The Devanagari script is an ancient script used for writing Sanskrit and several modern Indian languages.
Not many people know that the Devanagari script is the backbone of languages like Hindi, Sanskrit, and Marathi.
Today, the Devanagari script stands as a testament to the rich cultural tapestry of the Indian subcontinent. With its intricate, curvy characters and centuries-old history, Devanagari is more than just a writing system—it’s an integral part of India’s linguistic and literary heritage.
In the following blog on the Devanagari script, we’ll embark on a journey through the script’s origins as well as its place in the contemporary linguistic landscape of India.
Origin & History of Devanagari
The Devanagari script is an ancient script whose name is derived from the Sanskrit words “Deva,” meaning deity or divine, and “Nagari,” meaning city.
Devanagari is often associated with the Brahmi script and is believed to have evolved from it.
The origin of the Devanagari script can be traced back to the ancient Brahmi script. It was used in India during the Mauryan Empire (circa 322–185 BCE).
Over time, different regional variations of the Brahmi script developed (see the image above representing its development through the centuries). One of these variations eventually evolved into the Nagari script, which in turn gave birth to the Devanagari script we know today.
The earliest known inscriptions in the Devanagari script date back to around the 10th century CE.
The script initially gained prominence as a writing system for the Sanskrit language, which was the classical language of ancient India.
Interestingly, the script was well-suited for representing the sounds of Sanskrit since Devangari contains very distinct characters for consonants and vowels, as well as diacritic marks to indicate various sounds.
Through the years, Devanagari has been adapted to several modern Indian and some South Asian languages, including Hindi, Marathi, Nepali, Konkani, and others.
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The script is also used for official purposes in India and is widely used in literature, newspapers, education, and other cultural contexts (more on the topic later in the blog).
While Devanagari is relatively recent compared to ancient scripts like Brahmi, it is not necessarily the youngest among all Indian scripts. The age of scripts used for different Indian languages varies, with some having ancient roots and others emerging in the medieval period, like Devanagari. Nevertheless, each script has its own historical significance and regional associations.
What languages use the Devanagari script?
The Devanagari script is primarily associated with Sanskrit. Nevertheless, it is also used for several modern Indian languages.
Here is an overview of the most prominent languages that use the Devanagari script:
1: Hindi
Devanagari is the official script for Hindi. Hindi, in turn, with over 580 million speakers, is the most widely spoken language in India. It is also one of the official languages of the Indian government.
2: Marathi
The Marathi language, spoken predominantly in the Indian state of Maharashtra by up to 100 million people, uses the Devanagari script.
3: Nepali
The official language of Nepal, Nepali, is also written in the Devanagari script. Nepali has 16 million native speakers in the world.
4: Sanskrit
Although Sanskrit is an ancient language, it is widely used in religious and scholarly contexts. Devanagari is the traditional script for writing Sanskrit.
5: Konkani
Spoken in the Konkan region of India by 2.5 million people, Konkani uses the Devanagari script.
6: Maithili
Maithili is predominantly spoken in the Indian states of Bihar and Jharkhand and uses the Devanagari script. More than 20 million people speak Maithili in the world, and 17 million of them live in India.
7: Bodo
Bodo, also referred to as Boro is one of the languages spoken in the northeastern Indian state of Assam and is written in Devanagari. It has 1.4 million speakers.
8: Dogri
Spoken in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir by 2.6 million, Dogri is written in Devanagari
Keep in mind that these are just a few examples, and many other languages and dialects use the Devanagari script. Over 120 languages use it as an official writing system, which makes it the fourth most widely used script in the world.
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Unique characteristics of the Devanagari script
The Devanagari script has several distinctive characteristics that make it unique. Here are some of the prominent characteristics of Devanagari:
1: Alphabet Structure
Devanagari is an abugida, which means a writing system where consonants carry an inherent vowel sound, and additional diacritic marks are used to modify the vowel sound.
The script has a set of basic characters representing consonants and a set of diacritic marks for vowels.
2: Vowels
Devanagari has a set of basic vowel characters representing short vowels. Long vowels are often represented using a combination of the basic vowel character and a diacritic mark.
There are also special characters for nasalized vowels, which is a unique feature of the Devanagari script.
3: Consonants
The basic consonant characters are organised in groups depending on their manner of articulation, i.e., voiced, voiceless, nasal, etc.
Each consonant character represents a consonant sound with an inherent vowel, usually the short vowel “a.”
4: Virama (Halant)
Devanagari uses a virama, which is a horizontal line-like diacritic mark called “halant,” to indicate the suppression of the inherent vowel in a consonant.
The halant is used to form conjunct consonants or to represent consonants without an inherent vowel sound.
5: Matra (Vowel Signs)
Diacritic marks, which are called mantras, are used to represent vowel sounds other than the inherent “a” sound. They can be placed above, below, before, or after the consonant characters.
6: Barakhadi
Barakhadi refers to the arrangement of basic consonants and vowels in a systematic grid. This arrangement helps learn the script.
7: Horizontal Line on Top (Shirorekha)
One of the most recognizable features of Devanagari is the horizontal line at the top of many characters. This line is known as the shirorekha and is a unique feature of the script.
8: Left-to-Right Direction
Devanagari is written from left to right, like English and most other modern scripts.
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9: Script Flexibility
Interestingly, the Devanagari script is adaptable. Thus, it has been used to write various languages since it allows for the representation of different phonetic nuances.
For instance, it can (and there have been attempts to) be adapted for Korean, Japanese, and European languages, such as Spanish and Italian.
10: Numerals
Devanagari includes a set of numerals that are distinct from the script’s characters.
These numerals are commonly used in South Asian countries.
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Overall, Devangari’s unique features collectively contribute greatly to its functionality. Thus, the script is well-suited for representing the sounds of several languages in the Indian subcontinent (and beyond).
Alphabet and writing system
The Devanagari script has a well-organized alphabet with characters representing both consonants and vowels.
The script is an abugida, which means that consonant characters carry an inherent vowel sound (usually “a”). Additional diacritic marks are used to modify this vowel sound.
Here is an overview of the Devanagari alphabet:
It’s important to note that the pronunciation of the characters might vary slightly depending on the language using the Devanagari script.
Additionally, conjunct consonants, where two or more consonants combine to form a single character, are common in Devanagari and add to the richness and complexity of the script.
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The Devanagari script, compared to other scripts
The Devanagari script has its unique characteristics. Thus, comparing it with other scripts involves examining differences in various aspects.
Here is an overview of the comparison between Devanagari and a few other prominent scripts:
Devanagari vs. Latin script:
1: Direction
Devanagari is written from left to right, like the Latin script.
2: Structure
Devanagari is an abugida, where each consonant carries an inherent vowel sound. Diacritic marks are used to modify this vowel.
The Latin script, in contrast, is an alphabet where each consonant or vowel has its separate symbol.
3: Nasalization
Devanagari uses specific characters, called anusvara, for nasalization.
In the Latin script, nasalization is often represented with diacritic marks (e.g., ã, ĩ). However, these are common adaptations of the Latin script and, thus, can only be seen in languages like Portuguese and Vietnamese.
4: Conjunct Characters
Devanagari frequently employs conjunct consonants, where two or more consonants combine to form a single character.
The Latin script generally does not use conjunct characters in the same way. Each letter represents a sound, and they are not combined. In languages such as German, however, a combination of letters might represent a certain sound (e.g., such → /ʃ/ or the first sound in the word sheep).
Devanagari vs. Arabic Script
1: Direction
Arabic is written from right-to-left, while Devangari – from left-to-right.
2: Vowels
While Devanagari represents vowels explicitly and has separate symbols for vowels, Arabic typically represents only consonants. The vowels are represented by diacritic marks above the consonant.
3: Script Type
Devanagari is an abugida, whereas the Arabic script is an abjad. In abjad, only consonants are represented, and vowels are indicated by diacritic marks.
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Devanagari vs. Chinese Characters
1: Character Types
Devanagari characters represent both consonants and vowels. Chinese characters, on the other hand, are logograms. This means that each character typically represents a morpheme or a whole word.
2: Pronunciation
Devanagari characters represent phonetic sounds. This means that the pronunciation of the word is a combination of the sounds each letter represents.
In Chinese, characters may not provide clear phonetic information. Thus, pronunciation is less apparent from the characters alone.
3: Writing System
Devanagari is an abugid. Chinese characters, in contrast, are logographic, with each character representing a word or a morpheme.
4: Direction
Devanagari is usually written from left to right, whereas Chinese characters can be written from left to right, right to left, or top to bottom in columns.
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Devanagari vs. Cyrillic script
1: Direction
Both languages are left-to-right languages.
2: Vowels
Devanagari has distinct characters for both short and long vowels. Each consonant also has an intrinsic sound (usually “a”) but can be modified with a diacritic mark.
The Cyrillic script also has dedicated vowel characters. The representation of vowels can vary across languages using Cyrillic, but generally, there is no distinction between short and long vowels.
3: Consonants
In Devanagari, consonants carry an inherent vowel sound. In addition, conjunct consonants, where two or more consonants are combined to form a single character, are common.
In Cyrillic, consonants are generally represented without an inherent vowel sound. The script focuses on individual consonant and vowel characters.
4: Pronunciation
Both scripts represent sounds phonetically, meaning each letter stands for a certain sound.
5: Script Type
Devanagari is an abugida, also referred to as alphasyllabary. This means that each consonant has a vowel “attached” to it.
In the Cyrillic script, characters represent single vowels and consonants.
Overall, Devanagari is quite different compared to other existing scripts.
It’s important to note, however, that these comparisons are broad generalizations, and variations exist within each script depending on the specific language or languages using them. Each script has evolved to suit the linguistic characteristics and cultural contexts of the languages it represents, so variations are unavoidable.
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Current use of Devanagari script
The Devanagari script is widely used in various domains, both traditional and digital. Here’s an overview of its current use:
1: Official and administrative use
Devanagari is the official script for languages, such as Hindi, Marathi, and Konkani in India. It is widely used for official documentation, government communication, and administrative purposes in the regions where these languages are spoken.
2: Literature and Education
Devanagari is extensively used in literature, textbooks, and educational materials, particularly for languages like Sanskrit, Hindi, Marathi, and Nepali.
3: Media and Publishing
Newspapers, magazines, and books in Hindi and other languages utilizing the script are predominantly printed in Devanagari. It is a common script for publishing literature and media, especially in India.
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4: Digital Space
Devanagari is widely used in digital content, including websites, blogs, social media platforms, and communication platforms such as messaging apps and email apps.
Many websites offer content in Devanagari, catering to a vast online audience. What’s more, digital publications of e-books or online articles in India are commonly in Devanagari.
In addition, Devanagari is included in the Unicode Standard, which facilitates its use on digital platforms. This standardization ensures compatibility and proper rendering across various devices and software applications.
It’s also important to note that there are various digital input methods and keyboards that enable users to type in Devanagari on computers and mobile devices. This includes virtual keyboards and transliteration tools.
In conclusion…
The Devanagari script is an ancient script that has found its way into our modern society. What’s more, it has adapted, so it can be used in various digital environments.
The Devanagari script continues to play a vital role in various aspects of contemporary life, including official communication, literature, media, education, and the digital space.
Through the centuries, it has become an intrinsic part of the language and culture in India and even outside of it. And, as it seems, this is unlikely to change!
Its adaptability to the digital age, facilitated by Unicode standards and digital input methods, ensures its continued relevance in the evolving linguistic landscape of the Indian subcontinent.
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FAQS ON The Devanagari script
What is the Devanagari script?
The Devanagari script is an ancient writing system used for Sanskrit and several modern Indian languages, such as Hindi, Marathi, and Nepali. It features intricate, curvy characters and is a phonetic script.
What does the name 'Devanagari' mean?
The name ‘Devanagari’ comes from the Sanskrit words Deva (divine) and Nagari (city), translating to “the script of the divine city.”
Which languages use the Devanagari script?
Languages like Hindi, Marathi, Sanskrit, Nepali, Konkani, Maithili, Bodo, and Dogri use Devanagari as their writing system. It is also adapted for various regional dialects.
How is Devanagari different from the Latin script?
Devanagari is an abugida, where each consonant has an inherent vowel sound that can be modified with diacritics. The Latin script, in contrast, is an alphabet with distinct characters for consonants and vowels.
When was the Devanagari script first used?
The earliest known inscriptions in the Devanagari script date back to the 10th century CE. It evolved from the ancient Brahmi script through its intermediate form, the Nagari script.
How is the Devanagari script used today?
It is used in literature, education, official government documents, media, publishing, and digital platforms. Devanagari is supported by the Unicode Standard, allowing its use in emails, websites, and social media.
