11/1/67 13:02 Kulitan alphabet

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Kulitan
Kulitan is one of the indigenous writing systems of the Philippines and is used to write Kapampangan, a language
spoken mainly in the province of Pampanga in Central Luzon and its surrounding municipalities. Structurally,
Kulitan is an abudiga, where each consonant has an inherent vowel that is modified with diacritics.

The origins of Kulitan are uncertain. Although some believe it to be an indigenous invention, many of the symbols
and writing rules resemble those of Kawi as well as the other Indic scripts of Southeast Asia.

The oldest specimen of Kulitan were most likely the ‘writing of the Kingdom of Luzon’ found in several 16th
century Luzon jars as described by Tauchi Yonesaburo [田内米三郎] (1853) in his book Toukikou [陶器考]
‘Investigations of Pottery’. Several 16th and 17th century specimens of signatures by leading Kapampangan
citizens written in Kulitan are preserved in various archives in the Philippines. Kulitan specimens also appear in the
notes and abecedaries of several European explorers who visited Pampanga in the 19th century. Spanish lexicographers in
the 17th and 18th centuries called the symbols used in this script culit, and the script became known as Kulitan as a
result. The native names for it are Súlat Kapampángan and Pamagkulit.

Usage of the script was said to have declined in the 19th century, but was revived and revitalised by Kapampangan writers
led by Aurelio Tolentino to write anti-Spanish propaganda during the Philippine Revolution of 1896. They were later used
to write anti-American propaganda during the Philippine-American War and in the early years of US occupation.
Kapampangan nationalist writers led by Don Zoilo Hilario revitalised Kulitan in the 1930s and 1940. Kulitan has declined
once again after World War II and efforts were made in the 1980s and 1990s to revive and popularise it, particularly by
Edwin Navarro Camaya and Michael Raymon Pangilinan. In 2008, a group of young writers led by Eliver Sicat, John
Balatbat, Max Rosales and Bruno Tiotuico formed the Ágúman Súlat Kapampángan so as to safeguard and promote the
teaching and usage of Kulitan.

Notable features
Type of writing system: Abugida / Syllabic Alphabet
Writing direction: top to bottom in columns running from right to left
Consists of Indûng Súlat (mother characters), i.e. consonants with an inherent vowel, and Anak Súlat (offsping
characters), i.e. vowel diacritics, which change the inherent vowel.
Used to write: Kapampangan a member of the Malayo-Polynesian branch of Austronesian languages spoken mainly on the
Philippine island of Luzon by about 3 million people. It is also known as Pampango, Capampangan, Pampangueño or
Amanung Sisuan.

Corrections and additional information supplied by Mike Pangilinan.

Kulitan script for Kapampangan

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Download a speadsheet of this chart อุป

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Links ห้อ
ha Information about the Kulitan script
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kulitan_alphabet
สมั
d
http://nordenx.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Súlat Kapampángan
http://www.vjf.cnrs.fr/11ical/data/11ical_Pangilinan_Assessing_the_current_status_of_the_Kapampangan.pdf
http://siuala.com
ห้องน้ำ
Kulitan font
http://nordenx.deviantart.com/art/Baybayin-Pamagkulit-Font-246309064
สมบู
สำหรั
Philippine languages ความ
Aborlan Tagbanwa, Agutaynen, Aklan, Bantayanon, Bantik, Bantoanon, Baybayanon, Bikol, Binukid, Blaan, Buhid, Bukid,
Buol, Butuanon, Calmian Tagbanwa, Caluyanon, Capiznon, Casiguran Dumagat Agta, Cebuano, Central Tagbanwa, ห้องน้ำ
Jaqu
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11/1/67 13:02 Kulitan alphabet
Cuyonon, Gorontalo, Hanuno'o, Hiligaynon, Iraya, Isnag, Kagayanen, Kalanguya, Kapampangan, Kinabalian, Kinaray-a, Jaqu
Klata, Maguindanao, Mamanwa, Manide, Maranao, Masbateño, Matigsalug, Molbog, Mongondow, Obo, Palawano, Wor
Porohanon, Ratahan, Rinconada Bikol, Romblomanon, Sangirese, Surigaonon, Suwawa, Tagalog, Tagabawà, Talaud,
Tausūg, Tawbuid, Tboli, Tiruray, Tombulu, Tondano, Tonsawang, Umiray Dumaget, Waray-Waray, Western Subanon

Jaqu
Abugidas / Syllabic alphabets
Ahom, Aima, Arleng, Badagu, Badlit, Basahan, Balinese, Balti-A, Balti-B, Batak, Baybayin, Bengali, Bhaiksuki, Bhujimol,
Bilang-bilang, Bima, Blackfoot, Brahmi, Buhid, Burmese, Carrier, Chakma, Cham, Cree, Dehong Dai, Devanagari, Dham
Lipi, Dhankari / Sirmauri, Ditema, Dives Akuru, Dogra, Ethiopic, Evēla Akuru, Fox, Fraser, Gond, Goykanadi, Grantha,
Gujarati, Gunjala Gondi, Gupta, Gurmukhi, Halbi Lipi, Hanifi, Hanuno'o, Hočąk, Ibalnan, Incung, Inuktitut, Jaunsari Takri,
, high risk Javanese, Kaithi, Kadamba, Kamarupi, Kannada, Kawi, Kharosthi, Khema, Khe Prih, Khmer, Khojki, Khudabadi, Kirat Rai, V

sefs,retail Kōchi, Komering, Kulitan, Kurukh Banna, Lampung, Lanna, Lao, Lepcha, Limbu, Lontara/Makasar, Lota Ende, Magar
money
with Akkha, Mahajani, Malayalam, Manpuri / Meitei (Modern), Manpuri (Old), Marchen, Meroïtic, Masarm Gondi, Modi, Mon,
ovider. Mongolian Horizontal Square Script, Multani, Nandinagari, Newa, New Tai Lue, Ojibwe, Odia, Pahawh Hmong, Pallava,
Phags-pa, Purva Licchavi, Qiang / Rma, Ranjana, Rejang (Kaganga), Sasak, Savara, Satera Jontal, Shan, Sharda, Siddham,
Sinhala, Sorang Sompeng, Sourashtra, Soyombo, Sukhothai, Sundanese, Syloti Nagri, Tagbanwa, Takri, Tamil, Tanchangya
(Ka-Pat), Tani, Thaana, Telugu, Thai, Tibetan, Tigalari, Tikamuli, Tocharian, Tolong Siki, Vatteluttu, Warang Citi

Other writing systems

Page last modified: 16.03.23

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