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Script of Sindhi language:
A word about the scripts of Sindhi language would not be out of place.
Sindhi is now being written in Arabic Naskh Script, formally adopted by the
British in 1853. Sindhi is also written now in Devanagari script in some
parts in India. Before the adoption of the present script, Sindhi was being
written in a number of different but cognate scripts derived from
Devanagari. Historically the first written from of any language in Sindhi is
off course the Indus Script, presently being deciphered by different
scholars of the world.
In the Arab period we hear from Ibn Nadeem and Alberuni that Sindhi was
being written in 'many' scripts. The earliest evidence of the
proto-Devanagari script has been excavated from Bhambhore and Brahmanabad.
Only a few Sindhi words are extant on pieces of broken pottery found these
mounds. Later we are told by Sir Grierson in his "Linguistic Survey of
India" Vol:viii, that Sindhi was at a more recent time written in more than
eight different scripts namely Thatta, Khudavadi, luhanki, Khojki,
Devanagari,Gurmukhi and Hattai etc. Sir Grierson has given specimen of all
such scripts.
To achieve universality in writing for spreading education and in view of
the majority of the population being Muslims having an acquaintance with
Arabic Naskh script was adopted with slight modifications of letters to suit
typical Sindhi sounds, not found in most other languages of the world. |
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