Kala Glyphs (tloko / omya)

Kala glyphs are logosyllabic, combining about 500 logograms (which represent whole words) and 220 syllabograms (which represent syllables). About 300 glyphs are commonly used. They were invented by Carl Buck. These are primarily meant to be an epigraphic system, but a handwritten version is possible. These glyphs are a mixed system like Japanese or Mayan, consisting of logograms and featural syllabic glyphs. Unlike Mayan glyphs which are logograms complemented by a set of syllabic glyphs, this system is primarily a syllabary complemented by logograms.

The term tloko means "syllable" while omya means "carve; etching". Both can be used to refer to this writing system.

Notable features

1. Type of writing system: logosyllabic
2. Direction of writing: vertical from top to bottom and from left to right
3. Number of symbols: 500 logograms, which represent whole words, and 220 syllabograms, which represent syllables: about 300 glyphs are commonly used.

Kala consonants

The basic consonant glyphs were directly inspired by Hangul.

Each consonant has three forms. The form used depends on the vowel added to form the syllable glyph. (ø = null consonant)

Kala vowels

The vowels elements are shown here with the null consonant glyph. (-C = null vowel, or final consonant)

Logographs

A sample of the logographs; many of them are made from syllable glyphs that are unused based on phonotactics.

Kala numerals and numbers

Sample text in Kala

More information about Kala can be found at
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Writing systems by Carl Buck

Ajan, Ecta, Eshta, Kala, Kenamoya, Kitse, Moj, Naua, Pesato, Uyata, Zhongyinzi

Constructed scripts for: Ainu | Arabic | Chinese languages | Dutch | English | Hawaiian | Japanese | Korean | Russian | Spanish | Tagalog | Turkish | Vietnamese | Welsh | Other natural languages | Colour-based scripts | Phonetic/universal scripts | Constructed scripts for constructed languages | Adaptations of existing alphabets | Fictional alphabets | Magical alphabets | A-Z index | How to submit a constructed script

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