Global Information Lookup Global Information

Ersu Shaba script information


Ersu Shaba
Script type
Pictographic
Time period
ca. 1000–1500 CE to present
LanguagesErsu

The Ersu Shaba script, also called Ersu Shaba Picture Writing and known in Ersu as [ndzārāmá], is the writing system used in texts of the indigenous religion of the Ersu people, which is rendered in Chinese as Shābā (沙巴). These scriptures are recited in divination and when treating the sick. The script is used for non-scriptural texts as well, such as astrological almanacs, but predominantly ones which concern religion. Only Shaba priests are literate in the script.

The script is predominantly pictographic. It is limited in scope and is not sufficient to write the Ersu language fully. Some 200 glyphs have been identified, most of them depicting (and resembling) concrete objects. These are combined into composite diagrams. The system is (proto-)writing, as the relationship between form and meaning is fixed: Although glyphs may be written simply or elaborately, they may not be chosen at the author's whim, and pronunciation and interpretation is consistent across the several counties of the Ersu-speaking area. However, it typically takes many words to explain a few glyphs; the connection to language is definite in the object depicted, but the position and context of the glyphs does not have a fixed linguistic correlation.

Writing is done with a bamboo brush or animal hair dipped in white, black, red, blue, green, and yellow-colored ink. The color chosen may affect the meaning. For example, the glyph 'stars and moon' written in black means 'dim', but written in white it means 'shining' (Sun 2009:165).

and 9 Related for: Ersu Shaba script information

Request time (Page generated in 0.8032 seconds.)

Ersu Shaba script

Last Update:

The Ersu Shaba script, also called Ersu Shaba Picture Writing and known in Ersu as [ndzārāmá], is the writing system used in texts of the indigenous religion...

Word Count : 660

Ersuic languages

Last Update:

Chinese. Older adults mostly use Ersu, but younger people also use Chinese or Yi. The Ersu Shaba script of the shābā religious books is a pictographic...

Word Count : 493

Ersu language

Last Update:

form of written script found in Ersu history. It is currently known as Shaba pictographic script. Not much is known about the script, only that it used...

Word Count : 1919

List of writing systems

Last Update:

supplemented with syllabic Geba script. Emoji – used in electronic messages and web pages. Ersu Shaba scriptErsu Kaidā glyphs Lusona Nsibidi – Ekoi...

Word Count : 3429

Writing systems of Southeast Asia

Last Update:

alphabet Ersu Shaba Kayah Li alphabet Fraser alphabet (used to write the Lisu language) Naxi script Geba syllabary Dongba symbols Zomi script Tangut script Tibetan...

Word Count : 598

Lizu language

Last Update:

Lizu (Chinese: 傈苏, 里汝, 吕苏; Western Ersu) is a Qiangic language spoken in Western Sichuan, China. There are 4,000 speakers according to Sun (1982) and 7...

Word Count : 392

Buda script

Last Update:

Buda Script or (Aksara Buda) or Gunung Script is an archaic script. Based on its shape, the Buda Script still has a close relationship with the Kawi script...

Word Count : 1192

Old Sundanese script

Last Update:

script. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of Sundanese characters. Old Sundanese script (Sundanese:...

Word Count : 1237

Mianning County

Last Update:

former township of Linli (林里乡, now part of Fuxing), and the former town of Shaba (沙坝镇, now part of Manshuiwan). Two of the three Ersuic languages, the critically...

Word Count : 375

PDF Search Engine © AllGlobal.net