available in 11x17" poster size
Baybayin Script ~ The lost Script was
used before the arrival of the Spanish. Originating from Java, Indonesia
from a script called Kavi. Brought to the natives by Indonesians during the
Spice Trade when the islands were a central seaport over 3,500 years ago.
This
primitive form of communication was used to message neighboring villages
and kababayan (townmate).
There was one symbol
for each sound. In it's early use, the symbols did not provide for
consonants at the end of words or syllable.
IE. Mahal , the l was
dropped and assumed.
"Kudlit" or the
marking above or below the symbol, represents the vowel sound. The absents
of the mark is the short vowel sound = a. Place the kudlit on the top of
the symbol creating the /e/ or /i / sounds and under the symbol changes it
to /o/ or /u/.
The Spanish later
modified the script to include the missing sounds and letters.
Alibata Script ~ The
arrival of the Spanish shows a change in the script to accommodate for the
missing sounds and letters in their language. A small (+)or crossed
"kudlit" was added under the symbol to represent sounds that did not end in
a vowel. Other modifications were found throughout the Philippine's
history, until the use of Baybayin or Alibata was eventually replaced with
the Roman alphabet.
The direction of the
written was originally found written from bottom to top, then left to
right. Later it was rotated horizontally and read left to right. And has
been found written all directions
I learned about this
ancient script from numerous elders, relatives and cousin's with an Alibata
tattoo or two. I am no expert and I use many resources, such as; Lola's,
Lolo's, Tita's and Tito's. Not to mention, looking up common words and
phrases on websites with English to Tagalog Dictionaries.
IE. Mabuhay
I use the modified
version for more contemporary words and phrases. Many names and English
spellings are impossible to translate.
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