View source for T'vaqi alphabet

The '''T'vaqi Alphabet''' ('''''Iqasot T'vaqi''''') is the standard alphabet used to write the [[T'vaqi language]]. Its modern form, derived from common glyphs shared by the [[Factions of T'vaqi]], has existed since the [[Second Unification of T'vaqi]] in [[244 TT]]. Its design allows most letters to connect seamlessly, allowing for fast and efficient writing.
== Letters ==
[[File:T'vaqi alphabet.png|thumb|The modern T'vaqi alphabet, including both the core sixteen letters and special ligatures. Vowels are highlighted in {{color box|#CFE2F3}} blue. Special ligatures are highlighted in {{color box|#F4CCCC}} red. Note that ''Oa'' (⠀) is considered a letter.]]
The core T'vaqi alphabet consists of sixteen letters (including an empty space) with four vowels and twelve consonants. The complexity of a letter's design is inversely proportional to how often it sees use in the language; for example, the consonant ''pa'' is used much less frequently than the vowel ''a''', and thus requires more strokes to write. Four special ligatures exist to represent unique sounds produced when certain consonants are followed by the letter ''ha''. These ligatures are not essential to the alphabet's function and are mostly used for convenience.
{| class="wikitable"
! Letter
! Name
! Pronunciation
! Notes
|-
|style="text-align:center;|{{i'}}
|style="text-align:center;background:#CFE2F3|I'
|style="text-align:center;|/i/
|
|-
|style="text-align:center;|{{a'}}
|style="text-align:center;background:#CFE2F3|A'
|style="text-align:center;|/a/
|
|-
|style="text-align:center;|{{o'}}
|style="text-align:center;background:#CFE2F3|O'
|style="text-align:center;|/o/
|
|-
|style="text-align:center;|{{ha}}
|style="text-align:center;|Ha
|style="text-align:center;|/ʔ/ on its own
|style="text-align:center;|Modifies the pronunciation of ''mi'', ''to'', ''sa'', and ''qi'' when written directly after each.
|-
|style="text-align:center;|{{qi}}
|style="text-align:center;|Qi
|style="text-align:center;|/q/, /k/
|style="text-align:center;|Pronounced /q/ at the beginning or end of a term; pronounced /k/ otherwise.
|-
|style="text-align:center;|{{sa}}
|style="text-align:center;|Sa
|style="text-align:center;|/s/
|style="text-align:center;|
|-
|style="text-align:center;|{{to}}
|style="text-align:center;|To
|style="text-align:center;|/t/
|style="text-align:center;|
|-
|style="text-align:center;|{{ra}}
|style="text-align:center;|Ra
|style="text-align:center;|/ɾ/, /r/
|style="text-align:center;|Pronounced /r/ at the beginning or end of a term; pronounced /ɾ/ otherwise.
|-
|style="text-align:center;|{{di}}
|style="text-align:center;|Di
|style="text-align:center;|/d/
|style="text-align:center;|Some dialects make no distinction between ''di'' and ''ra'' when written in the middle of a term, and use both interchangeably.
|-
|style="text-align:center;|{{va}}
|style="text-align:center;|Va
|style="text-align:center;|/v/, /f/
|style="text-align:center;|Pronounced /f/ in colloquial speech.
|-
|style="text-align:center;|{{no}}
|style="text-align:center;|No
|style="text-align:center;|/n/
|style="text-align:center;|
|-
|style="text-align:center;|{{'}}
|style="text-align:center;background:#CFE2F3|'
|style="text-align:center;|/ə/ on its own
|style="text-align:center;|Not pronounced when written directly after a vowel, instead stressing and lengthening the vowel's pronunciation.
|-
|style="text-align:center;|{{mi}}
|style="text-align:center;|Mi
|style="text-align:center;|/m/
|style="text-align:center;|
|-
|style="text-align:center;|{{pa}}
|style="text-align:center;|Pa
|style="text-align:center;|/p/
|style="text-align:center;|
|-
|style="text-align:center;|{{lo}}
|style="text-align:center;|Lo
|style="text-align:center;|/l/
|style="text-align:center;|
|-
|
|style="text-align:center;|Oa
|style="text-align:center;|None
|style="text-align:center;|Used to separate terms.
|-
|rowspan = 4 style="text-align:center;background:#eaecf0|
|style="text-align:center;background:#F4CCCC|Mhi
|style="text-align:center;|/ɱ/
|style="text-align:center;|Special ligature combination of ''mi'' and ''ha''. Generally reserved for terms with special importance.
|-
|style="text-align:center;background:#F4CCCC|Tho
|style="text-align:center;|/θ/
|style="text-align:center;|Special ligature combination of ''to'' and ''ha''.
|-
|style="text-align:center;background:#F4CCCC|Sha
|style="text-align:center;|/ʃ/
|style="text-align:center;|Special ligature combination of ''sa'' and ''ha''.
|-
|style="text-align:center;background:#F4CCCC|Qhi
|style="text-align:center;|/t͡ʃ/
|style="text-align:center;|Special ligature combination of ''qi'' and ''ha''.
|-
|}
[[Category:T'vaqi]]
[[Category:Culture of T'vaqi]]
[[Category:T'vaqi pages]]
[[Category:Writing]]