Der Schrift
    Page 316 of Illustrirte Geschichte Der Schrift
  • Comparison chart from Illustrirte Geschichte Der Schrift
    Comparison chart from Illustrirte Geschichte Der Schrift
  • Comparison chart from L'Encyclopedie Diderot & d'Alembert, volume 2
    Comparison chart from L'Encyclopedie Diderot & d'Alembert, volume 2

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Chapter 9: Middle East-I, Modern and Liturgical Scripts". The Unicode Standard, Version 10.0 (PDF). Mountain View, CA: Unicode, Inc. June 2017. ISBN 978-1-936213-16-0.
  2. ^ Häberl, Charles G. (February 2006). "Iranian Scripts for Aramaic Languages: The Origin of the Mandaic Script". Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research (341): 53–62. doi:10.7282/T37D2SGZ.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Daniels, Peter T.; Bright, William, eds. (1996). The World's Writing Systems. Oxford University Press, Inc. pp. 511–513. ISBN 978-0195079937.
  4. ^ a b c Macúch, Rudolf (1965). Handbook of Classical and Modern Mandaic. Berlin: De Gruyter. pp. 7–26.
  5. ^ Mandaean Network.
  6. ^ a b c Drower, Ethel Stefana; Macúch, Rudolf (1963). A Mandaic Dictionary. London: Clarendon Press. pp. 1, 491.
  7. ^ a b c d e Drower, Ethel Stefana (1937). The Mandaeans of Iraq and Iran: Their Cults, Customs, Magic, Legends, and Folklore. Oxford: Clarendon Press. pp. 240–243.
  8. ^ This table can be viewed correctly using Firefox and the font Noto Sans Mandaic.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g Everson, Michael; Richmond, Bob (2008-08-04). "L2/08-270R: Proposal for encoding the Mandaic script in the BMP of the UCS" (PDF).
  10. ^ Häberl, Charles (2022). The Book of Kings and the Explanations of This World: A Universal History from the Late Sasanian Empire. Liverpool: Liverpool University Press. pp. 33–34. ISBN 978-1-80085-627-1.
  11. ^ Gelbert, Carlos (2011). Ginza Rba. Sydney: Living Water Books. ISBN 9780958034630.
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