Pallava script

**Pallava script**
Pallava script;
	'Pallava' in Pallava script
Script type	Abugida
Time period	4th century CE to 8th century CE
Direction	Left-to-right
Languages	Tamil,Old Khmer,Old Malay,Burmese,Thai,Sri Lankan Sinhala,Lao,Mon,Balinese,etc.
Related scripts
Parent systems	Egyptian hieroglyphs Proto-Sinaitic Pheonician Aramaic Brahmi Tamil-Brahmi Pallava script; ; ; ; ; ;
Child systems	Tamil,Grantha,Mon-Burmese,Khmer,Cham,Kawi
Sister systems	Vatteluttu
	This article containsphonetic transcriptionsin theInternational Phonetic Alphabet(IPA).For an introductory guide on IPA symbols, seeHelp:IPA.For the distinction between[ ],/ /and ⟨⟩, seeIPA § Brackets and transcription delimiters.

ThePallava scriptorPallava Granthais aBrahmic scriptnamed after thePallava dynastyofSouthern India(Tamilakam) and is attested to since the 4th century CE. In India, the Pallava script evolved fromTamil-Brahmi.^[2]TheGrantha scriptoriginated from the Pallava script.^[3]Pallava alsospread to Southeast Asiaand evolved into scripts such asBalinese,^[4]Baybayin,^[5]Javanese,^[6]Kawi,^[7]Khmer,^[8]Lanna,^[9]Lao,^[10]Mon–Burmese,^[11]New Tai Lue,^[12]Sundanese,^[13]andThai.^[14]

Epigrapher Arlo Griffiths argues that the name of the script is misleading as not all of the relevant scripts referred to have a connection with the Pallava dynasty. He instead advocates that these scripts be calledLate Southern Brāhmīscripts.^[1]

History

During the rule ofPallavas,the script accompanied priests, monks, scholars, and traders intoSoutheast Asia.Pallavas developed the Pallava script based on theTamil-Brahmi.The main characteristics of the newer script are aesthetically matched and fuller consonant glyphs. Similar to Pallava script, also visible in the writing systems of Chalukya,^[15]Kadamba, and Vengi at the time of Ikshvakus. Brahmi's design was slightly different from the scripts of Cholas, Pandyas, and Cheras. Pallava script was the first significant development of Brahmi in India, combining rounded and rectangular strokes and adding typographical effects, and was suitable for civic and religious inscriptions.Kadamba-Pallava script^[16]evolved into early forms ofKannada and Telugu scripts.Glyphs become more rounded and incorporate loops because of writing upon leaves and paper.^[16]

The script is not yet a part ofUnicodebut proposals have been made to include it. In 2018, Anshuman Pandey made a proposal.^[17]

Characteristics

The form shown here is based on examples from the 7th century CE. Letters labeled * have uncertain sound value, as they have little occurrence in Southeast Asia.

Consonants

Each consonant has an inherent /a/, which will be sounded if no vowel sign is attached. If two consonants follow one another without intervening vowel, the second consonant is made into a subscript form, and attached below the first.