Blackwell Reference Online

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A member of the Tibeto-Burman branch of Sino-Tibetan languages, Lepcha is mainly spoken in Sikkim and western Bengal. The Lepcha script, also known as ‘Róng’ (royal), is a syllabic alphabet which appears to have been derived from the dbu-med form of the Tibetan script, although there is no agreement about its exact genealogy. Chinese influence is apparent in the vertical direction of old Lepcha manuscripts. The script was later turned 90 degrees counter-clockwise, but the direction of graphs on the line did not change ( figure 4 ). The rotation occurred probably under Phyag-rdor-rnam-rgyal, at the beginning of the eighteenth century ce . Lepcha scholars favour the theory that the Lepchas possessed their own script from ancient times. In support of this view they cite the peculiar mode of indicating final Cs not found in other indian writing systems . With respect to the basic C graphemes the script conforms to the common Indian pattern ( table 6 ). C graphemes have an inherent V /å/, and other Vs are indicated by means of diacritic satellites grouped around the basic C graph. However, unlike other Indian writing systems, the Lepcha script also possesses signs for final Cs which are placed on top of the basic C + a graphemes much like V diacritics ( table 7 ). Indication of independent Vs also differs from the usual Indian pattern, but is like Tibetan in that all independent ... log in or subscribe to read full text