# Clear Script

The Clear Script is an alphabet created in 1648 by the Oirat Buddhist monk Zaya Pandita for the Oirat language. It was developed on the basis of the Mongolian script with the goal of distinguishing all sounds in the spoken language, and to make it easier to transcribe Sanskrit and the Tibetic languages.

## History

The Clear Script is a Mongolian script, whose obvious closest forebear is vertical Mongolian. This Mongolian script was derived from the Uyghur alphabet. The Clear Script was developed as a better way to write Mongolian, specifically of the Western Mongolian groups of the Oirats and Kalmyks.$^{:548}$ It resolved ambiguities in the written language by assigning symbols to vowels, and adding new symbols and diacritics to show vowels and vowel lengths, and to distinguish between voiced and unvoiced consonants.$^{:548}$$^{:145}$ Symbols that were preserved from the traditional Mongolian script were assigned a fixed meaning.$^{:145}$
There were even some marks enabling distinctions that were unimportant for words written in the Oirat language but were useful for the transcription of foreign words and names, such as between ši and si.

## Usage

The Clear Script was used by Oirat and neighboring Mongols, mostly in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. It was widely used by its creator and others to translate Buddhist works so that they might better spread the Buddhist religion throughout western Mongolia. Though the script was useful for translating works from other languages, especially Tibetan, it was also used more informally, as evidenced by some letters from the late 1690s.
Around the 19th and early 20th centuries, some Altaians in Russia were able utilize the script to read and write texts due to contacts with Mongolian Buddhists.
The script was used by Kalmyks in Russia until 1924, when it was replaced by the Cyrillic script. In Xinjiang, Oirats still use it, although today Mongolian education takes place in Chakhar Mongolian all across China.

## Writing in the Clear Script

This script is a vertical script, as was its 'vertical Mongolian' parent script. Letters and diacritics are written along a central axis. Portions of letters to the right of the axis generally slant up, and portions to the left of the axis generally slant down. The only signs that do not follow these rules are the horizontal signs for S, Š, and part of Ö. Words are delineated by a space, as well as different letter forms. Though most letters only come in one shape, there are some letters that look different depending on where in the word they occur, whether they are initial, medial, or final.

## Tables

There is an alphabetic order in the Clear Script, as in other related scripts, but the order for it is not the same as its Mongolian parent script. The Clear Script order is: a, e, i, o, u, ö, ü; n, b, x, ɣ, g, k & k’, q, m, l, r, d, t, y, z/ǰ, c/č, s, š, ng, v/w.$^{:150–151}$

### Vowels

Single vowels$^{:548}$$^{:151}$$^{:555}$ :
| Initial | Medial | Final | IPA | Trans­lit. | Trans­lit. | Notes |
| Initial | Medial | Final | IPA | Dan. & Kara | ALA-LC | Notes |
| All these form ligatures with a preceding bow-shaped consonant. |||||||
| ᠠ‍ | ‍ᠠ‍ | ‍ᠠ | ɑ, ∅ | a | a | Final example ligature: ‍ᡋᠠ ba. This ligated form of final a extends its tail to the left. Confer Kalmyk Oirat а a and [∅] Error: {{Lang}}: Latn text/non-Latn script subtag mismatch (help). This letter's forms are shared with Hudum script a. |
| ᡄ‍ | ‍ᡄ‍ | ‍ᡄ | e, ∅ | e | e | Initial/medial/final example ligature: ᡋᡄ be. Confer Kalmyk Oirat э è and [∅] Error: {{Lang}}: Latn text/non-Latn script subtag mismatch (help). |
| ᡅ‍ | ‍ᡅ‍ | ‍ᡅ | i, ∅ | i | i | Final example ligature: ᡋᡅ bi. This ligated form of final i differs from the one used elsewhere. Confer Kalmyk Oirat и i and [∅] Error: {{Lang}}: Latn text/non-Latn script subtag mismatch (help). |
| ᡆ‍ | ‍ᡆ‍ | ‍ᡆ | ɔ | o | o | Initial/medial/final example ligature: ᡋᡆ bo. This ligated form of o is fully round. The ligature bo is also identical in form to bü. Confer Kalmyk Oirat о o and [∅] Error: {{Lang}}: Latn text/non-Latn script subtag mismatch (help). |
| ᡇ‍ | ‍ᡇ‍ | ‍ᡇ | ʊ, ∅ | u | u | Initial/medial/final example ligature: ᡋᡇ bu. Confer Kalmyk Oirat у u and [∅] Error: {{Lang}}: Latn text/non-Latn script subtag mismatch (help). |
| ᡈ‍ | ‍ᡈ‍ | ‍ᡈ | ø, ∅ | ö | ö | Initial/medial/final example ligature: ᡋᡈ bö. This ligated form of ö is fully round. Confer Kalmyk Oirat ө ô and [∅] Error: {{Lang}}: Latn text/non-Latn script subtag mismatch (help). |
| ᡉ‍ | ‍ᡉ‍ | ‍ᡉ | y, ∅ | ü | ü | Initial/medial/final example ligature: ᡋᡉ bü. The ligatures bü and bo are identical in form. Confer Kalmyk Oirat ү ù and [∅] Error: {{Lang}}: Latn text/non-Latn script subtag mismatch (help). |
Long vowels$^{:548}$$^{:555}$ :
| Initial | Medial | Final | IPA | Trans­lit. | Trans­lit. | Notes |
| Initial | Medial | Final | IPA | Dan. | ALA-LC | Notes |
| ᠠᡃ‍ | ‍ᠠᡃ‍ | — | ɑː | â | ā | Final example ligature: ‍ᡗᠠᡃ kâ. Confer Kalmyk Oirat аа aa and а a. |
| ᡄᡃ‍ | ‍ᡄᡃ‍ | ‍ᡄᡃ $^{⟨?⟩}$ | eː, æː | ê | ē | Confer Kalmyk Oirat ээ èè and э è. |
| ᡅᡅ‍ $^{⟨?⟩}$ | ‍ᡅᡅ‍ $^{⟨?⟩}$ | — | iː | ii | iyi | Diphthongs ending in i are shaped and transliterated in the same manner. Confer Kalmyk Oirat ии ii and и i. |
| — | — | ‍ᡅᡅ | iː | ii | ii | Diphthongs ending in i are shaped and transliterated in the same manner. Confer Kalmyk Oirat ии ii and и i. |
| ᡆᡃ‍ | ‍ᡆᡃ‍ | ‍ᡆᡃ $^{⟨?⟩}$ | ɔː | ô | ō | Confer Kalmyk Oirat оо oo and о o. |
| ᡇᡇ᠌‍ | ‍ᡇᡇ᠌‍ | ‍ᡇᡇ᠋ | ʊː | uu | uu | Confer Kalmyk Oirat уу uu and у u. |
| ᡈᡃ‍ | ‍ᡈᡃ‍ | ‍ᡈᡃ $^{⟨?⟩}$ | øː, æː | ö̂ | ȫ | Confer Kalmyk Oirat өө ôô and ө ô. |
| ᡉᡉ‍ | ‍ᡉᡉ‍ | ‍ᡉᡉ | yː | üü | üü | Confer Kalmyk Oirat үү ùù and ү ù. |

### Consonants

Native consonants$^{:548}$$^{:151}$$^{:555}$ :
| Initial | Medial | Final | IPA | Trans­lit. | Trans­lit. | Notes |
| Initial | Medial | Final | IPA | Dan. & Kara | ALA-LC | Notes |
| ᠨ‍ | ‍ᠨ‍ | ‍ᠨ | n | n | n | Confer Kalmyk Oirat н n. This letter is shared with Hudum n. |
| ᠨ‍ | ‍ᠨ᠋‍ | ‍ᠨ | n | n | n | Confer Kalmyk Oirat н n. This letter is shared with Hudum n. |
| ᡋ‍ | ‍ᡋ‍ | ‍ᡋ | b | b | b | Confer Kalmyk Oirat б b. This letter's initial/medial form is shared with Hudum b. |
| ᡍ‍ | ‍ᡍ‍ | — | x | x | x | Used before back vowels.$^{:149}$ As in ᡍᠠᠷᠠ xara 'black'.$^{:121}$$^{:95}$ Confer Kalmyk Oirat х h. |
| ᡎ‍ | ‍ᡎ‍ | — | ɢ | ɣ | ġ | Used before vowels. As in ᡎᠠᠯ ɣal 'fire'.$^{:63}$$^{:127}$ Confer Kalmyk Oirat һ ḥ. |
| | | — | ɡ | g | g | As in ᡎᡄᠷ ger 'ger'.$^{:28}$$^{:136}$ Confer Kalmyk Oirat г g. |
| ᡍ᠋‍ | ‍ᡍ᠋‍ | — | k | k | k | Used before front vowels.$^{:149}$ As in ᡍᡈᡍᡈ kökö 'blue'.$^{:95}$$^{:119}$ Confer Kalmyk Oirat к k. |
| — | ‍ᡎ᠋‍ | ‍ᡎ | ɡ | q | q | Used syllable-finally,$^{:151}$ and irrespective of vowel harmony.$^{:145}$ As in ᡔᠠᡎ caq 'time'.$^{:21}$$^{:244}$ Confer Kalmyk Oirat г g. |
| ᡏ‍ | ‍ᡏ‍ | ‍ᡏ | m | m | m | Confer Kalmyk Oirat м m. This letter's initial/medial form is shared with Hudum m. |
| ᠯ‍ | ‍ᠯ‍ | ‍ᠯ | l | l | l | Confer Kalmyk Oirat л l. This letter is shared with Hudum l. |
| ᠷ‍ | ‍ᠷ‍ | ‍ᠷ | r | r | r | Confer Kalmyk Oirat р r. This letter is shared with Hudum r. |
| ᡑ‍ | ‍ᡑ‍ | ‍ᡑ | d | d | d | Confer Kalmyk Oirat д d. |
| ᡐ‍ | ‍ᡐ‍ | — | t | t | t | Confer Kalmyk Oirat т t. |
| ᡕ‍ | ‍ᡕ‍ | — | j | y | y | Confer Kalmyk Oirat й j. |
| ᠴ‍ | ‍ᠴ‍ | — | z | z, ǰ$^†$ | z | †. Ambiguous value (z, ǰ) from the 18th century until post-war reform.$^{:149–150}$ As in modern/older ᠴᡇᠨ zun 'summer'.$^{:50}$$^{:274}$ Confer Kalmyk Oirat з z. |
| ᡓ‍ | ‍ᡓ‍ | — | d͡ʒ | ǰ | — | Introduced in the 1950s.$^{:149–150,187}$ As in modern ᡓᡅᠯ ǰil$^?$ (older ᠴᡅᠯ zil) 'year'.$^{:24}$$^{:257}$ Confer Kalmyk Oirat ж z̆. |
| ᡔ‍ | ‍ᡔ‍ | — | t͡s | c, č$^†$ | c | †. Ambiguous value (c, č) from the 18th century until post-war reform.$^{:149–150}$ As in modern/older ᡔᠠᡅ cai 'tea'.$^{:120}$$^{:246}$ Confer Kalmyk Oirat ц c. |
| ᡒ‍ | ‍ᡒ‍ | — | t͡ʃ | č | — | Introduced in the 1950s.$^{:149–150,187}$ As in modern ᡒᡅ či$^?$ (older ᡔᡅ ci) 'you'.$^{:111}$$^{:235}$ Confer Kalmyk Oirat ч č. |
| ᠰ‍ | ‍ᠰ‍ | ‍ᠰ | s | s | s | Confer Kalmyk Oirat с s. This letter is shared with Hudum s. |
| ᠱ‍ | ‍ᠱ‍ | ‍ᠱ | ʃ | š | ś | Confer Kalmyk Oirat ш s̆. This letter is shared with Hudum š. |
| — | ‍ᡊ‍ | ‍ᡊ | ŋ | ng | ng | Confer Kalmyk Oirat ң n̦. |
Letters used in foreign words$^{:548}$$^{:555}$ :
| Initial | Medial | Final | IPA | Translit. | Translit. | Notes |
| Initial | Medial | Final | IPA | Dan. & Kara | ALA-LC | Notes |
| ᡌ‍ | ‍ᡌ‍ | — | p | — | f | Confer Kalmyk Oirat п p. |
| ᡙ‍ | ‍ᡙ‍ | — | | — | h | Confer Kalmyk Oirat г g. |
| ᡘ‍ | ‍ᡘ‍ | ‍ᡘ | | — | — | Confer Kalmyk Oirat г g. |
| ᡗ‍ | ‍ᡗ‍ | — | k | k, k’ | k | Confer Kalmyk Oirat к k. |
| ᡚ‍ | ‍ᡚ‍ | — | | — | j | Confer Kalmyk Oirat җ z̦̆. |
| — | ‍ᡛ‍ | — | | — | ñ | |
| ᡜ‍ | ‍ᡜ‍ | — | | — | j | |
| ᢘ‍ | ‍ᢘ‍ | ‍ᢘ | | — | — | |
| ᢙ‍ | ‍ᢙ‍ | — | | — | ź | |
| ᠸ‍ | ‍ᠸ‍ | ‍ᠸ | | — | — | Confer Kalmyk Oirat ф f. This letter is shared with Hudum w/v. |
| ᡖ‍ | ‍ᡖ‍ | ‍ᡖ | w | w/v | v | Confer Kalmyk Oirat в v. |

### Ligatures

Ligatures :
| Initial | Medial | Final | Trans­lit. | Trans­lit. | Notes |
| Initial | Medial | Final | Dan. | ALA-LC | Notes |
| ᡋᠠ‍ | ‍ᡋᠠ‍ | ‍ᡋᠠ | ba | ba | |
| ᡋᡄ‍ | ‍ᡋᡄ‍ | ‍ᡋᡄ | be | be | |
| ᡋᡅ‍ | ‍ᡋᡅ‍ | ‍ᡋᡅ | bi | bi | |
| ᡋᡆ‍ | ‍ᡋᡆ‍ | ‍ᡋᡆ | bo | bo | Written the same as bü. |
| ᡋᡇ‍ | ‍ᡋᡇ‍ | ‍ᡋᡇ | bu | bu | |
| ᡋᡈ‍ | ‍ᡋᡈ‍ | ‍ᡋᡈ | bö | bö | |
| ᡋᡉ‍ | ‍ᡋᡉ‍ | ‍ᡋᡉ | bü | bü | Written the same as bo. |
| ᡗᠠ‍ | ‍ᡗᠠ‍ | ‍ᡗᠠ | ka | ka | |
| ᡍᡄ‍ | ‍ᡍᡄ‍ | ‍ᡍᡄ | ke | ke | |
| ᡍᡅ‍ | ‍ᡍᡅ‍ | ‍ᡍᡅ | ki | ki | |
| ᡗᡆ‍ | ‍ᡗᡆ‍ | ‍ᡗᡆ | ko | ko | |
| ᡗᡇ‍ | ‍ᡗᡇ‍ | ‍ᡗᡇ | ku | ku | |
| ᡍᡈ‍ | ‍ᡍᡈ‍ | ‍ᡍᡈ | kö | kö | |
| ᡍᡉ‍ $^{⟨?⟩}$ | ‍ᡍᡉ‍ $^{⟨?⟩}$ | ‍ᡍᡉ $^{⟨?⟩}$ | kü | kü | |
| ᡘᠠ‍ | ‍ᡘᠠ‍ | ‍ᡘᠠ | ga | ga | |
| ᡎᡄ‍ $^{⟨?⟩}$ | ‍ᡎᡄ‍ $^{⟨?⟩}$ | ‍ᡎᡄ $^{⟨?⟩}$ | ge | ge | |
| ᡎᡅ‍ $^{⟨?⟩}$ | ‍ᡎᡅ‍ $^{⟨?⟩}$ | ‍ᡎᡅ $^{⟨?⟩}$ | gi | gi | |
| ᡘᡆ‍ | ‍ᡘᡆ‍ | ‍ᡘᡆ | go | go | |
| ᡘᡇ‍ | ‍ᡘᡇ‍ | ‍ᡘᡇ | gu | gu | |
| ᡎᡈ‍ | ‍ᡎᡈ‍ | ‍ᡎᡈ | gö | gö | |
| ᡎᡉ‍ | ‍ᡎᡉ‍ | ‍ᡎᡉ | gü | gü | |
| Other bow-shaped ligatures are formed in the same manner. ||||||