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Some [[Wikipedia:Wikipedians|Wikipedian]]s have formed a [[Wikipedia:WikiProject|project]] to better organize information in articles related to '''Writing systems'''.  This page and its subpages contain their suggestions; whilst by no means mandatory, it is hoped that this project will help to focus the efforts of other Wikipedians.  If you would like to help, please inquire on the [[{{NAMESPACE}} talk:{{PAGENAME}}|talk page]], register your name on the  [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Writing systems#Participants|Participants list]] and review this Project page. All contributions to articles and ideas for further development of this project are welcome. See this subpage for information about [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Writing systems/Assessment|quality assessment]] of articles in this project.

This article is a child project of [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Linguistics|WikiProject Linguistics]]. For more information on WikiProjects, please see [[Wikipedia:WikiProjects]] and [[Wikipedia:WikiProject best practices]].

== Title ==
'''WikiProject{{spaced ndash}}Writing systems'''

This [[Wikipedia:WikiProject|WikiProject]] aims primarily to provide Wikipedia (en) with a consistent treatment for each '''[[writing system]]''' and general information relating to the study of writing systems. Many writing systems already have extensive pages, and the systematic information on those pages is not presented in a consistent way. A main purpose of this WikiProject is to present that information consistently, that many notable writing systems are documented, and to ensure that each of the major subject areas relevant to each is covered, at least briefly.

Note: the abbreviation '''WS''' may be used on this project page as a shorthand way to mean "writing system".

Read further for more on proposed coverage, strategy, areas to be developed, etc.

== Scope ==
This project covers all articles describing writing systems, their individual symbols, their relationships with language, culture, and art, as well as their development in these areas.

== Related WikiProjects ==
''Related WikiProjects are listed below. Monitoring their development, usage and approach may be useful when considering this project's further expansion and direction.''

===Descendant WikiProjects===
''Other WikiProjects whose subject matter is actually (or conceptually) derived from this one include:''
* ''Defunct'' WikiProject Latin alphabet
* ''Defunct'' WikiProject Chinese characters

===Similar WikiProjects===
''Other thematically-related WikiProjects include:''
* [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Languages|WikiProject Languages]]
* [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Ancient Egypt|WikiProject Ancient Egypt]]
* [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Typography|WikiProject Typography]]

===Related [[Wikipedia:Portal|Wikiportals]]===
* [[Portal:Language]]
* [[Portal:Linguistics]]

===Related [[:Category:Wikipedia collaborations|Collaborations]]===
* No related Collaborations have yet been identified.

===Sister project searches===
*[[Commons:Special:Search/Writing systems|''search'' '''Commons''']] related image and media
*[[Wikibooks:Special:Search/Writing systems|''search'' '''Wikibooks''']] related free online books
*[[Wikiquote:Special:Search/Writing systems|''search'' '''Wikiquote''']] related quotations
*[[Wikisource:Special:Search/Writing systems|''search'' '''Wikisource''']] related original source material
*[[Wiktionary:Special:Search/Writing systems|''search'' '''Wiktionary''']] related dictionary definitions

== Task Forces ==
*[[Wikipedia:WikiProject_Writing_systems/Transliteration_Task_Force|Transliteration Task Force]]
*[[Wikipedia:WikiProject Ancient Germanic studies/Runes|Runic studies]]

== [[File:Nuvola apps kdmconfig.png|20px]] Participants ==
{{userboxtop|WikiProject WS}}
{{User WikiProject WS}}
{{userboxbottom}}
The following is a list of WikiProject Writing System participants who have been active in the last year.

<div style="-moz-column-count:2; column-count:2;"><!-- If you wish to comment, try to keep it less than a line long -->

'''Please add  yourself in ''alphabetical order''.''' ''(Don't put a blank line above or below your entry: it'll mess up the numbered list.) Feel free to sign up below if you'd be interested in helping out. You can add the userbox {{tl|User WikiProject WS}} to your userpage after you've signed up. It will put you under [[:Category:WikiProject Writing systems participants]].''
# [[User:Angr|Angr]] ([[User talk:Angr|talk]]) 17:15, 25 September 2011 (UTC) - I'm more or less familiar with the Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Cyrillic, Arabic, Devanagari, Burmese, Hangul, Katakana, and Hiragana writing systems.
# [[User:Ashertheaxolotl|Ashertheaxolotl]] - I can read Latin, cyrillic, and greek writing systems. Currently studying those and the arabic, japanese, korean, and hebrew writing systems!
# [[User:ÆnēāsQuébécois|Ænēās Québécois]] - History of Greek and Latin scripts, diacritics, Mediæval calligraphy
# [[User:Anotaomo|Ano-tao-mo]] ([[User talk:Anotaomo|talk2me]]) - New here, im interested in some [[Latin script|Latin writing]]. 
# [[User|BrightSunMan]] - Random user who can read nearly all [[Latin script|Latin script letters]], Russian [[Cyrillic script|Cyrillic]], [[Greek alphabet|Greek]], [[Devanagari]], [[Bengali–Assamese script|Bengali-Assamese]], [[Gujarati alphabet|Gujarati]], [[Gurmukhi alphabet|Gurmukhi]], [[Brahmi script|Brahmi]], [[International phonetic alphabet|IPA]], and a bit of [[Hangeul]] and Nunavik [[Inuktitut syllabics|Inuktitut]]. He would love to transliterate stuff.
# [[User|Byrappa]] - Mainly expanding on existing articles.
# [[User:Cbdorsett|Cbdorsett]] Count me in. Ask me questions; I'm always happy to help. And yes, I really do speak Arabic. --[[User:Cbdorsett|Cbdorsett]] 10:12, 7 January 2007 (UTC)
# [[User talk:CBDunkerson|CBD]] 20:41, 22 September 2006 (UTC) - Mostly a template handyman, but will also look into possible improvements to [[Maya script]], [[Sarati]], [[Enochian]], and various other dead and/or fictional scripts which I am familiar with. --[[User talk:CBDunkerson|CBD]] 20:41, 22 September 2006 (UTC)
# [[User:Chet Gray|Chet Gray]] ([[User talk:Chet Gray|talk]]) 08:00, 15 April 2008 (UTC){{spaced ndash}}I don't have a particular expertise in any writing system, but this has long been an interest of mine, at least since I taught myself [[Tengwar]] in grade school.
# [[User:CJLL Wright|cjllw]] added 9 Jun05; will be glad to help expand related articles where I can
# [[User:Codrinb|Codrin.B]] 05:23, 9 January 2011 (UTC) - interested in finding the truth about the controversial [[Dacian script]], [[Sinaia lead plates]] and [[Rohonc Codex]]. Also in deciphering [[Thracian language#Inscriptions|Thracian inscriptions]] and interpretations of [[Tărtăria tablets]]
# [[User:Coroboy|Coroboy]] 12:56, 12 July 2011 (UTC) - working on the letters of the Cyrillic alphabet.
# [[User:CrazyEttin|CrazyEttin]] ([[User talk:CrazyEttin|talk]]) 15:57, 14 July 2020 (UTC)
# [[User:Crissov|Christoph Päper]]: primarily theoretical, but also applied [[graphemics|graphem(at)ics]] and related linguistic topics, like orthography, also typography — [[User:Crissov|Christoph]] [[User talk:Crissov|Päper]] 13:29, 17 March 2011 (UTC)
# [[User|CsikosLo]]
# [[User:Dcmacnut|Dcmacnut]]: Japanese, Chinese, and Korean. Not sure how much help I can be, but am willing to pitch in.[[User:Dcmacnut|Dcmacnut]] 18:17, 23 January 2007 (UTC)
# [[User:Dhoru 21]] Native to [[Thaana]], and I understand Latin, Korean, Kana and some Kanji, and trying to learn more
# [[User:Drbug|D'''r''' B'''u'''g ''(Vladimir V. Medeyko)'']] I've made numerous changes in this area, happy to know that there's a project. 07:00, 13 September 2006 (UTC)
# [[User:DrHäxer|DrHäxer]]: Research interests include the origin of the Elder Futhark and more broadly the general early history of writing in Central/Northern Europe. — [[User:DrHäxer|# [[User:Esmost|<span style="font-size:100% ;color:#FF0000; font-family: Segoe Print;">Esmost</span>]] [[User talk:Esmost|<span style="font-size: 100%; color:#C300F1; font-family: Corbel"><sup>''talk''</sup></span>]]  08:48, 24 December 2020 (UTC)
# [[User:Evertype|Evertype]]·[[User_talk:Evertype|✆]] 08:10, 1 October 2006 (UTC)
# [[User:f-m-t|FrancisTyers]] [[User_talk:f-m-t|·]] 08:52, 13 September 2006 (UTC)
# [[User:graymornings|graymornings]]: I speak and read Russian, so I'm familiar with the Cyrillic alphabet. I'm willing to help in any way{{spaced ndash}}just post a message to my talk page.
# [[User:Glennznl|Glennznl]]: I have contributed a lot to the Baybayin and Tai Le articles and created pages for the Sukhothai, Tai Noi, Tai Viet, Fakkham and Khom Thai scripts. --[[User:Glennznl|Glennznl]] ([[User talk:Glennznl|talk]]) 22:08, 31 July 2021 (UTC)
# [[User:Grumpylawnchair|Grumpylawnchair]] ([[User talk:Grumpylawnchair|talk]]) 23:35, 23 March 2025 (UTC)
# [[User:Jomeara421|Jomeara421]] ([[User talk:Jomeara421|talk]]) 29 December 2008 Languages and scripts of [[Algonquian languages|Algonquian]] family, [[Canadian Aboriginal Syllabics|Cree syllabary]], roman alphabets used for Algonquian languages.
# [[User:Joost]] Trying to help sorting out and cleaning up some of the many writing systems. Started some work today on cleaning up the mess in the articles about the various Brahmic writing systems, including work on infoboxes, broken links, etc.
# [[User:JWB|JWB]] ([[User talk:JWB|talk]]) 02:40, 20 January 2008 (UTC) Familiar with most major scripts and writing system issues in general.
# [[User:Kabiryani|Kabiryani]] I am working on a few articles that fall under this wikiproject! I can help especially with referencing and I would love to help out if there is still an active community here. 22nd March 2022.
# [[User:Kingsleyj|Kingsleyj]]: I can chip in with Tamil script as well [[User:Kingsleyj|Kingsleyj]] 23:20, 20 May 2006 (UTC)
# [[User:Kiwehtin|Kiwehtin]] Interested in writing new articles and improving articles on scripts and numeral systems in several areas.  (Malay archipelago script families, individual scripts and numeral notation systems; North Indic Nagari scripts; East African and Malagasy Arabic scripts; sign language notation/writing systems by typology, families and individual systems; sign language manual alphabets and numeral systems — again, by typology, historical relationships, and individual systems.) Improving sidebar presentation of historical relationships between scripts to reflect substantiated claims in the primary literature. Adding material on variation in various scripts: historical, regional, handwriting vs typography etc.  [[User:Kiwehtin|Kiwehtin]] ([[User talk:Kiwehtin|talk]]) 02:05, 15 March 2010 (UTC)
# [[User:Kwamikagami|Kwami]]: Have contributed to [[hangul]], [[rongorongo]], [[Canadian Aboriginal Syllabics|Cree syllabics]], [[Middle Bronze Age alphabets]], [[Mayan glyphs]], [[SignWriting]], [[IPA]], ''&c.,'' so I should probably throw my name in. Currently have access to a copy of Daniels & Bright, which is uneven but a good all-around reference. Glad to help where I can. [[User:Kwamikagami|kwami]] ([[User talk:Kwamikagami|talk]]) 08:59, 15 April 2008 (UTC)
# [[User:Lolinder|Lolinder]] ([[User talk:Lolinder|talk]]): Interested in writing systems, unsure how much help I can be.
# [[User:LonleyGhost|LonleyGhost]] I can read Cyrillic and a bit of Hiragana/Katakana howerver I'm more interested in making the styles of articles more consistent and adding ipa where possible.
# [[User:Mikhailov Kusserow|Mikhailov Kusserow]]
# [[User:Moocowsrule|<span style="color:black">'''ムー'''</span><span style="background:Black;color:#FDF5E6">'''カオズ'''</span><span style="color:Black">'''ルール'''</span>]]<sup>[[User talk:Moocowsrule|<span style="color:Black">'''(Talk to Moo)'''</span>]]</sup> 05:33, 26 December 2008 (UTC), I can read Hiragana, Katakana, a lot of Kanji, some Hangul, Hanja, Hanzi, Bopomofo (a lot of the East Asian writing systems).
# [[User:Monozigote|Monozigote:]] Epigraphy, Palaeography, Italic languages, etc. - I'm expanding some articles right now.--[[User:Monozigote|Monozigote]] ([[User talk:Monozigote|talk]]) 13:12, 29 March 2013 (UTC)
# [[User:Msanford|Msanford]] ([[User talk:Msanford|talk]]) 19:12, 4 March 2008 (UTC) Arabic, Greek and interested in starting a task force to improve and audit transliterations into English for which the original text is not provided (i.e., provide the original text).
# [[User:Murraytheb]] Arabic
# [[User:MythicalAlien|MythicalAlien]] ([[User talk:MythicalAlien|talk]]) 22:51, 22 December 2016 (UTC)
# [[User:Njakonkalwa|Njakonkalwa]] I can read the Latin, IPA, Cyrillic, Greek, Armenian, Mkhedruli, Coptic, Estrangela, Madnhaya, Serta, Arabic, Hebrew, Aramaic, Phoenician, Hiragana, Katakana, and Hangul scripts. I am also learning various scripts including Mongolian, Glagolitic, Caucasian Albanian, Asomtavruli, Nuskhuri, Samaritan, Ge'ez/Amharic, Old South Arabian, etc.
# [[User:Node_ue|node]]
# [[User:Nohat|nohat]]
# [[User:Ocrasaroon|ocrasaroon]] ([[User talk:Ocrasaroon|talk]]) 23:22, 15 February 2009 (UTC) Native English with a moderate understanding of both written and conversational Latin. I zero in on grammar, spelling, sentence structure, etc...
# [[User:OwenBlacker|OwenBlacker]]
# [[User:pepperbeast|<strong><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Script';"><span style="color: #a10;">Pepper</span><span style="color: #0c1;">Beast</span></span></strong>]] [[User talk:pepperbeast|<span style="color: #200">(talk)</span>]] Native English speaker. I can read French well, Spanish and Italian moderately well, and Latin a little. I'm interested in Brahmic scripts and I'm learning [[te reo Māori]]. [[Wikipedia:WikiFairy | Wikifairy]], template tinkerer
# {{User|Pgfeller}} 
# [[User:pjacobi|pjacobi]]
# [[User:Ragib|Ragib]] - I can help with any Bengali language scripts. --[[User:Ragib|Ragib]] 02:31, 5 September 2006 (UTC)
# [[User:Remsense|Remsense]]
# [[User:sephia karta|sephia karta]] Mainly Devanagari and Abkhaz Alphabet
# [[User:Shannon Garcia|Shannon Garcia]] – various Cyrillics, [[kana]] and some [[kanji]], [[Kartveli]]
# [[User:Shruti14|Shruti14]] can help with many including Indian languages
# [[User:Shubhsamant09|Shubhsamant09]] Can read [[Latin Script|Latin]], [[Devanagari]], [[Gujarati Script|Gujarati]] fluently. Can also read [[Arabic Script|Arabic]] and [[Bengali-Assamese Script|Bengali-Assamese]] moderately. I'm interested in [[Brahmic scripts]].
# [[user:ŠotiBriti]] Can read Latin, (English, French, German, Spanish, Estonian and Finnish), Cyrillic (Russian), Greek and Georgian.
# [[User:Sundar|Sundar]] I can participate where I can and will also use any template we decide upon to [[Tamil script]]
# [[User:SuperNova422|SuperNova422]] Can read the Latin script, the Russian Cyrillic script, (most) of the Greek script, and the Elder Futhark.
# [[User:Thnidu|Thnidu]] ([[User talk:Thnidu|talk]]) Language freak, language geek. Scripts: Latin, Cyrillic, Shavian, Tengwar, runes (both Futhark and Tolkien), [[Stokoe notation]], somewhat of Hebrew. Languages: Latin, French, some Russian, Esperanto, Klingon, some German, chunks of quite a few others. But I'm mostly signing up for the intersection between this group and being a [[WP:WikiGnome|WikiGnome]]... so I probably have less time for it than I think I do. 18:13, 8 October 2015 (UTC)
# [[User:TosachFrechrai|TosachFrechrai]] - Ogham script
# [[User:Umofomia|Umofomia]] - mainly Chinese
# [[User:Universal Life]] [[User:Universal Life|Universal Life]] ([[User talk:Universal Life|talk]]) 09:19, 4 February 2013 (UTC)
# [[User:Vanisaac|VanIsaac]] 16:49, 20 June 2011 (UTC) - Probably the go-to guy for shorthands (Unicode encoder of Duployan shorthand). Interested in syllabries, abugidas (esp. old Brahmic scripts), and Han morphographs - they symbolize morphemes, so they're not ideographs.
# [[User:Washi|Washi]] Interested in writing systems in general; have edited pages on Baybayin and the Arkolochori Axe. [[User:Washi|Washi]] ([[User talk:Washi|talk]]) 20:39, 11 May 2010 (UTC)
# [[User:WilliamThweatt|WilliamThweatt]] I can help with [[Khmer script]], Thai, Lao, various Cyrillics, Greek, Hebrew and related scripts.  Just contact me and let me know how I can help!
# [[User:Xylemphone|Xylemphone]] Chinese, Tibetan, Quikscript, and shorthand systems, especially Gregg
# [[User:Yenx|Yenx]] I have little time, but know about 10 writing systems almost perfectly and would love to improve the articles, it's needed!
# [[User:Yung Wei|Yung Wei]]<sup>[[Special:Contributions/Yung_Wei|<span style="color:green;">綪</span>]][[User_talk:Yung_Wei|<span style="color:green;">永徽</span>]]</sup> 00:23, 4 May 2006 (UTC)
# [[User:Jwabeck|Jwabeck]] I speak English L1, Italian, Spanish, and French. I'm also a linguistics student so I can format IPA

===Currently inactive participants===
The following members of WikiProject Writing Systems have been inactive editors for more than one year. If you find yourself on this list, but wish to remain on the active list, please move your entry back up to its place in the list of participants, above.

# [[User:Alteaven|Alteaven]] ([[User talk:Alteaven|talk]]) 22:21, 29 October 2013 (UTC) - Mainly edits [[Javanese script]], but also interested in various Indonesian scripts such as [[Balinese script|Balinese]], [[Old Sundanese script|Sundanese]], [[Lontara script|Buginese]], and [[Batak script]].
# [[User:Atura|Atura]] 14:17(AEST) 2 December 2006 - English is my native language, i understand some Japanese and can read Hiragana and Katakana and some Kanji, also understand the Greek alphabet. Im more involved in neating up pages making them 'universal'
# '''[[User:BalkanFever|<span style="color:black;">Balkan</span>]][[User talk:BalkanFever|<span style="color:#008;">Fever</span>]]''' 02:16, 28 December 2007 (UTC) - Can help with Cyrillic, Latin and IPA.
# [[User:Codex Sinaiticus|Codex Sinaiticus]]){{spaced ndash}}Have been working in this area.{{spaced ndash}}[[User:Codex Sinaiticus|ፈቃደ]] ([[User talk:Codex Sinaiticus|ውይይት]]) 04:31, 13 September 2006 (UTC)
# [[User:DePiep|DePiep]]: Coming from the Unicode universe, now that Unicode pages are tagged into this project. -[[User:DePiep|DePiep]] ([[User talk:DePiep|talk]]) 11:01, 17 February 2012 (UTC)
# [[User:Ed4linda|Doc Rock]]: Korean, Japanese, Chinese, runiform scripts, Ogham, Tifinag,and others [[User:Ed4linda|Doc Rock]] 00:34, 6 December 2006 (UTC)
# [[User:Ephraim6888]] 10 April 2007 (UTC){{spaced ndash}}Devanagiri, Telugu, Kannada.
# [[User:Irtapil|Irtapil]] I'm fascinated phonetic writing systems. I don't know if this is fitting or ironic given I always hated spelling as a kid. It still feels like English uses vowels and double letters at random. I know it's not true mathematical randomness; there's a history behind it. So, "chaotic" is the more exact term for why i cannot predict what i need to do to make the angry red squiggle under the word go away.) I like that Arabic expresses all of the hard bits from English spelling as optional diacritics. If they'd tried to teach me Australian English <s>symaltaniously</s> simultaneously in Arabic, Devanagari, and Latin scripts, i think i might have learnt more of English. ([[User talk:Irtapil|talk]]) 10:49, 11 May 2020 (UTC)
# [[User:John Carter|John Carter]] ([[User talk:John Carter|talk]]) 00:44, 3 April 2008 (UTC)
# [[User:K.A.David|K.A.David]]: I speak English, Filipino (Tagalog), Cebuano, I can read [[Japanese writing system|Japanese]] [[Kana]], [[Hangul]], a few [[Chinese Characters]], the [[Greek Alphabet]] and a little bit of [[Hebrew]]. I hope I can help!DrHäxer]] ([[User talk:DrHäxer|talk]]) 22:26, 12 January 2021 (UTC)
# [[User:Mbrutus|Mbrutus]] 15:23, 31 May 2007 (UTC)
# [[User:MinYinChao|MinYinChao]]
# [[User:Nightsky|Nightsky]]: What a great idea! I'm chiefly interested in Western European scripts, such as those of the Middle Ages. [[User:Nightsky|Nightsky]] 21:40, 13 September 2006 (UTC)
# [[User:Nofate|Nofate]]  I would very much like to work on this project in many aspects, but would probably be the most helpful with the Chinese Character WikiProject [[User:Nofate|Nofate]] 00:12, 29 May 2006 (UTC)
# [[User:Novinha|Novinha]]&nbsp;–  various dead languages, primarily mesoamerican ones.
# [[User:N-true|N-true]]{{spaced ndash}}mainly Caucasian and some South Asian ones; also IPA.
# [[User:pieandcheeseandcereal|pieandcheeseandcereal]]
# [[User:Randfan|Randfan]]
# [[User:.Raven|.Raven]]: Multiple language/script interests, see [[User:.Raven#WS|details at my user page]] to save space here. — [[User:.Raven|.Raven]] ([[User talk:.Raven|talk]]) 11:07, 26 February 2013 (UTC)
# [[User:Reliableforever|<span style="color:green;">Reliable</span>]][[User:Reliableforever|<span style="color:blue;">♪</span>]] [[User:Reliableforever|<span style="color:orange;">Forever</span>]][[User Talk:Reliableforever|<sup><span style="color:green;">talk</span></sup>]] 23:26, 13 November 2008 (UTC)
# [[User:Rppeabody|Rppeabody]] I have a strong amateur interest in writing systems, particularly ancient and undeciphered scripts.  Unfortunately, the only languages I am familiar with are English, Spanish, and French.
# [[User:Sarayuparin|Sarayuparin]]
# [[User:Selethryth|Selethryth]] ([[User talk:Selethryth|talk]]) 02:36, 2 January 2008 (UTC)
# [[User:Skal|Siva]] 23:26, 19 July 2005 (UTC) Especially interested in beefing up the Shorthand articles (particularly [[Pitman Shorthand|Pitman's]]).
# [[User:Stammer|Stammer]]. Hopefully I can help with Tibetan. [[User:Stammer|Stammer]] 12:04, 22 May 2007 (UTC)
# [[User:俺はバカ|名無し]]

==== Retired participants ====
The following users are retired:

# [[User:GSMR|GSMR]]: I speak and read English, Sanskrit, Hindi (both use [[Devanagari]]) and Russian, which uses [[Cyrillic]].  If you need my help with anything, [[User_talk:GSMR|let me know]].
# [[User:Geoking66|Geoking66]]
# [[User:Msheflin]] Arabic, Egyptian Arabic, some Hebrew, some Indonesian, can read the (at least individual letters of...) various predecessor Semitic scripts
# [[User:Qanada Ever|Qanada Ever]] I can read the Latin script, Arabic script, Japanese Hiragana and Katakana, the Elder Futhark, and the IPA; and I have rudimentary knowledge of the Greek and Cyrillic scripts.
# [[User:Tea and crumpets|Tea and crumpets]] 03:20, 17 June 2007 (UTC) Interested in Japanese, and any other language that sparks my interest. Hope I can be of some help.
</div style>

== Example Article structure and format ==

''The appropriate infoboxes should be included (see template section)''

*'''Introduction:''' Cover the type of writing system ([[Alphabet]], [[Syllabary]], [[Abjad]], etc.), which languages it transcribes, and its time period. Also cover information which is needed in order to understand further information in the article (i.e. something is not always the case, or the writing system has different names).
*'''History:''' Cover the previous writing system(s) that it descended from and how it happened. Alternatively, if it is artificial, describe the creator(s) and how they made it.
*'''Description:''' A chart of the writing system is given, as well as specifics about how it is written (printed and handwritten styles, whether it goes left to right or right or left, etc.)
*'''Usage:''' When and where it is used, political situation, etc.
*'''Unicode''' Specify any ranges the writing system possesses in unicode.

== Classification and hierarchy schemes ==

Writing systems can be discussed in a classified hierarchy.
*'''Typology'''. With this we may describe whether a '''writing system''' is an [[abjad]] or an [[alphabet]] or an [[abugida]] or a [[syllabary]].
*'''Identity'''. With this we may distinguish one '''script''' from another: [[Devanagari script]] is different from [[Arabic script]] and [[Bengali script]] and [[Latin script]].
*'''Subsidiarity'''. With this we may look at '''alphabets''' as subsets of a script. The [[Urdu alphabet]], the [[Persian alphabet]], the [[Arwi alphabet]], and the [[Sindhi alphabet]] are all subsets of the [[Arabic script]]. Note that the word "alphabet" is typological (distinct from "abjad" in that it writes vowels) as well as subsidiary.
*'''Constituency'''. With this we may describe the individual letters and diacritical marks and characters that make up an alphabet or other type of writing system.

{{broader|topic=writing system article naming conventions|WP:Naming conventions (writing systems)}}

== Goals ==
''Common goals and protocols suggested for the project to be documented here.''
# Standardise all writing system articles, utilize {{tl|Infobox Writing system}}
# Improve the general quality of writng systems articles...bring a few to good and featured status
# Start a portal
# Include complimentary visual images of each writing system in its article (at least one per article)

== Project Tasklists ==
Here is an organized list of current projects, jobs, etc. which this project aims to accomplish, or at least aid in the success thereof.

=== To-Do list ===
* Rate and assess the importance of all articles pertaining to writing systems. The progress is recorded and centralized at [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Writing systems/Assessment]].
* Tag every article about a writing system with {{tl|WikiProject Writing systems}}, and fill in the appropriate variables.
*Hello Project members, I just created [[:Category:Buddhism articles needing non-English scripting support & specialist attention]] and [[:List:Buddhism articles needing non-English scripting support & specialist attention]]  as a tentative rally to centralize this function. I would appreciate any advice on how I may improve it or ensure that the appropriate forums are aware of it so that it is workable and realises is functionality. [[User:B9 hummingbird hovering|<span style="color:Green;">B9 hummingbird hovering</span>]]<sup> ([[User talk:B9 hummingbird hovering|talk]] • [[Special:Contributions/B9 hummingbird hovering|contribs]])</sup> 12:04, 10 June 2009 (UTC)
*I apologize if this is not appropriate, I am a fairly new member and have a good deal of interest in furthering scientific inquiry into the Wadi el-Hol Script.  I keep having cited edits reverted because of a potentially overzealous editor, and I would like to solicit any qualified persons to either help justify or help debunk my citations/his vandalism.  Please join us on the convoluted discussion page if you are qualified in Ancient Semitic languages or Arabic [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Middle_Bronze_Age_alphabets#Arabic]. [[User:Msheflin|Msheflin]] ([[User talk:Msheflin|talk]]) 15:00, 23 September 2009 (UTC)

=== Open task assignments ===
''Project contributors may wish to identify some specific section or theme upon which they are interested in working on. If so, you may do that here.''

=== Article adoption ===
''Individual articles, stubs, or proposed articles may be identified here for specific collaboration and coordination of efforts.''

*[[Romic alphabet]]. Needs verification and perhaps expansion; historically important as the ancestor of the IPA. — [[User:Kwamikagami|kwami]] ([[User talk:Kwamikagami|talk]]) 01:57, 18 September 2012 (UTC)

== Award ==
[[File:書star.svg|100px|left]][[File:書redstar.svg|100px|right]] The Writing Systems' Gold Star can be awarded to any editor who substantially contributes to the goals of WikiProject Writing Systems, whether that editor is a member or not. Any member may award the Gold Star by copying {{tlsp|WPWSstar|your message <nowiki>~~~~</nowiki>}} to the recipient's talk page.

== Templates ==

All writing system templates should be listed here. They should also be listed at [[:Category:Writing system templates]].

{| class=wikitable
|-
! General templates !! Script navboxes !! Script infoboxes
|-
|
*{{template|Writingsystem-stub}}
* {{template|Infobox writing system}}
*{{template|WikiProject Writing systems}}
*{{template|Writing systems}}
*{{template|Alphabet}}
*{{template|charmap}}
*{{template|letter reps}}
*{{template|letter other reps}}
|
*{{template|Brahmic}}
*{{template|Latin script}}
*{{template|Latin alphabet sidebar}}
*{{template|Arabic-script sidebar}}
*{{template|Cyrillic alphabet sidebar}}
*{{template|Northwest Semitic abjad}}
*{{template|Kana gojuon sidebar}}
*{{template|IPA navigation}}
*{{template|Braille}}
|
*{{template|Infobox kana}}
*{{template|Transliteration of Chinese}}
*{{template|Japanese writing}}
*{{template|Infobox Korean name}}
*{{template|Indic glyph}}
*{{template|Infobox Semitic letter}}
*{{template|Infobox Indic letter}}
|}

== Categories ==
''WS-related categories and sub-categories to be listed here.''

Ideally, every WS-related article should be placed in at least one WS-related cat or subcat, as per the schema definition (yet to be supplied), above.

=== Primary category ===
* '''[[:Category:Writing systems]]'''

=== Parent categories ===
* [[:Category:Writing]]
* [[:Category:Encodings]]

=== Subcat— Terminology ===

=== Subcat— Taxonomic ===
* [[:Category:Alphabetic writing systems]]
** [[:Category:Abjad writing systems]]
** [[:Category:Abugida writing systems]]
* [[:Category:Logographic writing systems]]
* [[:Category:Syllabary writing systems]]
* [[:Category:Undeciphered writing systems]]

=== Subcat— Linguistic Script families ===
* [[:Category:Philippine scripts]]
* [[:Category:Runiform scripts]]

=== Subcat— Notational Script families ===
* [[:Category:Constructed scripts]]
* [[:Category:Shorthand systems]]
* [[:Category:Transliteration]]

=== Subcat- ISO 15924 ===
*[[:Category:ISO 15924]]

== Lists ==
* [[List of writing systems]]
* [[List of undeciphered writing systems]]
* [[List of inventors of writing systems]]
* [[List of languages by first written accounts]]

== Articles ==
''All articles related to '''writing systems''' may be linked to here, for ease of reference, monitoring recent changes, and annotating where appropriate the article's current "completeness".''

"Missing" or proposed articles can also be listed as redlinks as a prompt for future development.

=== Main article(s) ===
''(i.e., primary or overview articles)''

[[Writing systems]]

=== Writing system terminology ===
''(i.e., articles concerned with technical definitions and terminology used in the description or study of writing systems)''

[[acrophony]] [[allograph]] [[grapheme]] [[orthography]]

=== Writing system taxonomy ===
''(i.e., articles concerned with the overall classification of writing systems according to common features, historical development, language relatedness, etc.)''

[[Alphabet]] [[Abjad]] [[Abugida]] [[Logogram]] [[Syllabary]] [[Shorthand]]s

(Note that [[Peter T. Daniels]]' attempts to retroactively narrow the meaning of the word "alphabet" have not fully prevailed, and that articles such as "Arabic alphabet" and "Hebrew alphabet" are unlikely to have their titles changed in the foreseeable future.)

=== WS— Ancient ===

*[[Cuneiform script]]
*[[Maya hieroglyphics]]
*[[Ñuiñe script]]
*[[Old Turkic script]]
*[[Old Hungarian script]]

=== Article naming convention ===
{{details|Wikipedia talk:Naming conventions (writing systems)}}

;Script
The term 'script' is used with four meanings:
#A general segmental writing system, as opposed to its local instantiations:
#*[[Latin script]] (or [[Roman script]]; cf. [[Latin alphabet]], [[roman type]])
#*[[Arabic script]] (cross-linguistic; cf. [[Arabic alphabet]])
#*[[Georgian scripts]]
#In the plural for a family or geographic group of such scripts. 'Writing systems' conveys the same idea:
#*[[Brahmic scripts]]
#*[[Mesoamerican writing systems]]
#A calligraphic style. In many cases 'hand' may be used instead, and this may avoid confusion with other uses of the term 'script':
#*[[Nastaliq script]] or [[Nastaliq hand]]
#*[[Insular script]] 
#*[[Seal script]] 
#*[[Italic script]] (or [[Italic hand]]: cf. [[Chancery hand]], [[italic type]])
#A non-segmental writing system, especially one which is logographic, mixed, or of unknown character:
#*[[Maya script]] ('hieroglyphs' is widely considered a misnomer)
#*[[Khitan small script]]
#*[[Yi script]] (syllabic and logographic variants)
;Alphabet
'Alphabet' is used for national instantiations of a segmental script, usually with a defined sorting order:
*[[Latin alphabet]] (for Latin)
*[[English alphabet]]
*[[Arabic alphabet]] (for Arabic)
*[[Urdu alphabet]]
*[[Russian alphabet]]
*[[Thai alphabet]]
The terms ''[[abjad]]'' and ''[[abugida]]'', though often used in the text, are considered jargon and inappropriate for a title.

;Syllabary
*[[Cherokee syllabary]] 
*[[Vai syllabary]]
;Exceptions
Exceptions may be made where a unambiguous conventional name exists, and thus 'script', 'alphabet', or 'syllabary' is not necessary:
*[[Cyrillic]]
*[[Hangul]]
*[[Hiragana]]
*[[Fraktur]] 
*[[Devanagari]]
*[[Cuneiform]] 
*[[Rongorongo]]
*[[Egyptian hieroglyphs]]
:::''Note: "hieroglyphics" is deprecated.''
*[[Canadian Aboriginal syllabics]]
Exceptions may also occur where a different technical term is widely used:
*[[Chinese characters]] 
*[[Carolingian minuscule]]
*[[Pitman shorthand]]
;Modifiers
Modifiers may be used for subtypes or other cases of disambiguation:
*[[Classical Mongolian alphabet]]
*[[Romanian Cyrillic alphabet]]
*[[Taiwanese kana]]
*[[Cree syllabics]]

;Characters
Names should include some indication that the article concerns a character, letter, or grapheme and not a word.
*[[Kra (letter)]] – 'Latin' is generally understood
*[[Pi (letter)]] – like most Greek letters, pi is used in conjunction with the Latin script
*[[Pe (Cyrillic)]] – 'Cyrillic' cannot be a language, and so is unambiguous
*[[Pe (Persian letter)]] – 'Pe (Persian)' could be about a Persian word ''pe''
*[[Ka (kana)]] – as opposed to [[Ka (Cyrillic)]]
*[[Zeta]] – the Greek letter is the [[WP:primary topic]], as any word ''zeta'' derives from the letter
*[[Radical (Chinese character)]]

== Resources and references ==
''Links to, or details of, commonly-used, important and authorative resources and reference works to appear here.''

===Writing system article information===

* Writing system [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Writing systems/Popular pages|article views]] (monthly)

* Writing system [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Writing systems/Assessment|article assessments]]

===Article alerts===
{{/Article alerts}}




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