<div dir="ltr">Dear Linganth Community:<div><br></div><div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:rgb(29,33,41);letter-spacing:-0.2pt">The other day
someone asked me, "So which alphabets *are* endangered? Do you have a
list?" Which stopped me in my tracks because I know which alphabets I've
carved, and which I know I'd like to carve, but as far as I know there's no
catalogue of endangered writing systems. So we should create one.</span><br></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="color:rgb(29,33,41);letter-spacing:-0.2pt">I say "we" because I'm constantly
reminded how little I know, and how this field is changing and the definitions
are flexible. I'd like to offer two things: a first-draft list of endangered
writing systems for you all to add to, edit, or subtract from; and a
first-draft definition of "endangered." Both are pretty volatile
subjects, so let's head into this in a spirit of collaboration!<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I guess we should start with the definition, though this may
in fact be the more difficult of the two. The way I think of an endangered
writing system, it includes at least some of these qualities:<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst">1.<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman"">
</span>Originally created/developed/adapted for general
use, not only for the purposes of fiction/film/TV<span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">2.<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman"">
</span>Once in general use by at least a significant
minority of the population<span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">3.<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman"">
</span>Not extinct—that is, still in use by some
percentage of the population, even if only in a specialized context (such as
for spiritual/sacred purposes)<span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">4.<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman"">
</span>No longer generally taught in schools<span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">5.<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman"">
</span>Lacking official status in the eyes of the
government<span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">6.<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman"">
</span>Facing a clear and present danger from some
cultural, military, political or economic threat that has the capacity to
marginalize it within two generations<span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">7.<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman"">
</span>Having certain distinct qualities that make it
different from other members of the same language family<span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpLast"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Please by all means suggest edits!<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Now here’s my list of endangered alphabets, derived largely
from Omniglot, though I must stress I know very little about many of these
languages/writing systems, and I’m sure there are others I don’t know. That’s
why I’m reaching out to you! <span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Ahom<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Arakanese<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Assyrian/Neo-Aramaic<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Bagatha<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Balinese<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Bamum/Shupamom<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Bassa Vah<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Batak<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Bats<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Baybayin<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Berber/Tifinagh/Tamazight<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Bilang-Bilang<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Bugis/Lontara<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Buhid<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Chakma<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Cham (Eastern and Western)<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Cherokee<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Chu-Nom<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Cree<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Dene Syllabics (Carrier)<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Eskayan<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Glagolitic<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Grantha<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hanuno’o<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Inuktitut<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Javanese<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Kalmyk<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Kawi<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Khojki <span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Kpelle<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Kulitan<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Lampung<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Lanna (Northern Thai)<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">(Loma)<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Makasar<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Maldivian/Thaana<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Manchu<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mandaic<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Manipuri<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Marma<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">(Mende/Kikakui)<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mongolian<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mro<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Naxi/Dongba<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">New Tai Lue<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">N’Ko<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Nushu<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Pauauh Hmong<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Rejang/Bengkulu/Satera
Jontal/Lembak/Lintang/Lebong/Serawai/Kaganga<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Samaritan<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sorang Sompeng<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sui<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sundanese<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sylheti/Syloti-Nagri<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Syriac<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Tai Dam<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Vai<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Wolof/Garay<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Yi<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Thanks!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span>Tim Brookes</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><a href="http://www.endangeredalphabets.com">www.endangeredalphabets.com</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span>Champlain College </span></p>
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