Writing systems of Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia uses various non-Latin-based writing systems. The writing systems below are listed by language family.

Austroasiatic languages

• Khmer script (for Khmer language)
• Khom script (for Bahnaric languages)
• Chữ Nôm (historical writing for Vietnamese language)

Austronesian languages

Most Austronesian languages use Latin script today. Some non-Latin-based writing systems are listed below.

• Jawi alphabet (for Malay and a number of other languages)
• Cham script (for Cham language)
• Eskayan script (for Eskayan language)
• Kawi script (used across Maritime Southeast Asia)
  • Balinese script
  • Batak script
  • Baybayin
    • Buhid script
    • Hanunó'o script
    • Kulitan alphabet (for Kapampangan language)
    • Tagbanwa script
  • Javanese script
  • Lontara script
  • Makasar script
  • Old Sundanese script
    • Sundanese script
  • Rejang script
  • Rencong script
  • Buda script
  • Gangga Melayu

Hmong-Mien languages

• Romanized Popular Alphabet (Hmong RPA)
• Pollard script
• Pahawh Hmong
• Nyiakeng Puachue Hmong
• Eebee Hmong

Kra-Dai languages

Many Southwestern Tai languages are written using Brāhmī-derived alphabets. Zhuang languages were traditionally written with Chinese characters, but are now usually written with romanized alphabets.

• Thai script
• Lao script
• Sawndip
• Shan script
• Tai Viet script
• Tai Le script
• New Tai Lue alphabet
• Tai Tham script
• Tai Yo script

Tibeto-Burman languages

• Burmese alphabet
  • S'gaw Karen alphabet
• Ersu Shaba
• Kayah Li alphabet
• Fraser alphabet (used to write the Lisu language)
• Naxi script
  • Geba syllabary
  • Dongba symbols
• Zomi script
• Tangut script
• Tibetan script
• Tujia script
• Yi script

See also

• Classification schemes for Southeast Asian languages
• Writing systems of Africa

References