Batak
alphabet
The Batak alphabet, or surat batak, is descended ultimately from the from Brahmi script of ancient India
by way of the Pallava and Old Kawi scripts.
Notable features
- Type of writing system: syllabic alphabet - each
consonant (aksara) has an inherent vowel. Other vowels or the absence of
vowels can be indicated using diacritics which appear above, below or
after the consonant letter.
- Direction of writing: traditionally written from bottom
to top in vertical columns running from left to right on strips of bamboo
held together with string.
Used to write:
The Batak languages of
northern Sumatra - Karo Batak, Toba Batak, Dairi Batak,Simalungun/Timur, Angkola and Mandailing Batak, and occasionally Malay. In most Batak
communities, only the datu (priests) are able to read and write the Batak alphabet and they
use it mainly for calendars and magical texts.
There are slight
variations in the letters and vowel diacritics used to write each language.
Karo Batak syllabic alphabet
Karo Batak is an Austronesian language with about 600,000 speaks
in the central and northern part of the Indonesian island of Sumatra.
Vowel diacritics with "ka"
Toba Batak syllabic alphabet
Dairi Batak, which is also known as Batak Toba and Batta, is an
Austronesian language spoken by about 2 million people in the northern part of
the Indonesian island of Sumatra.
Vowel
diacritics with "ka"
Dairi Batak syllabic alphabet
Dairi Batak, which is also known as Dairi, Pakpak and Pakpak
Dairi, is an Austronesian language with about 1.2 million speakers in the
northern part of the Indonesian island of Sumatra.
Vowel
diacritics with ka
Batak Simalungun syllabic alphabet
Simalungun or Batak Simalung is an Austronesian language spoken by
about 1.2 million people in the northern part of the Indonesian island of
Sumatra.
Vowel diacritics with ka
Mandaling Batak syllabic alphabet
Mandaling Batak or Batta is an Austronesian language with about
400,000 speakers in the northern part of the Indonesian island of Sumatra.
Vowel diacritics with ka
as a comparison, see the table below
Note:
The fonts used on this page were created by Dr Uli Kozok of The University of Hawai'i
at Manoa.
Further information about Batak (includes free Batak fonts)
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