Uyghur script
Definition
The Uyghur script is a writing system used by the Uyghur people, a Turkic ethnic group primarily living in Xinjiang, China. It has evolved over time from an ancient alphabet to its current form which is based on Arabic script.
Analogy
Think of the Uyghur script as a tree that's grown and changed over time. Its roots are in the ancient Orkhon alphabet (used by Turkic peoples), but it's branched out and now looks more like the leaves of an Arabic language tree due to historical influences and changes.
Related terms
Orkhon Alphabet: An ancient Turkic script used by various Turkic states in Central Asia before being replaced by the Uyghur script.
Arabic Script: A writing system used for several languages including Arabic and Persian. It was adapted to write the Uyghur language during the 10th century.
Old Uyghur Alphabet: A form of the Sogdian alphabet used between the 8th and 17th centuries by Uygurs.
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