Batak script

{{Short description|Writing system used for several Batak languages}}

{{EngvarA|date=May 2021}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}

{{Infobox writing system

| name = Surat Batak

| altname = {{Script|Batk|ᯘᯮᯒᯖ᯲ ᯅᯖᯂ᯲}}

| type = Abugida

| languages = Batak languages

| fam1 = Proto-Sinaitic alphabet

|footnotes=

| fam2 = Phoenician alphabet

| fam3 = Aramaic alphabet

| fam4 = Brāhmī{{efn|The detailed descent of Batak script from Brahmi is unclear. Hypotheses of Kawi origin or direct descent through Pallava.|group=note}}

| fam5 = Pallava script

| fam6 = Kawi script

| sisters = Direct family relationships is unclear. Sister scripts on hypothesis of common Kawi origin:

Balinese
Baybayin scripts
Javanese
Lontara
Makasar
Old Sundanese
Rencong
Rejang

| time = c. 1300–present

| unicode = [https://www.unicode.org/charts/PDF/U1BC0.pdf U+1BC0–U+1BFF]

| iso15924 = Batk

| sample = Surat Batak.svg

| imagesize = 250px

| caption = "Surat Batak" in Toba variant.

}}

{{Writing systems in Indonesia}}

{{Contains special characters|Batak}}

{{brahmic}}

The Batak script (natively known as Surat Batak, Surat na Sampulu Sia ({{lit|the nineteen letters}}), or Sisiasia) is a writing system used to write the Austronesian Batak languages spoken by several million people on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. The script may be derived from the Kawi and Pallava script, ultimately derived from the Brahmi script of India, or from the hypothetical Proto-Sumatran script influenced by Pallava.{{cite web|url=http://ulikozok.com/aksara-batak/sejarah-aksara-batak/|author=Uli Kozok|title=Sejarah Aksara Batak|access-date=17 May 2014}}

History

The Batak magicians and priests or datu used the Batak script mainly for magical texts and divinatory purposes. It is unknown how many non-specialists were literate in the Batak script, but judging from the widespread tradition of writing love laments, especially among the Karo, Simalungun, and Angkola-Mandailing Batak, it is likely that a considerable part of the non-specialist population was able to read and write the Batak script. After the arrival of Europeans in the Batak lands, first German missionaries and, from 1878 onwards, the Dutch, the Batak script was, alongside the Roman script, taught in the schools, and teaching and religious materials were printed in the Batak script. Soon after the first World War the missionaries decided to discontinue printing books in the Batak script.Kozok 2009:168. The script soon fell out of use and is now only used for ornamental purposes.

Origin

The Batak script was probably derived from Pallava and Old Kawi scripts, which ultimately were derived from the Brahmi script, the root of almost all the Indic and Southeast Asian scripts.

Structure

Batak is written from left to right and top to bottom. Like all Brahmi-based scripts, each consonant has an inherent vowel of {{IPA|/a/}}, unless there is a diacritic (in Toba Batak called pangolat) to indicate the lack of a vowel. Other vowels, final ŋ, and final velar fricative {{IPA|[x]}} are indicated by diacritics, which appear above, below, or after the letter. For example, ba is written ba (one letter); bi is written ba.i (i follows the consonant); bang is written baŋ (ŋ is above the consonant); and bing is baŋ.i. Final consonants are written with the pangolat (here represented by "#"): bam is ba.ma.#. However, bim is written ba.ma.i.#: the first diacritic belongs to the first consonant, and the second belongs to the second consonant, but both are written at the end of the entire syllable. Unlike most Brahmi-based scripts, Batak does not form consonant conjuncts.

Basic characters

The basic characters are called surat. Each consonant has an inherent vowel of {{IPA|/a/}}. The script varies by region and language. The major variants are between Karo, Mandailing, Pakpak/Dairi, Simalungun/Timur, and Toba:

class="wikitable"
colspan="24" style="background:#ccf; text-align:center;"|Surat (Basic characters)
style="text-align:center;"

| style="width:10%; text-align:center;"|IPA

| a

| ha

| ka

| ba

| pa

| na

| wa

| ga

| dʒa

| da

| ra

| ma

| ta

| sa

| ja

| ŋa

| la

| ɲa

| tʃa

| nda

| mba

| i

| u

style="text-align:center;"

| style="width:10%; text-align:center;"|Transcription

| a

| ha

| ka

| ba

| pa

| na

| wa

| ga

| ja

| da

| ra

| ma

| ta

| sa

| ya

| nga

| la

| nya

| ca

| nda

| mba

| i

| u

style="length:20%;"

| style="width:10%; text-align:center;"|Karo

| align="center" |File:Batak A-1, Ha.svg

| align="center"|File:Batak A-1, Ha.svg

| align="center" | File:Batak Ha-1, Ka-1.svg

| align="center" |File:Batak Ba-2.svg

| align="center" |File:Batak Pa-1.svg

| align="center" rowspan="5"|File:Batak Na.svg{{ref|1|1}}

| align="center" |File:Batak Wa-1.svg

| align="center"|File:Batak Ga-1.svg

| align="center" rowspan="5"|File:Batak Ja.svg

| align="center" rowspan="5"|File:Batak Da.svg

| align="center"|File:Batak Ra-1.svg

| align="center"|File:Batak Ma-1.svg

| align="center"|File:Batak Ta-1.svg

| align="center"|File:Batak Sa-1, Ca-1.svg

| align="center" |File:Batak Ya-1.svg

| align="center" rowspan="5"|File:Batak Nga.svg

| align="center" |File:Batak La-1.svg

|

| align="center"|File:Batak Ca-3.svg{{ref|5|5}}

| rowspan="4"|

|rowspan="4"|

| align="center" rowspan="5"|File:Batak I.svg

| align="center" rowspan="5"|File:Batak U.svg

style="length:10%;"

| style="width:10%; text-align:center;"|Mandailing

| align="center" |File:Batak A-1, Ha.svg

| align="center" | File:Batak Ha-3.svg

| align="center" | File:Batak Ka-3.svg

| align="center" |File:Batak Ba-1.svg

| align="center" |File:Batak Pa-1.svg

| align="center" |File:Batak Wa-1.svg

| align="center"|File:Batak Ga-1.svg

| align="center"|File:Batak Ra-1.svg

| align="center"|File:Batak Ma-1.svg

| align="center"|File:Batak Ta-2.svg

| align="center"|File:Batak Sa-3.svg{{ref|4|4}}

| align="center" |File:Batak Ya-1.svg

| align="center" |File:Batak La-1.svg

| align="center" |File:Batak Ca-2, Nya.svg

| align="center"|File:Batak Ca-4.svg

style="length:10%;"

| style="width:10%; text-align:center;"|Pakpak

| align="center" |File:Batak A-1, Ha.svg

| align="center"|File:Batak A-1, Ha.svg

| align="center"|File:Batak Ha-1, Ka-1.svg

| align="center" |File:Batak Ba-1.svg

| align="center" |File:Batak Pa-1.svg

| align="center" |File:Batak Wa-3.svg

| align="center"|File:Batak Ga-1.svg

| align="center"|File:Batak Ra-1.svg

| align="center"|File:Batak Ma-1.svg

| align="center"|File:Batak Ta-1.svg

| align="center"|File:Batak Sa-1, Ca-1.svg

| align="center" |File:Batak Ya-1.svg

| align="center" |File:Batak La-1.svg

|

| align="center"|File:Batak Sa-1, Ca-1.svg

style="length:10%;"

| style="width:10%; text-align:center;"|Toba

| align="center" |File:Batak A-1, Ha.svg

| align="center" | File:Batak Ha-1, Ka-1.svg

| align="center" | File:Batak Ha-1, Ka-1.svg

| align="center" |File:Batak Ba-1.svg

| align="center" |File:Batak Pa-1.svg

| align="center" |File:Batak Wa-3.svg{{ref|2|2}}

| align="center"|File:Batak Ga-1.svg

| align="center"|File:Batak Ra-1.svg

| align="center"|File:Batak Ma-1.svg

| align="center"|File:Batak Ta-2.svg{{ref|3|3}}

| align="center"|File:Batak Sa-1, Ca-1.svg

| align="center" |File:Batak Ya-1.svg

| align="center" |File:Batak La-1.svg

| align="center" |File:Batak Ca-2, Nya.svg

| align="center" rowspan="2" |

style="length:10%;"

| style="width:10%; text-align:center;"|Simalungun

| align="center" |File:Batak A-2.svg

| align="center" | File:Batak Ha-2, Ka-2.svg

| align="center"|File:Batak Ha-2, Ka-2.svg

| align="center" |File:Batak Ba-1.svg

| align="center"|File:Batak Pa-2.svg

| align="center" |File:Batak Wa-2.svg

| align="center" |File:Batak Ga-2.svg

| align="center" |File:Batak Ra-2.svg

| align="center"|File:Batak Ma-2.svg

| align="center"|File:Batak Ta-2.svg

| align="center"|File:Batak Sa-2.svg

| align="center"|File:Batak Ya-2.svg

| align="center" |File:Batak La-2.svg

| align="center" |File:Batak Ca-2, Nya.svg

| align="center"|File:Batak Nda.svg

| align="center"|File:Batak Mba-1.svg{{ref|6|6}}

Alternate forms:


{{note|1|1}} File:Batak Na-2.svg (used in Mandailing)

{{note|2|2}} File:Batak Wa-1.svg

{{note|3|3}} File:Batak Ta-1.svg

{{note|4|4}} File:Batak Sa-2.svg

{{note|5|5}} File:Batak Ca-2, Nya.svg

{{note|6|6}} File:Batak Ba-1.svg

Diacritics

Diacritics are used to change the pronunciation of a character. They can change the vowel from the inherent {{IPA|/a/}}, mark a final [velar nasal] {{IPA|/ŋ/}}, mark a final velar fricative {{IPA|/x/}}, or indicate a final consonant with no vowel:

class="wikitable"

|+ Batak Diacritics

scope="col" rowspan="2" | Latin{{br}}Trans.

! scope="col" colspan="5" style="border-left:#aaaaaa double;" | Batak Diacritics

| scope="col" rowspan="11" style="border-top:#aaaaaa hidden; border-bottom:#aaaaaa hidden;" |     

! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Latin{{br}}Trans.

! scope="col" colspan="5" style="border-left:#aaaaaa double;" | Batak Diacritics with {{IPA|/ka/}}

scope="col" style="border-left:#aaaaaa double;" | Karo

! scope="col" | Mand.

! scope="col" | Pakp.

! scope="col" | Sima.

! scope="col" | Toba

! scope="col" style="border-left:#aaaaaa double;" | Karo

! scope="col" | Mand.

! scope="col" | Pakp.

! scope="col" | Sima.

! scope="col" | Toba

align="left"

! scope="row" | -a

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa double;" |

|

|

|

|

! scope="row" | ka

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa double;" | File:Batak Ha-1, Ka-1.svg

| File:Batak Ka-3.svg

| File:Batak Ha-1, Ka-1.svg

| File:Batak Ha-2, Ka-2.svg

| File:Batak Ha-1, Ka-1.svg

align="center"

! scope="row" | -e

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa double;" | File:Batak sign E-1.svg


File:Batak sign E-2.svg

| File:Batak sign E-2.svg

| File:Batak sign E-3, O-2.svg


File:Batak sign E-2.svg

| File:Batak sign E-2.svg

| File:Batak sign E-2.svg

! scope="row" | ke

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa double;" | File:Batak Ke-3.png


File:Batak Ke-1.png

| File:Batak Ke (Mandailing).png

| File:Batak Ke-2, Ko-2.png


File:Batak Ke-1.png

| File:Batak Ke (Simalungun).png

| File:Batak Ke-1.png

align="center"

! scope="row" | -i

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa double;" | File:Batak sign I-1.svg


File:Batak sign I-2.svg

| File:Batak sign I-1.svg

| File:Batak sign I-1.svg

| File:Batak sign I-2.svg

| File:Batak sign I-1.svg

! scope="row" | ki

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa double;" | File:Batak Ki-1.png


File:Batak Ki-2.png

| File:Batak Ki (Mandailing).png

| File:Batak Ki-1.png

| File:Batak Ki (Simalungun).png

| File:Batak Ki-1.png

align="center"

! scope="row" | -o

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa double;" | File:Batak sign E-3, O-2.svg


File:Batak sign O-3.svg

| File:Batak sign O-1.svg

| File:Batak sign O-1.svg

| File:Batak sign O-1.svg

| File:Batak sign O-1.svg

! scope="row" | ko

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa double;" | File:Batak Ke-2, Ko-2.png


File:Batak Ko-3.png

| File:Batak Ko (Mandailing).png

| File:Batak Ko-1, Ku-1.png

| File:Batak Ko (Simalungun).png

| File:Batak Ko-1, Ku-1.png

align="center"

! scope="row" | -ou

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa double;" |

|

|

| File:Batak sign Ou.svg

|

! scope="row" | kou

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa double;" |

|

|

| File:Batak Kou (Simalungun).png

|

align="center"

! scope="row" | -u

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa double;" | File:Batak sign O-1.svg

| File:Batak sign U.svg

| File:Batak sign U.svg

| File:Batak sign U.svg

| File:Batak sign U.svg

! scope="row" | ku

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa double;" | File:Batak Ko-1, Ku-1.png

| File:Batak Ku (Mandailing).png

| File:Batak Ku-2.png

| File:Batak Ku (Simalungun).png

| File:Batak Ku-2.png

align="center"

! scope="row" | -ng

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa double;" | File:Batak sign Ng.svg

| File:Batak sign Ng.svg

| File:Batak sign Ng.svg

| File:Batak sign Ng.svg

| File:Batak sign Ng.svg

! scope="row" | kang

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa double;" | File:Batak Kang.png

| File:Batak Kang (Mandailing).png

| File:Batak Kang.png

| File:Batak Kang (Simalungun).png

| File:Batak Kang.png

align="center"

! scope="row" | -h

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa double;" | File:Batak sign H.svg

|

| File:Batak sign H.svg

| File:Batak sign H.svg

|

! scope="row" | kah

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa double;" | File:Batak Kah.png

|

| File:Batak Kah.png

| File:Batak Kah (Simalungun).png

|

align="center"

! scope="row" | –

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa double;" | File:Batak sign mute-2.svg

| File:Batak sign mute-1.svg

| File:Batak sign mute-1.svg

| File:Batak sign mute-2.svg

| File:Batak sign mute-1.svg

! scope="row" | k

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa double;" | File:Batak K-1 (Karo).svg

| File:Batak K-4 (Mandailing).svg

| File:Batak K-3 (Toba, Pakpak).svg

| File:Batak K-2 (Simalungun).svg

| File:Batak K-3 (Toba, Pakpak).svg

=Ligatures with U=

The diacritic for U used by Mandailing, Pakpak, Simalungun, and Toba can form ligatures with its base character:

+ Ligatures with -U
valign="top" |

{| class="wikitable"

scope="col" colspan="5" | Batak Script

! scope="col" | Description

File:Batak A-1, Ha.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" |  +

| File:Batak sign U.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | = 

| File:Batak U-2.svg 

| a + -u = u

File:Batak A-2.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" |  +

| File:Batak sign U.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | = 

| File:Batak U-3.svg

| a + -u = u (Simalungun)

File:Batak Ha-3.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" |  +

| File:Batak sign U.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | = 

| File:Batak Hu-3.svg 

| ha + -u = hu (Mandailing)

File:Batak Ha-2, Ka-2.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" |  +

| File:Batak sign U.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | = 

| File:Batak Ku (Simalungun).png 

| ha + -u = hu (Simalungun)

File:Batak Ha-1, Ka-1.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" |  +

| File:Batak sign U.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | = 

| File:Batak Ku-2.png 

| ha + -u = hu

File:Batak Ka-3.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" |  +

| File:Batak sign U.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | = 

| File:Batak Ku (Mandailing).png 

| ka + -u = ku (Mandailing)

File:Batak Ba-1.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" |  +

| File:Batak sign U.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | = 

| File:Batak Bu-1.svg 

| ba + -u = bu

File:Batak Pa-1.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" |  +

| File:Batak sign U.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | = 

| File:Batak Pu-1.svg 

| pa + -u = pu (Mandailing)

File:Batak Pa-1.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" |  +

| File:Batak sign U.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | = 

| File:Batak Pu-3.svg 

| pa + -u = pu (Pakpak, Toba)

File:Batak Pa-2.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" |  +

| File:Batak sign U.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | = 

| File:Batak Pu-2.svg 

| pa + -u = pu (Simalungun)

File:Batak Na.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" |  +

| File:Batak sign U.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | = 

| File:Batak Nu-1.svg 

| na + -u = nu

File:Batak Na-2.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" |  +

| File:Batak sign U.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | = 

| File:Batak Nu-2.svg 

| na + -u = nu (Mandailing)

File:Batak Wa-1.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" |  +

| File:Batak sign U.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | = 

| File:Batak Wu-1.svg 

| wa + -u = wu (Mandailing, Toba)

File:Batak Wa-3.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" |  +

| File:Batak sign U.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | = 

| File:Batak Wu-3.svg 

| wa + -u = wu (Pakpak, Toba)

File:Batak Wa-2.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" |  +

| File:Batak sign U.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | = 

| File:Batak Wu-2.svg 

| wa + -u = wu (Simalungun)

File:Batak Ga-1.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" |  +

| File:Batak sign U.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | = 

| File:Batak Gu-1.svg 

| ga + -u = gu

File:Batak Ga-2.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" |  +

| File:Batak sign U.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | = 

| File:Batak Gu-2.svg 

| ga + -u = gu (Simalungun)

File:Batak Ja.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" |  +

| File:Batak sign U.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | = 

| File:Batak Ju-1.svg 

| ja + -u = ju

| valign="top"|

class="wikitable"
scope="col" colspan="5" | Batak Script

! scope="col" | Description

File:Batak Da.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" |  +

| File:Batak sign U.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | = 

| File:Batak Du-1.svg 

| da + -u = du

File:Batak Ra-1.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" |  +

| File:Batak sign U.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | = 

| File:Batak Ru-1.svg 

| ra + -u = ru

File:Batak Ra-2.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" |  +

| File:Batak sign U.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | = 

| File:Batak Ru-2.svg 

| ra + -u = ru (Simalungun)

File:Batak Ma-1.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" |  +

| File:Batak sign U.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | = 

| File:Batak Mu-1.svg 

| ma + -u = mu

File:Batak Ma-2.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" |  +

| File:Batak sign U.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | = 

| File:Batak Mu-2.svg 

| ma + -u = mu (Simalungun)

File:Batak Ta-1.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" |  +

| File:Batak sign U.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | = 

| File:Batak Tu-1.svg 

| ta + -u = tu

File:Batak Ta-2.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" |  +

| File:Batak sign U.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | = 

| File:Batak Tu-2.svg 

| ta + -u = tu

File:Batak Sa-1, Ca-1.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" |  +

| File:Batak sign U.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | = 

| File:Batak Su-1.svg 

| sa + -u = su (Pakpak)

File:Batak Sa-3.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" |  +

| File:Batak sign U.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | = 

| File:Batak Su-4.svg 

| sa + -u = su (Mandailing)

File:Batak Sa-2.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" |  +

| File:Batak sign U.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | = 

| File:Batak Su-4.svg 

| sa + -u = su (Mandailing)

File:Batak Sa-2.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" |  +

| File:Batak sign U for Simalungun Su.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | = 

| File:Batak Su-3.svg 

| sa + -u = su (Simalungun)

File:Batak Ya-1.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" |  +

| File:Batak sign U.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | = 

| File:Batak Yu-1.svg 

| ya + -u = yu

File:Batak Ya-2.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" |  +

| File:Batak sign U.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | = 

| File:Batak Yu-2.svg 

| ya + -u = yu (Simalungun)

File:Batak Nga.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" |  +

| File:Batak sign U.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | = 

| File:Batak Ngu-1.svg 

| nga + -u = ngu

File:Batak La-1.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" |  +

| File:Batak sign U.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | = 

| File:Batak Lu-1.svg 

| la + -u = lu

File:Batak La-2.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" |  +

| File:Batak sign U.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | = 

| File:Batak Lu-2.svg 

| la + -u = lu (Simalungun)

File:Batak Ca-2, Nya.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" |  +

| File:Batak sign U.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | = 

| File:Batak Nyu-1.svg 

| nya + -u = nyu

File:Batak Ca-4.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" |  +

| File:Batak sign U.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | = 

| File:Batak Cu-4.svg 

| ca + -u = cu (Mandailing)

|}

=Tompi=

In Mandailing, the diacritic tompi can be used to change the sound of some characters:

class="wikitable"

|+ tompi

scope="col" | ha

! scope="col" style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" |  +

! scope="col" | tompi

! scope="col" style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | = 

! scope="col" | ka

! scope="col" | sa

! scope="col" style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" |  +

! scope="col" | tompi

! scope="col" style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | = 

! scope="col" | ca

rowspan=2 | File:Batak Ha-3.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" rowspan=3 |  +

| rowspan=2 |File:Batak sign tompi.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" rowspan=3 | = 

| rowspan=2 |File:Batak Ka-3.svg 

| File:Batak Sa-2.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" |  +

| File:Batak sign tompi.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | = 

| File:Batak Ca-2.svg 

File:Batak Sa-3.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" |  +

| File:Batak sign tompi.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | = 

| File:Batak Ca-4.svg 

=Placement of diacritics for Ng and H=

The diacritics for Ng (File:Batak sign Ng.svg) and H (File:Batak sign H.svg) are usually written above spacing vowel diacritics instead of above the base character.

Examples: File:Batak syllable ping.svg ping, File:Batak syllable pong.svg pong, File:Batak syllable peh.svg peh, and File:Batak syllable pih.svg pih.

=Diacritic reordering for closed syllables=

Vowel diacritics are reordered for closed syllables (that is, syllables where the final consonant has no vowel). Consonants with no vowel are marked by the Batak pangolat or panongonan diacritic, depending on the language.

When they are used for a closed syllable (like "tip"), both the vowel diacritic and the pangolat or panongonan are written at the end of the syllable.

Examples of closed syllables using pangolat:

class="wikitable"

|+ reordering

scope="col" | ta

! scope="col" style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" |  + 

! scope="col" | vowel

! scope="col" style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" |  + 

! scope="col" | pa

! scope="col" style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" |  + 

! scope="col" | pangolat

! scope="col" style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" |  = 

! scope="col" | syllable

align="center"

| File:Batak Ta-2.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" |

|

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | +

| File:Batak Pa-1.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | +

| File:Batak sign mute-1.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | =

| File:Batak syllable tap.svg

align="center" style="border-top:#aaaaaa hidden;"

| ta

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" |

|

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | +

| pa

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | +

| pangolat

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | =

| tap

align="center"

| File:Batak Ta-2.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | +

| File:Batak sign E-2.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | +

| File:Batak Pa-1.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | +

| File:Batak sign mute-1.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | =

| File:Batak syllable tep-2.svg

align="center" style="border-top:#aaaaaa hidden;"

| ta

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | +

| e

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | +

| pa

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | +

| pangolat

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | =

| tep

align="center"

| File:Batak Ta-2.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | +

| File:Batak sign E-1.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | +

| File:Batak Pa-1.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | +

| File:Batak sign mute-1.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | =

| File:Batak syllable tep-1.svg

align="center" style="border-top:#aaaaaa hidden;"

| ta

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | +

| e

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | +

| pa

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | +

| pangolat

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | =

| tep

align="center"

| File:Batak Ta-2.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | +

| File:Batak sign I-1.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | +

| File:Batak Pa-1.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | +

| File:Batak sign mute-1.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | =

| File:Batak syllable tip.svg

align="center" style="border-top:#aaaaaa hidden;"

| ta

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | +

| i

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | +

| pa

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | +

| pangolat

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | =

| tip

align="center"

| File:Batak Ta-2.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | +

| File:Batak sign O-1.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | +

| File:Batak Pa-1.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | +

| File:Batak sign mute-1.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | =

| File:Batak syllable top.svg

align="center" style="border-top:#aaaaaa hidden;"

| ta

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | +

| o

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | +

| pa

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | +

| pangolat

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | =

| top

align="center"

| File:Batak Ta-2.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | +

| File:Batak sign U.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | +

| File:Batak Pa-1.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | +

| File:Batak sign mute-1.svg

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | =

| File:Batak syllable tup.svg

align="center" style="border-top:#aaaaaa hidden;"

| ta

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | +

| u

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | +

| pa

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | +

| pangolat

| style="border-left:#aaaaaa hidden;border-right:#aaaaaa hidden;" | =

| tup

Punctuation and ornaments

Batak is normally written without spaces or punctuation (as scriptio continua). However, special marks or bindu are occasionally used.

They vary greatly in size and design from manuscript to manuscript.

class="wikitable"

|+ bindu

scope="col" | Examples

! scope="col" | Name

! scope="col" | Function

File:Batak bindu na metek-1.svg

|rowspan=2| Bindu na metek (small bindu)

|rowspan=3| Begins paragraphs and stanzas

File:Batak bindu na metek-2.svg
File:Batak bindu pinarboras.svg

| Bindu panarboras (rice-shaped bindu)

File:Batak bindu judul.svg

| Bindu judul (title bindu)

| Separates a title from the body of the text

File:Batak bindu pangolat.svg

| Bindu pangolat

| Trailing punctuation

Unicode

Batak script was added to the Unicode Standard in October 2010 with the release of version 6.0.

=Block=

{{Main|Batak (Unicode block)}}

The Unicode block for Batak is U+1BC0–U+1BFF:

{{Unicode chart Batak}}

Gallery

File:Paper Museum in Atlanta 010.JPG|Batak book about the art of divination from a rooster (Robert C. Williams Paper Museum in Atlanta, Georgia, USA)

File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Bamboe tabaks- en wichelkoker met Bataks schrift TMnr 512-4.jpg|Batak script carved into a bamboo tube with wooden stopper (Museum of the Tropics in Amsterdam, the Netherlands)

File:Bamboo with Batak script.jpg|Bamboo inscribed with Simalungun Batak script (National Museum of Ethnology in Leiden, The Netherlands)

File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Wichelboekje van palmblad TMnr 5991-6.jpg|Batak palm leaf book (Museum of the Tropics in Amsterdam, the Netherlands)

File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Wichelboek met formules recepten en voorschriften die worden toegepast door de priester-genezer TMnr 1581-1.jpg|Book of formulas, recipes, and rules applied by Batak priests (Museum of the Tropics in Amsterdam, the Netherlands)

File:Book of Wizards Batak Indonesia.jpg|Magic book used by priests of the Toba Batak tribe (National Museum of Ethnology in Leiden, The Netherlands)

File:Manuscript in Toba-Batak language, central Sumatra, early 1800s - Robert C. Williams Paper Museum - DSC00360.JPG|Manuscript in Batak Toba language, central Sumatra, early 1800s. (Robert C. Williams Paper Museum in Atlanta, Georgia, USA)

File:Batak Pustaha = Magic Book, leaf 73.tif|alt=Batak Pustaha|Batak Pustaha (Magic Book) (SOAS University of London) - [https://digital.soas.ac.uk/l/LOAA005798/00004/ entire manuscript viewable online]

See also

Notes

Citations

{{reflist}}

Sources

  • {{Cite book

| last = Kozok

| first = Uli

| title = Surat Batak: Sejarah Perkembangan Tulisan Batak : Berikut Pedoman Menulis Aksara Batak Dan Cap Si Singamangaraja XII

| publisher = Gramedia

| date = January 2009

| location = Jakarta

| language = id

| isbn = 978-979-9101-53-2 }}

  • {{Citation

| last1 = Everson | first1 = Michael

| author1-link = Michael Everson

| last2 = Kozok| first2 = Uli

| title = N3320R: Proposal for encoding the Batak script in the UCS

| date = 7 October 2008

| url = https://www.unicode.org/wg2/docs/n3320.pdf }}

  • {{Cite web

| last = Kozok

| first = Uli

| title = Kursus Kilat Aksara Batak (Quick Course in Batak Script)

| language = id

| url = http://www.hawaii.edu/indolang/surat/kursus.html

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20021031234050/http://www.hawaii.edu/indolang/surat/kursus.html

| url-status = dead

| archive-date = 31 October 2002

| access-date = 20 April 2011 }}