Mongolian script facts for kids

Mongolian script was the first writing system used for the Mongolian language. It's a special kind of writing where letters in a word connect, much like the Arabic alphabet. This is called a cursive style.

What makes it really unique is that it's written from top to bottom, in columns. But unlike other vertical scripts (like Chinese or Korean), you read these columns from left to right! Today, Mongolian script is used in Mongolia alongside the Cyrillic alphabet. It's also the main way to write Mongolian in Inner Mongolia, which is part of China. Other languages like Buryat, Kalmyk, and Manchu also use this script.

Why Mongolian Script is Special

Mongolian script stands out because of how it looks and how it's written. Imagine writing down a long word, and all the letters flow together like a single line. That's what cursive means. Also, the shape of a letter can change depending on if it's at the start, middle, or end of a word.

Writing Up and Down

Most languages are written from left to right, or sometimes right to left. But Mongolian script goes from top to bottom! You start at the top of a page and write downwards. Then, you move to the right and start a new column, also writing downwards. It's the only vertical script that you read from left to right.

Some people believe it was designed this way so it could be easily written on the neck of a horse. Horses were very important to the Mongolian people long ago.

The History of Mongolian Script

The story of Mongolian script begins with a famous leader, Genghis Khan. He wanted a way to write down the Mongolian language.

How It Started

In 1208, Genghis Khan captured a Uighur writer named Tatar-Tonga. Genghis Khan asked him to adapt the Old Uyghur alphabet for the Mongolian language. This new script was a good start, but it wasn't perfect for Mongolian sounds. It was also quite hard for people to learn.

Changes Over Time

Over many years, the way Mongolians wrote their language changed, especially in the country of Mongolia.

From Script to Cyrillic

In 1941, Mongolia became a communist state. At that time, the Soviet Union was a strong ally. Because of this friendship, Mongolia decided to switch from Mongolian script to the Cyrillic alphabet. This made it easier to communicate with the Soviet Union, which also used Cyrillic.

Bringing the Script Back

After communism ended, Mongolia wanted to bring back its traditional culture. So, they made Mongolian script official again, alongside Cyrillic. This was a way to honor their history.

However, Cyrillic is still more commonly used in Mongolia today. This is because many people learned Cyrillic in school, and it's easier to type on computers. Also, there isn't always enough money to teach the old script widely. But in Inner Mongolia, most ethnic Mongolians still use and read the traditional Mongolian script. They often don't know Cyrillic at all.

Images for kids

• 

  The Stone of Genghis Khan, with the oldest known writing in Mongolian script.

• 

  The 1925 logo of a Buryat–Mongolian newspaper.

• 

  A KFC in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, with signs in English, Chinese, and Mongolian.

• 

  Different scripts: Phagspa, Lantsa, Tibetan, Mongolian, Chinese, and Cyrillic.

• 

  Reed pens, used for writing.

• 

  Ink brushes, another tool for writing.

• 

  Writing implements of the Bogd Khan, a historical leader.

• 

  Mongolian calligraphy from a 13th-century book.

• 

  Title screen from the 1988 film Mandukhai setsen khatan.

• 

  A stele (stone slab) for Queen Mandukhai the Wise.

• 

  Cover page with printed hand-lettering from the early 20th century.

• 

  A 1932 postage stamp from Mongolia.

• 

  A 1 Mongolian tögrög banknote from 1925.

• 

  A Mongolian dollar from 1921.

• 

  The Imperial seal of the Bogd Khan, around 1911.

• 

  Mixed Manchu–Mongolian text on a Paiza (a tablet carried by officials).

• 

  A poem written by Injinash in the 19th century.

• 

  A textbook in Korean and Mongolian from the 18th century.

• 

  Mongolian writing on a board at Yonghe Temple in Beijing, 1722.

• 

  A letter from Öljaitü to King Philip IV of France, 1305.

• 

  A silver coin from the time of Arghun, 1297.

• 

  The Imperial seal of Güyük Khan on a letter from 1246.

See also

In Spanish: Alfabeto mongol tradicional para niños