Old Turkic Unicode Script
The Old Turkic script, also known as the Orkhon script or Göktürk script, is a historical writing system primarily used by the early Turkic-speaking peoples, most notably the Göktürks and later other early Turkic states. This script is among the early attested scripts in Central Asia and derives its name from the Orkhon Valley in modern-day Mongolia where some of the most significant inscriptions were discovered. Dating back to the 7th to 10th centuries, these inscriptions offer invaluable insights into the language, culture, and societal structure of the time. The Old Turkic script was primarily used for monumental inscriptions, often engraved on steles, and served both administrative and commemorative purposes. These inscriptions contribute significantly to our understanding of early Turkic heritage and interactions with neighboring cultures like the Chinese and the Sogdians.
Structurally, the Old Turkic script is an alphabet, with characters representing consonants and vowels, and was typically written in vertical columns from top to bottom, right to left. This distinctive feature hints at possible influences from other scripts in the region, such as the Sogdian or the early adaptations of the Aramaic script. The shape and stylistic elements of the characters also reflect the artistic tendencies of the time and offer parallels with runic scripts. Despite its historical significance, the script fell out of use as the Turkic peoples converted to Islam and adopted the Arabic script for writing. Today, the Old Turkic script stands as a testament to the rich cultural and historical traditions of the Turkic peoples and is of great interest to historians, linguists, and archaeologists. Due to efforts to preserve Turkic heritage, the script is now encoded in the Unicode Standard, allowing digital preservation and broader accessibility for educational and scholarly purposes.
Below you will find all the characters that are in the 'Old Turkic' unicode script category. Currently there are 73 characters in this category.
