UYGHUR ALPHABET Meaning and
Definition
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The Uyghur alphabet refers to the writing system used to represent the Uyghur language, one of the Turkic languages spoken by the Uyghur people primarily living in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China. It is also employed in various other regions such as Kazakhstan, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Pakistan, where Uyghur communities reside.
The Uyghur alphabet is based on the Arabic script and has undergone modifications to adapt it for the unique phonological features of the Uyghur language. It is a right-to-left alphabetic writing system, consisting of 32 graphical characters, known as letters, and additional marks representing vowel sounds. Numerous ligatures and diacritical marks are utilized to represent different sounds and linguistic variations within the language.
The Uyghur alphabet is a distinctive blend of the Arabic script and historical Uyghur traditions. While it shares similarities with the Perso-Arabic script, it has specific additions and modifications to account for sounds specific to Uyghur phonology. Historical writings in the Uyghur language, such as manuscripts and inscriptions, have played a significant role in shaping the modern Uyghur alphabet.
The adoption of the Uyghur alphabet has greatly contributed to the preservation and dissemination of Uyghur culture and literature, enabling the Uyghur people to express themselves in their native language. It serves as a key tool for education, media, religious texts, literature, and communication among Uyghur communities worldwide.
Etymology of UYGHUR ALPHABET
The etymology of the term "Uyghur alphabet" refers to the origin and linguistic history of the writing system used to represent the Uyghur language. The Uyghur alphabet is based on the Arabic script and is primarily used to write the Uyghur language, which is spoken by the Uyghur people primarily in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China.
The Uyghur alphabet is derived from the Old Turkic script, which emerged around the 8th century in Mongolia and spread across Central Asia. Over time, this script was adapted to write various Turkic languages, including Uyghur. The Uyghur alphabet was primarily developed during the 17th century by Uyghur linguists and scholars.
