Gangga Melayu (Jawi Script: توليسن ڬڠڬا ملايو, Malay: Tulisan Gangga Melayu, Perak Malay: Hurup Ganga Malayu) is a Cipher script and an Abugida that was used to write the Malay and Perak Malay languages in Perak until the 20th century. The writing was previously used to inscribe chiri, the traditional coronation formula of the Malay kings of Perak. The writing system is distinctive in that it incorporates both Abjad (Jawi) and Abugida (Brahmic) features. Since 2011, plans have been in place to introduce the script into its own Unicode.
History The origin of the Gangga Melayu script is still unknown. However, there is a view that the letters in this script are a modified form of the Arabic script used to write the Malay language. R. A. Kern wrote:
Although the form of the characters may have been derived from Arabic script, the structure of the Gangga Melayu script appears to be based on the Brahmi model, with some features adapted from other writing systems such as Javanese. In fact, Blagden suggests that some of the basic elements of this writing may date back to very early times and possibly existed before the advent of Islam.
According to C. O. Blagden, this script was used in the Malay Peninsula at least until the early 20th century and is described as a “cipher script” or “secret writing” In A Dictionary of the Malay Language (1894), Gangga Malayu is described as “the name of an alphabet used in Pêrak, but of modern origin and used only for purposes of secrecy.”
Writing System
The Gangga Malayu writing system has its own distinctive characteristics, showing a combination of Arabic influence and the Brahmi writing tradition. The technical aspects and structure of the script can be described as follows.
Character Repertoire:
There are a total of 52 characters, consisting of: 32 consonant letters, 3 vowel signs, 3 nasal signs, 1 gemination mark, 1 virama-like sign, 2 final consonant signs, and 10 numerals.
Character Names:
Although the names of some characters may originate from Arabic and Javanese, the spelling conventions presented in Kern (1908) are used. For example, the spelling ALIF is used instead of the Arabic ALEF, and CHECHAQ is used instead of the Javanese CECAK.
Structure:
The basic model of this writing system is based on Brahmi and uses a virama-like sign to indicate a bare consonant and consonant clusters. Each consonant letter carries an inherent vowel /a/. The phonological value of a consonant is the value of the corresponding Arabic letter plus the inherent vowel /a/. This inherent vowel is modified through the use of vowel signs and is suppressed using the JAZMA mark.
Writing Direction:
This script is written from left to right.
Letter Connection: Each letter is written separately. There is no feature of connected writing between letters.
Virama:
The JAZMA mark is used to suppress the inherent vowel of a consonant. It functions similarly to the virama in Indian scripts and appears to be graphically derived from the Arabic sukun. This mark is written explicitly and visibly.
Consonant Clusters:
Consonant clusters are formed by marking the consonants without vowels using the JAZMA.
Vowels:
Vowels are represented using combining marks. There are three vowel signs: SIGN AA, SIGN I, and SIGN U. These vowel marks are always written.
Diphthongs:
The dependent form for the diphthong /ai/ is written as a combination of SIGN I, YA, and JAZMA.
Nasalization:
There are three marks for nasalization: AN, IN, and UN. These marks appear to be based on Arabic tanwin.
Gemination:
The TASHDID mark is used to indicate doubled consonants.
Final Consonants:
There are two final consonant signs; believed to be borrowed from Javanese script:
The LAYAR sign represents the final consonant /r/ The CHECHAQ sign represents the final consonant /ŋ/
Numerals :
The numerals represent decimal numbers:
0 (Sifar/Kosong), 1 (Satu), 2 (Dua), 3 (Tiga), 4 (Empat), 5 (Lima), 6 (Enam), 7 (Tujuh), 8 (Lapan), 9 (Sembilan)
Punctuation:
No specific punctuation marks for this writing system have been identified
References