Lo script: Difference between revisions

Written by Rowanino. Last edited 30 October 2026 at 02:02.
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Lo spread slowly and recalcitrantly, mostly due to several attempts at squandering its promulgation by hashka literati, who believed literacy should remain a private, high-class matter which had no place in the lower castes. As such, for most of its infancy, the script was mostly used by the royal family, their close friends, and religious scholars.
Lo spread slowly and recalcitrantly, mostly due to several attempts at squandering its promulgation by hashka literati, who believed literacy should remain a private, high-class matter which had no place in the lower castes. As such, for most of its infancy, the script was mostly used by the royal family, their close friends, and religious scholars.


The spread of Lo quickened in 4592 with its adoption by several courtesan males who, wishing to become literate but being otherwise untrained in the Hieh script, sought to be taught by monks, who taught them Lo due to its ease of use and adoption. These early courtesan Lo users caught the attention of Queen Dèeil-Iinshin, who promoted their works as foundational literature. These works, now known as the [[Five-Hundred and Twelve and a Half Stories]] ({{Cs|hsk|kiBkvAnuA biA/7}} ''Kíìkv́nú bi1000½''), were a collection of prosaic and poetic romantic, tragic and comedic stories, and the earliest proper pieces of Lo literature (not counting earlier epistolary works or diaries). The courtesan authors were assigned important scholarly positions and their works were taught in schools, leading to wider recognition of the script.
The spread of Lo quickened in 4592 with its adoption by several courtesan males who, wishing to become literate but being otherwise untrained in the Hieh script, sought to be taught by monks, who taught them Lo due to its ease of use and adoption. These early courtesan Lo users caught the attention of Queen Dèeil-Iinshin, who promoted their works as foundational literature. These works, now known as the [[Five-Hundred and Twelve and a Half Stories]] ({{Cs|hsk|kiBkvAnuA biA½7}} ''Kíìkv́nú bi1000½''), were a collection of prosaic and poetic romantic, tragic and comedic stories, and the earliest proper pieces of Lo literature (not counting earlier epistolary works or diaries). The courtesan authors were assigned important scholarly positions and their works were taught in schools, leading to wider recognition of the script.


=== Modern day ===
=== Modern day ===
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{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
!Letter
!Letter
!-e
!Rom.
!Rom.
!Name
!Name
Line 181: Line 182:
|-
|-
|<big>{{Cs|hsk|c'}}</big>
|<big>{{Cs|hsk|c'}}</big>
|<big>{{Cs|hsk|c'e}}</big>
|cʼ
|cʼ
|''ecʼáɂ''
|''ecʼáɂ''
Line 186: Line 188:
|-
|-
|<big>{{Cs|hsk|t'}}</big>
|<big>{{Cs|hsk|t'}}</big>
|<big>{{Cs|hsk|t'e}}</big>
|tʼ
|tʼ
|''ytuútʼuub''
|''ytuútʼuub''
Line 191: Line 194:
|-
|-
|<big>{{Cs|hsk|p'}}</big>
|<big>{{Cs|hsk|p'}}</big>
|<big>{{Cs|hsk|p'e}}</big>
|pʼ
|pʼ
|''ípʼao''
|''ípʼao''
Line 196: Line 200:
|-
|-
|<big>{{Cs|hsk|k'}}</big>
|<big>{{Cs|hsk|k'}}</big>
|<big>{{Cs|hsk|k'e}}</big>
|kʼ
|kʼ
|''kʼeera''
|''kʼeera''
|/kʼo/
|/kʼo/
|}
One additional letter was also added around the same time for transcribing [[Butakkin]]'s /j/ phoneme. The obsolete glyph for the same sound is in parentheses here.
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
!Letter
!-e
!Rom.
!Name
!IPA
|-
|<big>{{Cs|hsk|y}}</big> (<big>{{Cs|hsk|ý}}</big>)
|<big>{{Cs|hsk|ye}}</big> (<big>{{Cs|hsk|ýe}}</big>)
|y
|''yu''
|/jo/
|}
|}


Line 249: Line 268:


=== Tones ===
=== Tones ===
Tones in Lo are independent letters appended at the ends of syllables.
Tones in Lo are independent letters appended next to the syllabograms they affect, and before any final consonants. Obsolete glyphs in parentheses.
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
!Length
!Length
Line 277: Line 296:
|Low
|Low
|˩
|˩
|{{Cs|hsk|D}}
|{{Cs|hsk|D}} ({{Cs|hsk|Ð}})
|aa
|aa
|''hcoo''
|''hcoo''
Line 301: Line 320:
|Heavy rising
|Heavy rising
|˧˥
|˧˥
|{{Cs|hsk|Z}}
|{{Cs|hsk|Z}} ({{Cs|hsk|Ź}})
|áá
|áá
|''káá''
|''káá''
Line 342: Line 361:
!Name
!Name
!Usage
!Usage
!Position
|-
|-
|<big>{{Cs|hsk|,}}</big>
|<big>{{Cs|hsk|,}}</big>
|''tií''
|''tií''
|Separating ideas within a sentence, listing.
|Separates ideas within a sentence, listing.
|Final, requires spaces before and after
|-
|-
|<big>{{Cs|hsk|.}}</big>
|<big>{{Cs|hsk|.}}</big>
|''tií-tií''
|''tií-tií''
|Separating sentences.
|Separates sentences.
|Final, requires spaces before and after
|-
|-
|<big>{{Cs|hsk|:}}</big>
|<big>{{Cs|hsk|:}}</big>
|''tií bíhrur''
|''tií bíhrur''
|Separating paragraphs.
|Separates paragraphs.
|Final, requires spaces before and after
|-
|-
|<big>{{Cs|hsk|-}}</big>
|<big>{{Cs|hsk|-}}</big>
|''tií-tv́v́''
|''tií-tv́v́''
|Quotations.
|Encloses quotations.
|Circumfixed
|-
|<big>{{Cs|hsk|!}}</big>
|''tv́v́''
|Encloses emphatics.
|Circumfixed
|-
|<big>{{Cs|hsk|?}}</big>
|''hih''
|Introduces inquisitive phrasing, questions, requests.
|Initial
|-
|<big>{{Cs|hsk|(}}</big>
|''jv́go''
|Encloses parentheticals.
|Circumfixed
|-
|<big>{{Cs|hsk|<}}</big>
|''hih heʼé''
|Marks affectionate phrasing.
|Final
|-
|<big>{{Cs|hsk|!!}}</big>
|''fil''
|Marks excited phrasing.
|Final
|-
|<big>{{Cs|hsk|!!!}}</big>
|''taʼá''
|Encloses cautions, warnings.
|Circumfixed
|-
|<big>{{Cs|hsk|..}}</big>
|''hih cv́l baʼá''
|Introduces a hypothetical, thought or theory.
|Initial
|-
|<big>{{Cs|hsk|...}}</big>
|''tv́v́ po''
|Marks restful phrasing.
|Final
|-
|<big>{{Cs|hsk|,,}}</big>
|''tv́v́-tv́v́''
|Marks sad or tired phrasing.
|Final
|-
|<big>{{Cs|hsk|$}}</big>
|WIP
|Marks currency.
|Initial
|}
|}


Line 364: Line 438:
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
!Numeral
!Numeral
|<big>{{Cs|hsk|_}}</big>
|<big>{{Cs|hsk|)}}</big>
|<big>{{Cs|hsk|0}}</big>
|<big>{{Cs|hsk|0}}</big>
|<big>{{Cs|hsk|1}}</big>
|<big>{{Cs|hsk|1}}</big>
Line 376: Line 452:
|-
|-
!Decimal
!Decimal
| rowspan="2" |0
| colspan="3" rowspan="2" |0
| rowspan="2" |1
| rowspan="2" |1
| rowspan="2" |4
| rowspan="2" |4
Line 397: Line 473:
|}
|}
Numbers are written by concatenating symbols representing individual values, with the smallest on the left and increasing to the right. E.g. {{Cs|hsk|1135}} = 112<sub>8</sub> = 74<sub>10</sub>
Numbers are written by concatenating symbols representing individual values, with the smallest on the left and increasing to the right. E.g. {{Cs|hsk|1135}} = 112<sub>8</sub> = 74<sub>10</sub>
Zero is represented by three distinct glyphs: {{Cs|hsk|0}} for the actual sense of a "null" or "void" amount, {{Cs|hsk|_}} for the baseline unit of a measurement, such as the origin in a [[Wikipedia:Cartesian coordinate system|Cartesian plane]], and {{Cs|hsk|)}} for a "complete" or "fulfilled" amount.


There exist simple fractional numerals as well.
There exist simple fractional numerals as well.
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
!Numeral
!Numeral
|<big>{{Cs|hsk|/}}</big>
|<big>{{Cs|hsk|½}}</big>
|<big>{{Cs|hsk|!}}</big>
|<big>{{Cs|hsk|⅓}}</big>
|<big>{{Cs|hsk|%}}</big>
|<big>{{Cs|hsk|¼}}</big>
|<big>{{Cs|hsk|⅕}}</big>
|<big>{{Cs|hsk|⅙}}</big>
|<big>{{Cs|hsk|⅐}}</big>
|<big>{{Cs|hsk|⅛}}</big>
|-
|-
!Decimal
!Decimal
| rowspan="2" |½
| rowspan="2" |½
| rowspan="2" |1⁄4
| rowspan="2" |⅓
| rowspan="2" |¼
| rowspan="2" |⅕
| rowspan="2" |⅙
| rowspan="2" |⅐
|⅛
|⅛
|-
|-
Line 421: Line 507:
!Translation
!Translation
|-
|-
|{{Cs|hsk|HkashiA , zeRGtebA haB jiXHruF nX mAsaF suH ,
|{{Cs|hsk|.. HkashiA , zeGRtebA haB jiXHruF nX mAsaF suH , vvriA rvG palaGbA mZHruF . uuFR diARbA siG nAkuCdF mZHruFsu HpaAgaZ biAshX muFiiAN , HruFRtebA vvR siGHruF guFL,, . .. iiB tiB oruM nAkuCdF , fiC siH uuN , deN oriiN lv :}}
vvriA rvG palaGbA mZHruF .
uuRF diRAbA siG nAkuCdF mZHruFsu HpaAgaZ biAshX muFiiNA ,
HruFRtebA vvR siGHruF guFL .
iiB tiB oruM nAkuCdF , fiC siH uuN , deN oriiN lv :}}
|Hkashí, hlèertebó háà jììhruú nòò mósaá suh,
|Hkashí, hlèertebó háà jììhruú nòò mósaá suh,
vrí rv̀v̀ palàabó móóhruú.
vrí rv̀v̀ palàabó móóhruú.

Latest revision as of 02:02, 30 October 2026

Lo script
hiH lF
Script type
Abugida
Period
4589 CY to present
LanguagesRegal Dòn Proper, Outlands Dòn, Butakkin, among others
Related scripts
Parent systems
 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.

The Lo script (rarely also reffered to as Hashka syllabics) is an alphasyllabary used near universally throughout Anschuhe to encode hashka languages, including the literary Regal Dòn Proper, which it was originally created for. Its name derives from the RDP word for "small," lF loó.

History

Origin

Lo was personally created in 4589 CY by Queen Ngo Ngar Dèeil-Iinshin. Prior to its invention, literacy was exclusive to highly educated scholars trained on a complex logographic system, Hashka hieroglyphs (nowadays called the Hieh script, from hieeG hieé "large"). Queen Dèeil-Iinshin, who wished to increase literacy in the RSS during its early industrialisation, created Lo with this purpose in mind.

Spread

Lo spread slowly and recalcitrantly, mostly due to several attempts at squandering its promulgation by hashka literati, who believed literacy should remain a private, high-class matter which had no place in the lower castes. As such, for most of its infancy, the script was mostly used by the royal family, their close friends, and religious scholars.

The spread of Lo quickened in 4592 with its adoption by several courtesan males who, wishing to become literate but being otherwise untrained in the Hieh script, sought to be taught by monks, who taught them Lo due to its ease of use and adoption. These early courtesan Lo users caught the attention of Queen Dèeil-Iinshin, who promoted their works as foundational literature. These works, now known as the Five-Hundred and Twelve and a Half Stories (kiBkvAnuA biA½7 Kíìkv́nú bi1000½), were a collection of prosaic and poetic romantic, tragic and comedic stories, and the earliest proper pieces of Lo literature (not counting earlier epistolary works or diaries). The courtesan authors were assigned important scholarly positions and their works were taught in schools, leading to wider recognition of the script.

Modern day

As of 4627 CY, the Lo script is widely used across the near-entirety of the continent. Although literacy remains low in the more rural areas, urbanised areas see high rates, mostly thanks to the Lo script and its heavy promotion by royal hashka castes.

Letters

Consonants

The following table shows Lo script letters in their canonical kwomodo order, as specified by queen Dèeil-Iinshin, as well as their names and pronunciations in Regal Dòn Proper. All letters have an implicit /o/.

Letter -e Rom. Name IPA
kw kwe kw kweʼé /kʷo/
m me m moó /mo/
d de d dùunil /do/
n ne n náá /no/
N - vn nóó /-n/
r re r ruʼú /ro/
R - vr nóó /-r/
f fe f fosoó /ɸo/
l le l leéwv́ /lo/
L - vl nóó /-l/
c ce c ciíjí /t͡ʃo/
h he h honeé /xo/
H - vh nóó /-x/
z ze hl hláh /ɬo/
sh she sh shigùul /ʃo/
q qe ng ngo /ŋo/
gw gwe gw gwvnv́ /gʷo/
t te t tv́v́ /to/
p pe p podol /po/
s se s soná /so/
k ke k kùuhlan /ko/
j je j jiraʼá /d͡ʒo/
b be b bol /bo/
g ge g go /go/
w we w iwvv́ /wo/

Four additional letters were added in the early 4620s for easier transcription of Outlands Dòn and other languages with ejective stops.

Letter -e Rom. Name IPA
c' c'e cʼ ecʼáɂ /tɕʼo/
t' t'e tʼ ytuútʼuub /tʼo/
p' p'e pʼ ípʼao /pʼo/
k' k'e kʼ kʼeera /kʼo/

One additional letter was also added around the same time for transcribing Butakkin's /j/ phoneme. The obsolete glyph for the same sound is in parentheses here.

Letter -e Rom. Name IPA
y (ý) ye (ýe) y yu /jo/

Vowels

Vowels in Lo are appended to the consonants they follow, either in the form of diacritics (/a/, /i/ and /ə/), next to the base glyph (/u/) or by directly modifying the base glyph (/e/). /o/ is implicit.

Letter On p Rom. Name IPA
o p o oroin /o/ [ɤᵝ]
ii pi i iin [i]
aa pa a àa [a]
ee pe e eén [e]
vv pv v vfe [ə]
uu pu u ùú /u/ [ɯᵝ]

Tones

Tones in Lo are independent letters appended next to the syllabograms they affect, and before any final consonants. Obsolete glyphs in parentheses.

Length Tone IPA Glyph Rom. Name
Short Atonal Varies - a -
Low ˩
High ˦ A á hkóró
Long Low ˩ D (Ð) aa hcoo
High ˦ S áa hv́vmoó
Light rising ˨˧ F aá hluú
Light falling ˧˩ G àa cèer
Heavy rising ˧˥ Z (Ź) áá káá
Heavy falling ˥˨ X àà kòò
Glottalised rising ˧˥ˀ C aʼá hpaʼá
Glottalised falling ˥˨ˀ V àʼa nìʼikàa
Convex ˨˥˧ B áà jáà
Concave ˧˩˦ M àá hùú

Punctuation

Lo uses the following punctuation marks

Letter Name Usage Position
, tií Separates ideas within a sentence, listing. Final, requires spaces before and after
. tií-tií Separates sentences. Final, requires spaces before and after
: tií bíhrur Separates paragraphs. Final, requires spaces before and after
- tií-tv́v́ Encloses quotations. Circumfixed
! tv́v́ Encloses emphatics. Circumfixed
? hih Introduces inquisitive phrasing, questions, requests. Initial
( jv́go Encloses parentheticals. Circumfixed
< hih heʼé Marks affectionate phrasing. Final
!! fil Marks excited phrasing. Final
!!! taʼá Encloses cautions, warnings. Circumfixed
.. hih cv́l baʼá Introduces a hypothetical, thought or theory. Initial
... tv́v́ po Marks restful phrasing. Final
,, tv́v́-tv́v́ Marks sad or tired phrasing. Final
$ WIP Marks currency. Initial

Numerals

Lo numerals are octal, additive, and read right to left.

Numeral _ ) 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Decimal 0 1 4 8 32 64 256 512 2048 4096
Octal 10 40 100 400 1000 4000 10000

Numbers are written by concatenating symbols representing individual values, with the smallest on the left and increasing to the right. E.g. 1135 = 1128 = 7410

Zero is represented by three distinct glyphs: 0 for the actual sense of a "null" or "void" amount, _ for the baseline unit of a measurement, such as the origin in a Cartesian plane, and ) for a "complete" or "fulfilled" amount.

There exist simple fractional numerals as well.

Numeral ½ ⅓ ¼ ⅕ ⅙ ⅐ ⅛
Decimal ½ ⅓ ¼ ⅕ ⅙ ⅐ ⅛
Octal ⅒

Sample texts

Lo Romanised Translation
.. HkashiA , zeGRtebA haB jiXHruF nX mAsaF suH , vvriA rvG palaGbA mZHruF . uuFR diARbA siG nAkuCdF mZHruFsu HpaAgaZ biAshX muFiiAN , HruFRtebA vvR siGHruF guFL,, . .. iiB tiB oruM nAkuCdF , fiC siH uuN , deN oriiN lv : Hkashí, hlèertebó háà jììhruú nòò mósaá suh,

vrí rv̀v̀ palàabó móóhruú.

Uúr dírbó sìi nókuʼúdoó móóhruúsu hpágáá bíshòò muúín,

hruúrtebó vr sìihruú guúl.

Íì tíì orùú nókuʼúdoó, fiʼí sih un, den oroin lv.

Suppose one mixes blue paint with yellow,

so that they obtain grey.

Humankind tends to say that grey as two words,

which confuses my kind.

Maybe the human eye is sharper than ours in some unknown way.

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