How to build a set of phonetic alphabets useable for all Indian languages?

Answer 1

OM-LIPI Sutra : An Indian Phonetic Script

OM is the equivalent of the alpha and omega of this character set and hence the name OM lipi

Based on Devnagrik Lipi

Suitable for all Indian Languages (adaptable to all languages and may be called Uniscript)

Phonology linked to physiology - Characters are coded with the location and / or formation of the tongue in production of the phoneme

Logical and mnemonic

Divided into 3 groups:

a) Vowels & diphthongs

b) Grouped (structured) consonants

c) Others

Vowels - All five vowels are coded with their symbolic position in the mouth from where they are produced. They are like a semicircle the opening of which depends on where the phoneme is produced in the mouth (see diagram). A dot inside the semicircle denotes a long vowel.

Diphthongs are made by combining the beginning and ending vowels that make the diphthong in the same order. The diphthongs may also be put in grid with all possible combinations in a sequential manner for use in other languages.

Structured consonants - the five groups - k, ch, t, th & p represented by lines indicating the location from where the phoneme is produced and the aspirated, voiced, aspirated & voiced and nasal - each having its own symbol (see diagram).

Aspirated : a backslash at the bottom

Voiced : a dot at bottom left (symbolizing the location of the vocal cord)

Aspirated & voiced - both the above symbols

Nasal - a dot on top right (symbolizing the location of the nose)

Doubling of a consonant - a dot on the left side of the character

Others - subgroups like semi vowels, fricatives, laterals, retroflex…

Tongue is represented by a horizontal line with a vertical line at the right end -

downward indicating the top tip of the tongue touching the alveolar ridge or the tip of the upper teeth and

upward vertical line indicating the lower tip of the tongue touching the alveolar ridge

Unicode

By placing the character in the relevant cell of a grid of 100 x 50 (columns and rows) from back to front of the voice producing area (cross section of the mouth), would give the code of that character. This could be used for Unicode numbering - a code for each character could be derived from the grid - making understanding and sorting of characters easier

Once compatibility with Unicode is made, transcription may easily be automated through software.

Wanted Expertise For Development and Implementation

Develop and fine tune the character set in an appealing and acceptable way by making it writable and easily readable (of course after corrections as required).

Prepare an audio visual training program to explain the character set and the logic.

Prepare the software for transcribing popular articles, songs and prayers from different languages to OMlipi so that people can easily have access to this new lipi through the net making learning easier and implementation faster.

The multilingual groups can benefit a lot with this lipi and can help in national integration by eventually to a convergence and the evolution of a Bharat Bhasha.

With combinations of just six characters we could have a Unique Identity Code for all the people in the world!!

A new simpler keyboard (suitable for the handheld devices as well) may be designed to use these characters in an easier way.