Ā (Indic)#Tai Tham

{{further|Āryabhaṭa numeration}}

Aryabhata used Devanagari letters for numbers, very similar to the Greek numerals, even after the invention of Indian numerals. The "Ā" modifier could be used to indicate a consonant's base value, although the unmodified consonant had this value as well. The independent vowel letter आ was not used to indicate any numeric value in the Aryabhata system.{{cite book|last=Ifrah|first=Georges|title=The Universal History of Numbers. From Prehistory to the Invention of the Computer|url=https://archive.org/details/universalhistory00ifra_411|url-access=limited|year=2000|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|location=New York|isbn=0-471-39340-1|pages=[https://archive.org/details/universalhistory00ifra_411/page/n468 447]–450}}

There are three different general early historic scripts - Brahmi and its variants, Kharoṣṭhī, and Tocharian, the so-called slanting Brahmi. Aa as found in standard Brahmi, Image:Brahmi aa.svg was a simple geometric shape, with variations toward more flowing forms by the Gupta Image:Gupta allahabad aa.svg. Like all Brahmic scripts, Tocharian Ā Image:Tocharian letter aa.gif has an accompanying vowel mark for modifying a base consonant. In Kharoṣṭhī, the only independent vowel letter is for the inherent A. All other independent vowels, including Ā are indicated with vowel marks added to the letter A.

The Brahmi letter Ā Image:Brahmi aa.svg, is probably derived from the Aramaic Alef 13px, and is thus related to the modern Latin A and Greek Alpha.{{cite web |last1=Bühler |first1=Georg |title=On the Origin of the Indian Brahmi Alphabet |url=https://archive.org/details/onoriginofindian00bhuoft/page/n3/mode/2up |website=archive.org |year=1898 |publisher=Karl J. Trübner |access-date=10 June 2020}} Several identifiable styles of writing the Brahmi Aa can be found, most associated with a specific set of inscriptions from an artifact or diverse records from an historic period.Evolutionary chart, Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal Vol 7, 1838 [https://archive.org/stream/journalofasiatic775asia#page/n101] As the earliest and most geometric style of Brahmi, the letters found on the Edicts of Ashoka and other records from around that time are normally the reference form for Brahmi letters, with vowel marks not attested until later forms of Brahmi back-formed to match the geometric writing style.

The Tocharian letter Image:Tocharian letter aa.gif is derived from the Brahmi Image:Brahmi aa.svg. Unlike some of the consonants, Tocharian vowels do not have a Fremdzeichen form.

The Kharoṣṭhī letter Ā is indicated with the vowel length mark 15px. As an independent vowel, Ā is indicated by adding this vowel mark to the independent vowel letter A File:Буква А (незалежний знак). Письмо кхароштхі. Kharoshthi letter A.svg.

{{multiple image

| width = 100px

| image1 = Devanagari aa.svg

| alt1 = Ā vowel

| image2 = Devanagari aa sign.png

| alt2 = Ā vowel sign

| footer = Devanagari independent Ā and Ā vowel sign.

}}

Ā (आ) is a vowel of the Devanagari abugida. It ultimately arose from the Brahmi letter Image:Brahmi aa.svg, after having gone through the Gupta letter File:Gupta allahabad aa.svg. Letters that derive from it are the Gujarati letter આ, and the Modi letter 𑘁.

The Devanagari script is used to write the Hindi language, Sanskrit and the majority of Indo-Aryan languages. In most of these languages, आ is pronounced as {{IPAc-hi|a|ː}} or {{IPAc-hi|ɐ|ː}}. Like all Indic scripts, Devanagari vowels come in two forms: an independent vowel form for syllables that begin with a vowel sound, and a vowel sign attached to base consonant to override the inherent /ə/ vowel.

{{main|aa (Bengali)}}

{{multiple image

| width = 100px

| image1 = Bengali Letter Aa.svg

| alt1 = Ā vowel

| image2 = Bengali Aa vowel sign.svg

| alt2 = Ā vowel sign

| footer = Bengali independent Ā and Ā vowel sign.

}}

Ā (আ) is a vowel of the Bengali abugida. It is derived from the Siddhaṃ letter Image:Siddham aa.svg, and is marked by a similar horizontal head line, but less geometric shape, than its Devanagari counterpart, आ.

The Bengali script is used to write several languages of eastern India, notably the Bengali language and Assamese. In most languages, আ is pronounced as {{IPA|bn|ā|}}. Like all Indic scripts, Bengali vowels come in two forms: an independent vowel form for syllables that begin with a vowel sound, and a vowel sign attached to base consonant to override the inherent /ɔ/ vowel.

{{multiple image

| width = 100px

| image1 = TIRHUTA LETTER AA.svg

| alt1 = Tirhuta independent vowel Ā

| image2 = TIRHUTA VOWEL SIGN AA.svg

| alt2 = Tirhuta vowel sign Ā

| footer = Tirhuta independent vowel and vowel sign Ā.

}}

Ā (𑒂) is a vowel of the Tirhuta abugida. It ultimately arose from the Brahmi letter Image:Brahmi aa.svg, via the Siddhaṃ letter Image:Siddham aa.svg Aa. Like in other Indic scripts, Tirhuta vowels have two forms: an independent letter for word and syllable-initial vowel sounds, and a vowel sign for changing the inherent "a" of consonant letters. Vowel signs in Tirhuta usually sit adjacent to its base consonant - below, to the left, right, or both left and right, but are always pronounced after the consonant sound. No consonants are altered in form when adding the Ā vowel mark, although there are some consonant+vowel ligatures in Tirhuta.

{{multiple image

| width = 100px

| image1 = Gujarati vowel Aa.svg

| alt1 = Ā vowel

| image2 = Gujarati vowel sign Aa.svg

| alt2 = Ā vowel sign

| footer = Gujarati independent Ā and Ā vowel sign.

}}

Ā (આ) is a vowel of the Gujarati abugida. It is derived from the Devanagari Ā Image:Devanagari aa.svg, and ultimately the Brahmi letter Image:Brahmi aa.svg.

The Gujarati script is used to write the Gujarati and Kutchi languages. In both languages, આ is pronounced as {{IPA|gu|ā|}}. Like all Indic scripts, Gujarati vowels come in two forms: an independent vowel form for syllables that begin with a vowel sound, and a vowel sign attached to base consonant to override the inherent /ə/ vowel.

{{multiple image

| width = 100px

| image1 = Telugu vowel Aa.svg

| alt1 = Telugu independent vowel Ā

| image2 = Telugu Aa vowel sign.svg

| alt2 = Telugu vowel sign Ā

| footer = Telugu independent vowel and vowel sign Ā.

}}

Ā (ఆ) is a vowel of the Telugu abugida. It ultimately arose from the Brahmi letter Image:Brahmi aa.svg. It is closely related to the Kannada letter ಆ. Like in other Indic scripts, Telugu vowels have two forms: and independent letter for word and syllable-initial vowel sounds, and a vowel sign for changing the inherent "a" of Telugu consonant letters. Vowel signs in Telugu can interact with a base consonant in one of three ways: 1) the vowel sign touches or sits adjacent to the base consonant without modifying the shape of either 2) the vowel sign sits directly above the consonant, replacing its v-shaped headline, 3) the vowel sign and consonant interact, forming a ligature.

File:Telugu letter Haa.svg

File:Telugu Aa matra.svg

{{multiple image

| width = 100px

| image1 = Malayalam vowel Aa.svg

| alt1 = Malayalam independent vowel Ā

| image2 = Malayalam vowel sign Aa.svg

| alt2 = Malayalam vowel sign Ā

| footer = Malayalam independent vowel and vowel sign Ā.

| align = left

}}

Ā (ആ) is a vowel of the Malayalam abugida. It ultimately arose from the Brahmi letter Image:Brahmi aa.svg, via the Grantha letter Image:Grantha vowel Aa.svg aa. Like in other Indic scripts, Malayalam vowels have two forms: an independent letter for word and syllable-initial vowel sounds, and a vowel sign for changing the inherent "a" of consonant letters. Vowel signs in Malayalam usually sit adjacent to its base consonant - below, to the left, right, or both left and right, but are always pronounced after the consonant sound.

File:Odia alphabet ଆ.svg

Ā (ଆ) is a vowel of the Odia abugida. It ultimately arose from the Brahmi letter Image:Brahmi aa.svg, via the Siddhaṃ letter Image:Siddham aa.svg aa. Like in other Indic scripts, Odia vowels have two forms: an independent letter for word and syllable-initial vowel sounds, and a vowel sign for changing the inherent "a" of consonant letters. Vowel signs in Odia usually sit adjacent to its base consonant - below, to the left, right, or both left and right, but are always pronounced after the consonant sound. No base consonants are altered in form when adding a vowel sign, and there are no consonant+vowel ligatures in Odia.

{{multiple image

| width = 100px

| image1 = Kaithi Aa.svg

| alt1 = Kaithi independent vowel

| image2 = Kaithi Aa vowel sign.svg

| alt2 = Kaithi vowel sign

| footer = Kaithi independent vowel and vowel sign Ā.

| align = left

}}

Ā (𑂄) is a vowel of the Kaithi abugida. It ultimately arose from the Brahmi letter Image:Brahmi aa.svg, via the Siddhaṃ letter Image:Siddham aa.svg aa. Like in other Indic scripts, Kaithi vowels have two forms: an independent letter for word and syllable-initial vowel sounds, and a vowel sign for changing the inherent "a" of consonant letters. Vowel signs in Kaithi usually sit adjacent to its base consonant - below, to the left, right, or both left and right, but are always pronounced after the consonant sound. No base consonants are altered in form when adding a vowel sign, and there are no consonant+vowel ligatures in Kaithi.

{{clear}}

The various Indic scripts are generally related to each other through adaptation and borrowing, and as such the glyphs for cognate letters, including Ā, are related as well.

{{Indic glyph |letname = Ā

|devacp = 0906 |devaimg = Devanagari aa.svg

|bengcp = 0986 |bengimg = Bengali Letter Aa.svg

|tamlcp = 0B86 |tamlimg = Tamil-alphabet-ஆஆ.svg

|telucp = 0C06

|oryacp = 0B06

|kndacp = 0C86

|mlymcp = 0D06

|gujrcp = 0A86

|gurucp = 0A06

|brahcp = 11006 |ashokaimg = Brahmi aa.svg

|kushanaimg = Gupta ashoka aa.svg

|guptaimg = Gupta allahabad aa.svg

|kharcp = 10A0C

|tochimg = Tocharian letter aa.gif

|siddcp = 11581 |siddimg = Siddham aa.svg

|grancp = 11306

|tibtcp = 0F68;ཱ

|newacp = 11401

|bhkscp = 11C01

|shrdcp = 11184

|mymrcp = 1021;ာ

|mymr2cp = 102C;, ါ

|lanacp = 1A4B;ᩣ

|lana2cp = 1A63;, ᩤ

|talucp = 19B1

|khmrcp = 17A2;ា

|khmr2cp = 17B6

|laoocp = 0EB2

|thaicp = 0E32

|tavtcp = AAB1

|sinhcp = 0D86

|cakmcp = 11103

|ahomcp = 11721

|diakcp = 11901

|saurcp = A883

|chamcp = AA29

|modicp = 11601

|nandcp = 119A1

|gongcp = 11D61

|kthiimg = Kaithi Aa.svg | kthicp = 11084

|tirhcp = 11482

|lepccp = 1C26

|mteicp = ABE5

|marccp = 11CB0

|takrcp = 11681

|dogrcp = 11801

|khojcp = 11201

|sindcp = 112B1

|balicp = 1B06

|javacp = A9B4

|gonmcp = 11D01

| armiimg = Aleph.svg

| plavaimg = Pallava Aa.svg

| ranjimg = Ranjana aa.svg

}}

Most Indic scripts are encoded in the Unicode Standard, and as such the letter Ā in those scripts can usually be represented in plain text with a single codepoint. However, if the letter A is used as a consonant or a vowel support, the letter Ā is usually encoded as letter A plus vowel sign Ā. Ā from several modern-use scripts can also be found in legacy encodings, such as ISCII.

{{Indic encoding |= Ā

|devacp = 0906 |devaimg = Devanagari aa.svg

|bengcp = 0986 |bengimg = Bengali Letter Aa.svg

|tamlcp = 0B86 |tamlimg = Tamil-alphabet-ஆஆ.svg

|telucp = 0C06

|oryacp = 0B06

|kndacp = 0C86

|mlymcp = 0D06

|gujrcp = 0A86

|gurucp = 0A06

|iscii = A5

|brahcp = 11006 |ashokaimg = Brahmi aa.svg

|kushanaimg = Gupta ashoka aa.svg

|guptaimg = Gupta allahabad aa.svg

|kharcp = 10A0C

|siddcp = 11581 |siddimg = Siddham aa.svg

|grancp = 11306

|tibtcp = 0F71

|newacp = 11401

|bhkscp = 11C01

|shrdcp = 11184

|burmese notes = See further below for Burmese and Tai Tham codepoints.

|talucp = 19B1

|khmer notes = See further below for Khmer codepoints.

|laoocp = 0EB2

|thaicp = 0E32

|tavtcp = AAB1

|sinhcp = 0D86

|cakmcp = 11103

|ahomcp = 11721

|diakcp = 11901

|saurcp = A883

|chamcp = AA29

|modicp = 11601

|nandcp = 119A1

|gongcp = 11D61

|kthiimg = Kaithi Aa.svg | kthicp = 11084

|tirhcp = 11482

|lepccp = 1C26

|mteicp = ABE5

|marccp = 11CB0

|takrcp = 11681

|dogrcp = 11801

|khojcp = 11201

|sindcp = 112B1

|balicp = 1B06

|javacp = A9B4

|gonmcp = 11D01

}}

{{charmap

| 1 = 1021 102C

| image1dead =

| name1 = (unnamed sequence for Myanmar vowel letter)

| 2 = 102C

| image2dead =

| name2 = {{#invoke:Unicode data|lookup|name|102C}}

| 3 = 102B

| image3dead =

| name3 = {{#invoke:Unicode data|lookup|name|102B}}

| 4 = 1A4B 1A63

| image4dead =

| name4 = (unnamed sequence for Tai Tham vowel letter)

| 5 = 1A63

| image5dead =

| name5 = {{#invoke:Unicode data|lookup|name|1A63}}

| 6 = 1A64

| image6dead =

| name6 = {{#invoke:Unicode data|lookup|name|1A64}}

| 7 = 17A2 17B6

| image7dead =

| name7 = (unnamed sequence for Khmer vowel letter)

| 8 = 17B6

| image8dead =

| name8 = {{#invoke:Unicode data|lookup|name|17B6}}

}}

{{reflist}}

{{Devanagari_abugida}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Aa (Indic)}}

Category:Indic letters