Syllabary

A syllabary is a writing system where each symbol represents a whole syllable, rather than an individual phoneme (sound), as in an alphabet. Unlike alphabets, syllabaries typically lack symbols for isolated consonants or vowels. The symbols often represent combinations of consonants and vowels, which can include or exclude tone. Syllabaries are particularly efficient for languages with a relatively small and consistent set of syllable structures. They offer a practical way to represent spoken language concisely, making them a useful tool for written communication. Their design often reflects a language's phonological structure, resulting in varied symbol sets.

Syllabary meaning with examples

• The Japanese *kana* systems, *hiragana* and *katakana*, are classic examples of syllabaries. They represent syllables like 'ka,' 'ki,' 'ku,' 'ke,' and 'ko'. Studying them reveals how syllabic writing contrasts with alphabetic systems like the English one.
• Ancient Mayan glyphs contained a complex mix of logograms and syllabograms. Interpreting this rich and intricate script required the deciphering of the syllabic components of their written language. This demonstrates how logographic scripts could evolve to adopt syllabic features.
• The Cherokee syllabary, developed by Sequoyah, is a notable example of an indigenous writing system. It revolutionized literacy within the Cherokee Nation and allowed the Cherokee people to maintain their heritage, culture, and knowledge via written records.
• Linear B, a script used for the Mycenaean Greek language, is another important instance. The symbols of Linear B represent syllables combining consonants and vowels, rather than individual sounds. This script provides valuable historical and linguistic insights.
• Cypriot syllabary, used on the island of Cyprus, is an older example used to write the Cypriot Greek dialect. It is an interesting case because it shares similarities with Linear A. Each symbol in the system encodes for an entire syllable.