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Sundanese script

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An ancient Sundanese manuscript written on lontar leaf, showcasing traditional script and heritage.

Sundanese Script

The Sundanese script is a special way of writing used by the Sundanese people. It helps them write their own language, called the Sundanese language. This script is very old and beautiful.

The Sundanese script comes from an older form called the Old Sundanese script. People used this older script from the 1300s to the 1700s. It shows how clever the Sundanese people have been for many years.

The Sundanese script has many letters and special marks. It has 32 basic characters: seven vowels, 23 consonants, and thirteen special marks called rarangkén. It also includes numbers from zero to nine.

People in West Java decided to make this script official in 1996. In 1997, they chose the Old Sundanese script and named it Aksara Sunda. Now, many people learn and use this lovely way of writing.

The Sundanese script was added to a special computer system called Unicode in 2008. This makes it easier for people to use it on computers and phones today.

Images

Different writing styles from languages across Indonesia showing the same sound.
A diagram showing the meaning of the Ciamis Sundanese word "kanjat," which means "to be able."
The opening page of an ancient manuscript written in the Old Sundanese language, showcasing historical script and calligraphy.
A Sundanese letter 'Sa' from the Sundanese script alphabet.
Basic consonants letters of Sundanese script. New Latin-derived consonants (Xa, Za, Va, etc) not included.

Related articles

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Sundanese script, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Images from Wikimedia Commons. Tap any image to view credits and license.