Tai Tham (Lanna)

Lanna script, also known as Tai Tham, is used to write the Northern Thai, Tai Lü and Khün languages. It is an abugida, meaning that each consonant has an inherent vowel which can be changed using vowel signs. Lanna script is also used to write the Pali and Sanskrit languages. The Lanna script is believed to have been developed from the Mon script, which was used in the Mon kingdom of Dvaravati. The first known inscription in the Lanna script is from 1292 CE. The Lanna script is written from left to right. Each consonant has an inherent vowel, which can be changed using vowel signs. There are also consonant clusters, which are written with ligatures. There are a total of 33 consonants in the Lanna script, which are divided into three groups: The first group consists of 9 consonants, which are written with a horizontal line above them: k, kh, g, ng, c, ch, j, ny, t The second group consists of 12 consonants, which are written with a dot above them: p, ph, b, bh, m, y, r, l, w, s, h The third group consists of 12 consonants, which are written with a vertical line above them: t, th, d, n, p, ph, b, bh, m, y, r, l There are a total of 9 vowel symbols in the Lanna script, which are divided into three groups: The first group consists of 3 vowels, which are written with a horizontal line below them: a, i, u The second group consists of 3 vowels, which are written with a dot below them: e, o, ɯ The third group consists of 3 vowels, which are written with a vertical line below them: ai, au, ɤi Vowel length is indicated with a macron (ā,ī,ū) or a breve (ă,ĭ,ŭ). There are also a number of other symbols which are used in the Lanna script, including: · The virama, which is used to cancel the inherent vowel of a consonant · The anusvara, which is used to indicate nasalisation · The visarga, which is used to indicate aspiration · The puṃ, which is used to indicate final consonants · The jha, which is used to indicate aspirated consonants · The ya, which is used to indicate palatalisation · The ra, which is used to indicate retroflexion · The la, which is used to indicate lateralisation