Hakugana (伯仮字)

Hakugana (伯仮字, "Provisional Noble Script") is a phonetic writing system descended from the older Hakuji tradition. It was developed during the early Daikan'in period, as part of an effort by High Elven scholars to create a simplified syllabary to phonetically transcribe High Elven.   Though the original syllabary was unpopular among High Elves—who saw it as a vulgarization of the sacred Ryūji—it found enthusiastic adoption among:
  • Low Elves
  • Non-elven peoples
  • Subjects throughout the High Elven frontier
  As usage spread across different language groups, the syllabary gradually evolved into an abjad—a system focused on consonants. Eventually, vowel letters were reintroduced to accommodate languages with more complex vocalic systems, particularly those with triconsonantal roots, such as the languages of the Ināši peoples.   Example: The Ināši root JRD (Jhurd) is rendered in Hakugana as ヂラダ (gloss: Jirada), which became the High Elven and broader exonym for the region.   Modern Usage Hakugana is currently used to write:
  1. Low Elven vernaculars
  2. Languages of the Ināši and related triconsonantal systems
  3. Various indigenous and subject peoples within the High Elven sphere
  It is the most flexible and widely-used non-logographic script under High Elven influence.   ---   Phonetic Chart  
IPAGlossHakugana
mma
nna
ŋn
ppu
bbu
tta
dda
kka
ɡga
qku
ʔho
ssa
tssu
zza
ze
ʃji
chi
ʒki
chi-dakuten
ʂshi
ɕse
ffu
vwi
θte
ðde
xhi
ɣke
ħba
ʕho
hha
jya
rra
ɭru
aa
ii
uu
ee
oo
ähe
ïyu
üvo
ëbe
öyo
ʍwe
Root Languages