Official script
{{Short description|none}}
{{More citations needed|date=April 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
File:"a" in official Indian-language scripts (serif).svg official scripts of the Indian Republic used by the official languages of India –
{{small|(top row: Tamil, Malayalam, Odia, Gujarati, Meitei
bottom row:Bengali/Assamese, Kannada/Telugu, Ol Chiki, Devanagari, Gurmukhi), Urdu alphabet}}
These are the examples of the official scripts.]]
An official script is a writing system that is specifically designated to be official in the constitutions or other applicable laws of countries, states, and other jurisdictions. Akin to an official language, an official script is much rarer. It is used primarily where an official language is in practice written with two or more scripts. As, in these languages, use of script often has cultural or political connotations, proclamation of an official script is sometimes criticized as having a goal of influencing culture or politics or both. Desired effects also may include easing education, communication and some other aspects of life.
List of official scripts
Below is a partial list of official scripts used in different countries. Those in italics are states that have limited international recognition.
This list does not cover local variations of international scripts, such as which diacritics are used.
- Armenia – Armenian alphabet
- Bolivia – Latin script
- Bosnia and Herzegovina:
- Republika Srpska – Cyrillic and Latin[https://advokat-prnjavorac.com/legislation/Constitution-of-Republika-Srpska.pdf Constitution of Republika Srpska] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222201433/https://advokat-prnjavorac.com/legislation/Constitution-of-Republika-Srpska.pdf |date=22 December 2015 }}, Article 7.
- Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina – Cyrillic and Latin[https://advokat-prnjavorac.com/legislation/constitution_fbih.pdf Constitution of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412080457/https://advokat-prnjavorac.com/legislation/constitution_fbih.pdf |date=12 April 2019 }}, Part I, Article 6.
- Bulgaria – Cyrillic (Bulgarian alphabet)
- Cambodia – Khmer script
- China, People's Republic of (mainland China) – Simplified ChineseNational People's Congress of China, {{cite web|url=http://www.npc.gov.cn/wxzl/gongbao/2000-10/31/content_1481418.htm|title=The law of national all-purpose language and character in the People's Republic of China.|access-date=4 May 2017|archive-date=5 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805005500/http://www.npc.gov.cn/wxzl/gongbao/2000-10/31/content_1481418.htm|url-status=live}}
- Hong Kong SAR – Traditional Chinese (de facto), Latin scriptAfter the announcement of Simplified Chinese in mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau didn't follow the change, making Traditional Chinese the de facto official script. (Hong Kong and Macau were still colonies at that time, and their current constitutions don't state whether Tradition Chinese or Simplified Chinese is to be used. Both places continued to use Traditional Chinese after handover.see List of languages written in Chinese characters and derivatives of Chinese characters )
- Macau SAR – Traditional Chinese (de facto), Latin script
- Inner Mongolia region – Mongolian alphabet, Simplified Chinese
- Tibet region – Tibetan alphabet, Simplified Chinese
- Xinjiang region – Uyghur Ereb Yéziqi,Xinjiang Languages
and characters, {{cite web|url=http://www.xjyw.gov.cn/ywmzyw?contentId=35621ccb44a346039c61d683d85684c2&navToId=1d09171991c04352a768543c5caf54f3|title=Uyghur Language and characters.}}{{dead link|date=April 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Simplified Chinese
- Guangxi region – Zhuang Latin alphabet, Simplified Chinese
- Croatia – Croatian alphabetConstitution of Croatia, Article 12: {{cite web |url=http://www.sabor.hr/Default.aspx?art=2407 |title=Basic Provisions |publisher=Croatian Parliament |access-date=26 August 2011 |quote=The Croatian language and the Latin script shall be in official use in the Republic of Croatia. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110909155806/http://www.sabor.hr/Default.aspx?art=2407 |archive-date=9 September 2011 |url-status=dead }}
- Ethiopia – Ge'ez script
- Eritrea – Ge'ez script
- Georgia – Georgian alphabet{{Citation needed|date=August 2011}}
- Greece – Greek alphabet
- Hungary – Latin script
- India:
- Hindi,{{Cite web | url = http://socialjustice.nic.in/olact1963.php | title = Official Language Act - Official Language: Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India | website = socialjustice.nic.in | access-date = 2016-02-25 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20160304090115/http://socialjustice.nic.in/olact1963.php | archive-date = 4 March 2016 | url-status = dead}} Marathi, Konkani, Nepali, Maithili, Boro, Sanskrit, Dogri – Devanagari
- Assamese – Assamese alphabet
- Bengali – Bengali alphabet
- Gujarati – Gujarati script
- Kannada – Kannada script
- Kashmiri – Perso-Arabic script
- Malayalam – Malayalam script
- Meitei – Meitei script
- Odia – Odia script
- Punjabi – Gurmukhi
- Santali – Ol Chiki script
- Sindhi – Perso-Arabic script, Devanagari
- Tamil – Tamil script
- Telugu – Telugu script
- Urdu – Urdu alphabet
- Islamic world:
- Afghanistan – Perso-Arabic
- Algeria – Arabic and Tifinagh
- Azerbaijan – Azeri Latin alphabet{{Cite web |title=Alphabet Transitions: Chronology of the New Latin Script |url=https://www.azer.com/aiweb/categories/magazine/52_folder/52_articles/52_alphabet.html |access-date=2024-03-19 |website=www.azer.com |archive-date=1 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231201053421/http://www.azer.com/aiweb/categories/magazine/52_folder/52_articles/52_alphabet.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Staff |date=2001-08-02 |title=A-Z back in Azerbaijan |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/aug/02/2 |access-date=2024-03-19 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=19 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240319155517/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/aug/02/2 |url-status=live }}
- Bahrain – Arabic
- Bangladesh – Bengali alphabet
- Brunei – Rumi script (Latin) and Jawi script (Arabic)
- Egypt – Arabic
- Indonesia – Rumi script (Latin)
- Iran – Perso-Arabic[https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Constitution_of_the_Islamic_Republic_of_Iran#Chapter_2_:_The_Official_Language,_Script,_Calendar,_and_Flag_of_the_Country Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Official Language, Script, Calendar, and Flag of the Country] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210305102724/https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Constitution_of_the_Islamic_Republic_of_Iran#Chapter_2_:_The_Official_Language,_Script,_Calendar,_and_Flag_of_the_Country |date=5 March 2021 }}.
- Iraq – Arabic
- Jordan – Arabic
- Kazakhstan – Cyrillic (Kazakh, Russian) and Latin (Kazakh)
- Kuwait – Arabic
- Lebanon – Arabic
- Libya – Arabic
- Malaysia – Rumi script (Latin); Jawi script (Arabic) is recognized.{{Cite web| url =http://world.moleg.go.kr/fl/download/6919/1LVXA00KM0Z8UMRW4CWO| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20160303161054/http://world.moleg.go.kr/fl/download/6919/1LVXA00KM0Z8UMRW4CWO| url-status =dead| archive-date =2016-03-03| title =National Language Acts 1963/67| quote =The script of the national language shall be the Rumi script: provided that this shall not prohibit the use of the Malay script, more commonly known as the Jawi script, of the national language.}}
- Maldives – Thaana
- Oman – Arabic
- Palestine – Arabic
- Qatar – Arabic
- Saudi Arabia – Arabic
- Tunisia – Arabic
- Turkey – Latin alphabet
- United Arab Emirates – Arabic
- Yemen – Arabic
- Italy:
- Venetian (Official script of the Venetian language)
- Japan – a combination of Kana (Hiragana, Katakana) and Kanji (Shinjitai)
- Korea (both) – Chosŏn'gŭl/Hangul{{cite book|last1=Alton|first1=David|last2=Chidley|first2=Rob|title=Building Bridges: Is There Hope for North Korea?|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eTWqpOOXI_QC&pg=PA89|year=2013|publisher=Lion Books|location=Oxford|isbn=978-0-7459-5598-8|page=89}} (Hanja is sometime used in South Korea, not used in North Korea)Article 14 of the [http://law.go.kr/lsInfoP.do?lsiSeq=136820&chrClsCd=010203&urlMode=engLsInfoR&viewCls=engLsInfoR#0000 Framework Act on Korean Language] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624181418/https://law.go.kr/lsInfoP.do?lsiSeq=136820&chrClsCd=010203&urlMode=engLsInfoR&viewCls=engLsInfoR#0000 |date=24 June 2021 }} prefers hangul but also allows hanja in parentheses, in cases prescribed by South Korean Presidential Decree.
- Laos – Lao script
- Malta – Latin script
- Moldova – Latin alphabetConstitution of Moldova, Article 13: {{Cite web| url =https://www.presedinte.md/app/webroot/Constitutia_RM/Constitutia_RM_RO.pdf| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20230405142436/https://www.parlament.md/CadrulLegal/Constitution/tabid/151/language/ro-RO/Default.aspx| url-status =dead| archive-date =2023-04-05| title =Constitution of Moldova| quote =The national language of the Republic of Moldova is Romanian, and its writing is based on the Latin alphabet.}}
- Mongolia – Mongolian Cyrillic alphabet and Mongolian script{{cite news|url=http://ubpost.mongolnews.mn/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6478&Itemid=36 |title=Official Documents to be in Mongolian Script |newspaper=UB Post |date=2011-06-21 |language=zh |access-date=2010-07-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111101013639/http://ubpost.mongolnews.mn/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6478&Itemid=36 |archive-date=1 November 2011 }}
- Montenegro – Cyrillic (Montenegrin alphabet){{Cite web
| url = http://www.vlada.me/biblioteka/1118659920.doc
| title = Влада Црне Горе
| website = vlada.me
| access-date = 2016-02-25
| archive-date = 16 August 2020
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200816064128/http://www.vlada.me/biblioteka/1118659920.doc
| url-status = dead
}}
- Myanmar – Burmese alphabet
- Nepal
- Nepali language — Devanagari
- Nepal Bhasa — Ranjana script
- Maithili — Tirhuta script and Kaithi
- Bhojpuri language — Kaithi and Devanagari
- Magar — Magar Akkha script and Devanagari
- Tharu — Devanagari
- Tamang — Tamyig, Devanagari and Tibetan script
- Bajjika — Tirhuta script, Kaithi and Devanagari
- Limbu — Limbu script
- Bantawa — Kirat Rai script and Devanagari
- Gurung — Khema script, Devanagari and Tibetan script
- Awadhi — Kaithi, Perso-Arabic script, Devanagari and Latin script
- Urdu — Urdu alphabet, Roman Urdu and Urdu Braille
- North Macedonia – Cyrillic (Macedonian alphabet)Constitution of Macedonia, Article 7: {{cite web |title=Constitution of the Republic of Macedonia |url=http://www.sobranie.mk/en/default-en.asp?ItemID=9F7452BF44EE814B8DB897C1858B71FF |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928183853/http://www.sobranie.mk/en/default-en.asp?ItemID=9F7452BF44EE814B8DB897C1858B71FF |archive-date=28 September 2011 |access-date=26 August 2011 |publisher=Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia |quote=The Macedonian language, written using its Cyrillic alphabet, is the official language in the Republic of Macedonia.}}
- Philippines – Latin alphabet (de facto)
- Russian Federation – Cyrillic (Russian alphabet)In Russian, the designation of Cyrillic as an official script (2001) has the consequence that the official languages of national Republics of Russia have to be written in the Cyrillic script in all official institutions and education. The passing of the law was met with particular resistance and criticism in the Republic of Tatarstan, as it replaced the Turkish Latin alphabet which the local government tried to promote in education after the dissolution of USSR.see List of languages in Russia
- Serbia – Cyrillic (Serbian alphabet)Constitution of Serbia, Article 10: {{cite web |url=http://www.srbija.gov.rs/cinjenice_o_srbiji/ustav.php?change_lang=en |title=I Constitution Principles |publisher=Government of Serbia |access-date=26 August 2011 |quote=Serbian language and Cyrillic script shall be in official use in the Republic of Serbia. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130502072530/http://www.srbija.gov.rs/cinjenice_o_srbiji/ustav.php?change_lang=en |archive-date=2 May 2013 |url-status=dead }}
- Singapore
- English, Malay — Latin script
- Mandarin – Simplified Chinese
- Tamil – Tamil script
- Slovakia – Latin script
- TaiwanControl by Republic of China – Traditional Chinese
- Thailand – Thai script
- Ukraine – Cyrillic (Ukrainian alphabet)
- United Kingdom – Latin script
- Vietnam – Latin script (de facto)Chapter I - Decree 5 - Section 3 of the current Constitution (2013) states that Vietnamese language is the National language of Vietnam, but nothing states the Vietnamese Latin Alphabet (called as chữ Quốc ngữ) is the official script de jure.[https://vnexpress.net/quoc-hoi-thong-qua-hien-phap-sua-doi-2916328-p2.html] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115210349/https://vnexpress.net/tin-tuc/thoi-su/quoc-hoi-thong-qua-hien-phap-sua-doi-2916328-p2.html|date=15 November 2017}} chữ Hán (Chinese characters) and chữ Nôm sometime can be used, most in activities about the traditional cultural in Vietnam (e.g. Vietnamese calligraphy).