Kadamba script

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Kadamba script
File:Sri-manarashi.jpg
Script type
Period
4–7th century CE[1]
LanguagesOld Kannada
Old Telugu
Sanskrit
Konkani
Related scripts
Parent systems
Child systems
Kannada-Telugu alphabet, Goykanadi,[2] Pyu script[3]
 This article contains phonetic transcriptions in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). For an introductory guide on IPA symbols, see Help:IPA. For the distinction between [ ], / / and ⟨ ⟩, see IPA § Brackets and transcription delimiters.

The Kadamba script is the first writing system devised specifically for writing Kannada, and later adopted to write Telugu language.[4] The Kadamba script is also known as Pre-Old-Kannada script.

The Kadamba script is one of the oldest scripts of the southern group of writing systems that developed from the ancient Brahmi script. By the 5th century CE it became distinct from other Brahmi variants and was used in what are now the South Indian states of Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. It evolved into the Kannada-Telugu script by the 10th century CE and was used to write the Kannada and Telugu languages.[5] It is also distantly related to the Sinhala script.[6]

History

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Kadamba coinage
Coin of Kadamba king Sri Manarashi, name written in Kadamba script
Sri manarashi written in Kadamba script on Kadamba coin
Coin of the Kadambas written in Kadamba script as sri dosharashi and other side Shri shashankaha
Sri dosharashi written in Kadamba script on Kadamba coin

During the rule of Kadamba dynasty (325-550), major change in the Brahmi script resulted in the Kadamba Kannada script, letters were shorter and round in shape. During (325 to 1000 AD) the rule of the Western Ganga dynasty in the southern parts of Karnataka the Kannada script used differently (also known as Ganga script) in rock edicts and copper plate inscriptions. During 6th to 10th century, the Telugu-Kannada alphabet stabilized during the rule of the Chalukyas of Badami from 500-1000[7] and Rastrakutas.[citation needed]

Inscriptions in Kadamba script

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File:Copper plates NMND-9.JPG
Sanskrit language written in Kannada-Telugu script of Eastern Chalukyas in 10th century AD
File:Kadamba inscription from Kerala.jpg
Prakrit Grantha inscription of Kadamba ruler Vishnuvarman (c. 5th-6th century CE) from Edakkal (northern Kerala)

Similarity with other scripts

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The Kadamba script shares similarities with scripts of certain languages belonging to the alphasyllabary or abugida family, including Goykanadi, Bhattiprolu script, Salankayana script,[11] Pallava script, Gupta script,[12] as well as the Tulu script.[13]

File:Kadamba Script.jpg
Latin symbols corresponding to Kadamba script.

See also

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References

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  5. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  6. ^ Jayarajan, Paul M. (1 January 1976). History of the Evolution of the Sinhala Alphabet. Colombo Apothecaries' Company, Limited.
  7. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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  13. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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