Umê (, ; variant spellings include ''ume'', ''u-me'') is a semi-formal script used to write the
Tibetan alphabet
The Tibetan script is a segmental writing system, or ''abugida'', forming a part of the Brahmic scripts, and used to write certain Tibetic languages, including Tibetan, Dzongkha, Sikkimese, Ladakhi, Jirel and Balti. Its exact origins a ...
used for both calligraphy and shorthand.
The name ''ume'' means "headless" and refers to its distinctive feature: the absence of the horizontal guide line ('head') across the top of the letters. Between syllables, the ''tseg'' mark () often appears as a vertical stroke, rather than the shorter 'dot'-like mark in some other scripts. There are two main kinds of ''umê'' writing:
*Drutsa (), used for writing documents.
*Bêtsug (), used for writing scriptures.
Other Tibetan scripts include the upright block form,
uchen (; ) and the everyday, handwritten cursive, gyug yig (). The name of the block form, ''uchen'' means "with a head", corresponding to the presence of the horizontal guide line.
See also
*
Tibetan script
The Tibetan script is a segmental writing system, or '' abugida'', forming a part of the Brahmic scripts, and used to write certain Tibetic languages, including Tibetan, Dzongkha, Sikkimese, Ladakhi, Jirel and Balti. Its exact origins ...
*
Uchen script
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Uchen (; ; variant spellings include ''ucen'', ''u-cen'', ''u-chen'', ''ucan'', ''u-can'', ''uchan'', ''u-chan'', and ''ucän'') is the upright, block style of the Tibetan script. The name means "with a head", and is the style of the script use ...
*
Tibetan calligraphy
References
Tibetan script
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