Nepalese scripts

This article is about the script used to write Nepal Bhasa. For the script used to write Nepali language, see Devanagari.
Newari scripts
Script type
DirectionLeft-to-right Edit this on Wikidata
RegionNepal and India
LanguagesNepal Bhasa
Related scripts
Parent systems
Child systems
Ranjana, Bhujimol, Pracalit
 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.
Brahmic scripts
The Brahmi script and its descendants
Northern Brahmic
Southern Brahmic

Newari scripts (Nepal Lipi: 𑐣𑐾𑐥𑐵𑐮 𑐁𑐏𑐮, Devanagari: नेपाल आखल) are a family of alphabetic writing systems employed historically in Nepal Mandala by the indigenous Newar people for primarily writing Nepal Bhasa. It is also used for transcribing Sanskrit and Pali.[2] There are also some claims they have also been used to write the Parbatiya (Khas) language[3][dubious – discuss].

These scripts were in widespread use from the 10th to the early 20th-century, but have since been largely supplanted by the modern script known as Devanagari. Of the older scripts, about 50,000 manuscripts written in Nepal Lipi have been archived.[4]

  1. ^ Masica, Colin (1993). The Indo-Aryan languages. p. 143.
  2. ^ Tuladhar, Prem Shanti (2000). Nepal Bhasa Sahityaya Itihas: The History of Nepalbhasa Literature. Kathmandu: Nepal Bhasa Academy. ISBN 99933-56-00-X. Page 306.
  3. ^ Lienhard, Siegfried (1984). Songs of Nepal. Hawaii: Center for Asian and Pacific Studies, University of Hawaii, University of Hawaii Press. pp. 2, 14. ISBN 0-8248-0680-8. Retrieved 30 September 2013.
  4. ^ Nepal-German Manuscript Cataloguing Project