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The Osmanya script ( so, Farta Cismaanya 𐒍𐒖𐒇𐒂𐒖 π’‹π’˜π’ˆπ’‘π’›π’’π’•π’–), also known as Far Soomaali (𐒍𐒖𐒇 π’˜π’π’ˆπ’‘π’›π’˜, "Somali writing") and, in Arabic, as ''al-kitābah al-ΚΏuthmānΔ«yah'' (Ψ§Ω„ΩƒΨͺΨ§Ψ¨Ψ© Ψ§Ω„ΨΉΨ«Ω…Ψ§Ω†ΩŠΨ©; "Osman writing"), is a writing script created to transcribe the
Somali language Somali (Latin script: ; Wadaad: ; Osmanya: 𐒖𐒍 π’ˆπ’π’‘π’›π’π’˜ ) is an Afroasiatic language belonging to the Cushitic branch. It is spoken as a mother tongue by Somalis in Greater Somalia and the Somali diaspora. Somali is an off ...
. It was invented between 1920 and 1922 by Osman Yusuf Kenadid, the son of
Sultan Sultan (; ar, Ψ³Ω„Ψ·Ψ§Ω† ', ) is a position with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", derived from the verbal noun ', meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it ...
Yusuf Ali Kenadid Yusuf Ali Kenadid ( so, Yuusuf Cali Keenadiid; 1837 - 14 August 1911) was a Somali Sultan. He was the founder of the Sultanate of Hobyo in April 1878. He was succeeded atop the throne by his son Ali Yusuf Kenadid. Family Yusuf Ali Kenadid was b ...
and brother of Sultan Ali Yusuf Kenadid of the
Sultanate of Hobyo The Sultanate of Hobyo ( so, Saldanadda Hobyo, ar, Ψ³Ω„Ψ·Ω†Ψ© Ω‡ΩˆΨ¨ΩŠΩˆ), also known as the Sultanate of Obbia,''New International Encyclopedia'', Volume 21, (Dodd, Mead: 1916), p.283. was a 19th-century Somali kingdom in present-day northeast ...
.


History

While Osmanya gained reasonably wide acceptance in
Somalia Somalia, , Osmanya script: π’ˆπ’π’‘π’›π’π’˜π’•π’–; ar, Ψ§Ω„Ψ΅ΩˆΩ…Ψ§Ω„, aαΉ£-αΉ’Ε«māl officially the Federal Republic of SomaliaThe ''Federal Republic of Somalia'' is the country's name per Article 1 of thProvisional Constituti ...
and quickly produced a considerable body of literature, it proved difficult to spread among the population mainly due to stiff competition from the long-established
Arabic script The Arabic script is the writing system used for Arabic and several other languages of Asia and Africa. It is the second-most widely used writing system in the world by number of countries using it or a script directly derived from it, and th ...
as well as the emerging Somali Latin alphabet developed by a number of leading scholars of Somali, including
Musa Haji Ismail Galal Musa Haji Ismail Galal ( so, Muuse Xaaji Ismaaciil Galaal, ar, Ω…ΩˆΨ³Ω‰ Ψ§Ω„Ψ­Ψ§Ψ¬ Ψ§Ψ³Ω…Ψ§ΨΉΩŠΩ„ Ψ¬Ω„Ψ§Ω„) (1917–1980) was a Somali writer, scholar, linguist, historian and polymath. He is notable for the creation of the Somali Latin scr ...
, B. W. Andrzejewski and
Shire Jama Ahmed ; 1936-1999) was a Somali linguist and a scholar. He is notable for his contribution to the creation of the modern Latin script for transcribing the Somali language. Early years Shire was born in the Dusamareeb region of Somalia to a Marehan fami ...
. As nationalist sentiments grew and since the Somali language had long lost its ancient script, the adoption of a universally recognized writing script for the Somali language became an important point of discussion. After independence, little progress was made on the issue, as opinion was divided over whether the Arabic or Latin scripts should be used instead. In October 1972, because of the Latin script's simplicity, its ability to cope with all of the sounds in the language, and the widespread existence of machines and typewriters designed for its use,Economist Intelligence Unit (Great Britain), ''Middle East annual review'', (1975), p.229 made President
Mohamed Siad Barre Mohamed Siad Barre ( so, Maxamed Siyaad Barre, Osmanya script: ; ar, Ω…Ψ­Ω…Ψ― سياد بري; c. 1910 – 2 January 1995) was a Somali head of state and general who served as the 3rd president of the Somali Democratic Republic from 1969 to 199 ...
require it for writing Somali instead of the Arabic or Osmanya scripts.Mohamed Diriye Abdullahi, ''Culture and Customs of Somalia'', (Greenwood Press: 2001), p.73 Barre's administration subsequently launched a massive literacy campaign designed to ensure its sole adoption, which led to a sharp decline in use of Osmanya.


Description

The direction of reading and writing in Osmanya is from left to right. Letter names are based on the names of letters in
Arabic Arabic (, ' ; , ' or ) is a Semitic language spoken primarily across the Arab world.Semitic languages: an international handbook / edited by Stefan Weninger; in collaboration with Geoffrey Khan, Michael P. Streck, Janet C. E.Watson; Walter ...
, and the long vowels ''uu'' and ''ii'' are represented by the letters ''waaw'' and ''yaa'', respectively.


Letters


Numbers


Unicode

Osmanya script was added to the
Unicode Unicode, formally The Unicode Standard,The formal version reference is is an information technology standard for the consistent encoding, representation, and handling of text expressed in most of the world's writing systems. The standard, whi ...
Standard in April 2003 with the release of version 4.0. The Unicode block for Osmanya is U+10480–U+104AF:


See also

* Kaddare script * Somali alphabets


Notes


References

* I.M. Lewis (1958) ''Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies'',
University of London The University of London (UoL; abbreviated as Lond or more rarely Londin in post-nominals) is a federal public research university located in London, England, United Kingdom. The university was established by royal charter in 1836 as a degree- ...
, Vol. 21 pp 134–156.


External links


Osmanya, Borama, Wadaad's writing and the Somali language

''Afkeenna iyo fartiisa''
- a book in Osmanya
Somali Native Alphabet

The report of the Somali Language Committee






- Lexilogos {{writing systems Writing systems of Africa Somali language Somali orthography Obsolete writing systems 1920s establishments in Somalia