mandaic alphabet
DESCRIPTION
Mandaic alphabetTRANSCRIPT
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Mandaic alphabet
The Mandaic alphabet appears to be based on the Aramaic alphabet and first
appeared sometime during the 2nd century AD. The Mandaic name for the alphabet is Abagada or Abaga, after the first few letters.
The Mandaeans believe that all the letters of their alphabet have magical
properties, and impart mysteries (raze).
Notable features
Type of writing system: alphabet
Direction of writing: right to left in horizontal lines.
Some of the letters change shape when combined with other letters.
Used to write
Classical Mandaic, a member of the East Aramaic sub-family of Northwest Semitic languages and the liturgical language of the Mandaean religion.
Classical Mandaic is closely related to Syriac.
Neo-Mandaic, a vernacular form of Mandaic with about 100 speakers in Iran around Ahwaz. There are also a few Mandaic speakers in Iraq and the USA.
Mandaic alphabet
Sample texts in Mandaic
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Translation
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are
endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
(Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)
Links
Information about the Mandaic language and alphabet
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandaic_language http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandaic_alphabet
Mandean World - information about the Mandaic language and alphabet,
including a free Mandaic font: http://www.mandaeanworld.com/alphabet.html
Mandai Studies Center of Iran - information about the Mandaic people and language
http://www.iranmanda.com/
Mandaic and Neo-Mandaic Texts and Resources http://www.mandaic.org
Other consonant alphabets (abjads)
Ancient Berber, Arabic, Hebrew, Mandaic, Manichaean, Middle Persian, Nabataean, Parthian, Phoenician, Proto-Hebrew, Psalter, Punic, Sabaean,
Samaritan, Sogdian, South Arabian, Syriac, Tifinagh, Ugaritic