The Burmese alphabet was derived from the Pyu script, the Old Mon script, or directly from a South Indian script, either the Kadamba or Pallava alphabet. There are several systems of transliteration into the Latin alphabet for this article, the MLC Transcription System is used.Īlphabet History A Pali manuscript of the Buddhist text Mahaniddesa showing three different styles of the Burmese alphabet, (top) medium square, (centre) round and (bottom) outline round in red lacquer from the inside of one of the gilded covers
In recent decades, other, related alphabets, such as Shan and modern Mon, have been restructured according to the standard of the Burmese alphabet (see Mon–Burmese script.)īurmese is written from left to right and requires no spaces between words, although modern writing usually contains spaces after each clause to enhance readability and to avoid grammar complications. The Burmese alphabet is also used for the liturgical languages of Pali and Sanskrit.
It is ultimately adapted from a Brahmic script, either the Kadamba or Pallava alphabet of South India. The Burmese alphabet ( Burmese: မြန်မာအက္ခရာ myanma akkha.ya, pronounced ) is an abugida used for writing Burmese.
