Kayah Li script

Ian James
© May 2010

script name

This is a modern writing system for Western Kayah Li, a subgroup of Karen in Myanmar. The region of Kayah State borders on Maehongson, Thailand. The script was devised in 1962 by Htae Bu Phae. This font is an imitation of one produced by Phayap University in Chiangmai.

Consonants

The letters for consonants share one or two features with Burmese and Tai writing systems. There is one digraph.

Vowels & Tones

Kayah Li has a vowel-set typical of the region, plus the option to apply breathiness to a vowel. Of the possible diphthongs, one has special spellings.

There are four level tones in the language (excluding any tonal implications of breathy voice) and it is the upper middle tone which is unmarked.

Punctuation

Karen textile

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This page © Ian James – last modified Jul.23,2011