Re : Strange Alphabet

["Robert Hicks" <ramhicks@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Most peculiar.

I think the first, large character is an ancient form of SHE (4th tone), 
meaning 'cower!' or 'be awed!' (very appropraite for a shield).

The curly script at the end looks remarkably like Arabic, and is probably 
one of the variants used by China's native Islamic population (i.e. The 
Uighurs of Xinjiang).  I spent some time in the Northwest of China in 
1996-7, and saw many unusual scripts based on Arabic.  Sadly, nobody I met 
knew how to read them - the scripts are used merely as decor on doorways, 
mosques and, for some reason, public transport.  I would venture that they 
probably mean nothing - not now, anyway - and are the result of generations 
of copying.

The first alphabet-like script looks like nothing I ever saw in China, and 
is certainly not Tibetan or any 'known' variant thereof.  It could, however, 
be one of the scripts used by a Chinese minority group. I know that several 
minorities used and still use their own scripts, quite distinct from Chinese 
characters, some of which are semi-alphabetic.

I'll try and scan in an image of some Chinese banknotes someday.  They may 
be interesting to look at - there are six different scripts on each note.

Rob Hicks


______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com