Writing systems:
abjads |
alphabets |
syllabic alphabets |
syllabaries |
semanto-phonetic scripts
undeciphered scripts |
alternative scripts |
your con-scripts |
A-Z index |
Direction index
Writing systems:
abjads |
alphabets |
syllabic alphabets |
syllabaries |
semanto-phonetic scripts
undeciphered scripts |
alternative scripts |
your con-scripts |
A-Z index |
Direction index
Mongolian is an Altaic language spoken by approximately 5 million people in Mongolia, China, Afghanistan and Russia. There are a number of closely related varieties of Mongolian: Khalkha or Halha, the national language of Mongolia, and Oirat, Chahar and Ordos, which are spoken mainly in the Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region of China.
Other languages considered part of the Mongolian language family, but separate from Mongolian, include Buryat and Kalmyk, spoken in Russia and Moghul or Mogul, spoken in Afghanistan.
In 1208 Chinggis Khan defeated the Naiman, and captured their Uyghur scribe Tatar-Tonga, who apparently adapted the Old Uyghur alphabet to write Mongolian. The alphabet created by Tatar-Tonga is now known as the Uighur/Uyghur Script, the Classical Mongol Script, the Old Script, or Mongol Bichig in Mongolian.
Between the 13th and 15th Centuries, Mongolian was also written with Chinese characters, the Arabic alphabet and a script derived from Tibetan called Phags-pa.
As a result of pressure from the Soviet Union, Mongolia adopted the Latin alphabet in 1931 and the Cyrillic alphabet in 1937. In 1941 the Mongolian government passed a law to abolish the Classical Mongol script, but since 1994 they have been trying to bring it back. It is now taught to some extent in schools, though is mainly used for decorative purposes by artists, designers, calligraphers and poets. The average person in Mongolia knows little or nothing about the Classical Mongol script, though there is high literacy in Cyrillic. In Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region of China the Classical Mongol script is still used.
The first set of numbers (tegen, nigen, etc.) are Classical Mongolian,
the others are modern Mongolian.
Longer sample text (Tower of Babel)
Khün bür törzh mendlekhee erkh čölöötei, adilkhan ner törtei, izhil erkhtei baidag. Oyuun ukhaan nandin čanar zayaasan khün gegč öör khoorondoo akhan düügiin üzel sanaagaar khar'tsakh učirtai.
Listen to a recording of this text by Bat-Orgil Myagmardorj
Listen to a recording of this text by Nomun Myagmardorj
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They
are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another
in a spirit of brotherhood.
(Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)
Mongolian language learning materials
Information about the Mongolian language and Mongolia
http://www.mongoluls.net
http://www.owc.org.mn/team27/history/ (in Mongolian)
An introduction to the Traditional/Classical Mongolian script
http://silverhorde.viahistoria.com/main.html
Free Traditional Mongolian fonts
http://www.mongoluls.net/font.shtml
Lingua Mongolia - Classical Mongolian grammar and tutorials
http://www.linguamongolia.co.uk
Online Mongolian dictionaries
http://www.bolor-toli.com
http://www.linguamongolia.co.uk/searchdict.html
http://asuult.net/dic/
Mongolian-English Dictionary - commercial dictionary software for Uighur-script Mongolian
http://www.linguamongolia.co.uk/soft1.html
Mongolian chatroom
http://www.boljoo.com
Online Mongolian Bible in the Classical Mongolian Script
http://www.mongolbible.com
MongoliaOnline - Your guide to Mongolia - in English and Mongolian (Cyrillic)
http://www.mol.mn
Other languages written with the Cyrillic alphabet
Armenian, Avestan, Bassa (Vah), Beitha Kukju, Coptic, Cyrillic, Elbsan, Etruscan, Fraser, Georgian (Asomtavruli & Nuskha-khucuri), Georgian (Mkhedruli), Glagolitic, Gothic, Greek, Hungarian Runes, Irish, Kayah Li, Korean, Latin, Lycian, Lydian, Manchu, Mongolian, N'Ko, Ogham, Old Church Slavonic, Oirat Clear Script, Old Italic, Old Permic, Orkhon, Pollard Miao, Runic, Santali, Somali, Sutton SignWriting, Tai Dam, Thaana, Uyghur
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