Kateinu Yiréb

The native Asha'ille writing system is a cursive script called the kateinu yiréb. It developed from an angular script, traditionally written vertically and left-to-right on braided strands of grass. Below is the entire modern alphabet, the right-hand side version colorized to show each letter's separation from the one on either side of it:

The following chart shows the letters' standard Romanization and pronunciation values.

Orth.	IPA	Orth.	IPA	Orth.	IPA	Orth.	IPA	Orth.	IPA	Orth.	IPA
k, c*	k	y	j	m	m	jh	ʒ	p	p	'	ʔ
a	ɑ	i	ɪ	i	i	ai	ɑi	g	g	ml	ml̃
t	t	r	ɹ	gh	x	v	v	sh	ʃ	ch	tʃ
ae, ei	e	e	ɛ	z	z	ln	l̃	th	θ	j	dʒ
n	n	b	b	l	l	d	d	dh	ð
u	u	s	s	o	o	f	f	o	ɔ

* Romanized c for /k/ occurs when, etymologically speaking, the sound derived from /x/. In the native script, it may be written as the letter k, gh, or the relatively rare c (not shown above), which is similar in form to gh with an added hat on the first semi-circle.

Young Creseans learn a refrain to help them remember the order of the alphabet. They may also use it as an excuse or apology to a teacher when the class has not finished whatever tasks were assigned:

Kateinu yiréb 'sa migh, zalojhaiv lnad feipám eg shath dho'o, mlchishe jo.

"Regarding that challenging, instructive alphabet writing assignment, your students — saddened and dreading to admit this — have not completed it, my teacher."

Artistic Uses

The kateinu yiréb is normally written top-to-bottom, left-to-right. However, any of the four major directions are acceptable. In addition to this flexibility, more "artistic" layouts are encouraged for decorative purposes.

This flower image says kr'emeirjhom, which means no flowers. I created this wallpaper over the summer of 2005, when I interned at Microsoft. My boss told me that I should feel free to customize my work machine however I pleased — except that flowery wallpapers were strictly prohibited. British humor. "No flowers!" he said.

So the next day I showed up with this wallpaper, which literally says "No flowers!" He said he could tell that this would be a difficult internship, if I was already acting so disobedient my first week of work. Good times. :)

Then, while doodling at the bookstore in January 2006, I noticed that the Asha'illization of my family name had a nice repetition of double-curved consonants. I spent enough time rearranging Rájeriz until it looked like a four-leaf clover.

Kateinu Yiréb Font

There is finally a computer font in progress for the kateinu yiréb! I am learning MetaFont as I go, so right now I only have the basic letter forms you see in the graphic above. I have available a PDF of the alphabet, as well as the LaTeX and MetaFont source files use to generate it. (As I said, I'm still very new to MetaFont. Suggestions for improvement are always welcome!)

Things Left To Do

Listed in approximately the order I'll probably complete them:

• add punctuation
• add conventions for contractions or abbreviations
• add conventions for doubled consonants
• make ligatures for y following a consonant
• make ligatures for adjacent barred consonants
• learn how to display the font in top-to-bottom orientation
• write a script to let me input Asha'ille orthographically

Letter Names

Katei, Ajo, Teinu, Eichai, Nuyi, Udhi, Yire, Ithe, Raebis, Eshi, Bigh, Sami, Meiz, Ivun, Ghal, Zajhai, Lud, Ogei, Jheiln, Aida, Veife, Lni, Dapi, Faigo, Pash, Geith, Shudh, Thi'och, Dhaje, Olne

A legend exists about a litter of seven siblings, raised in the seven cities of Petaki, Budaghe, Munalo, Fethasae, Ghihajai, and Asharayu and its sister city Ashighiya:

Heritage			Child Name
Mother	Father	City	Parental	Personal		Locational
Katei	Ajo	Asharayu	Kata	Teinu	'sa	Ajheihiye
Sami	Nuyi	Ashighiya	Sanu	Eichai	'sa	Ajheihaju
Ghal	Udhi	Petaki	Ghaludh	Raebis	'sa	Bateika
Zajhai	Yire	Budaghe	Zajhyi	Meiz	'sa	Pateihó
Dapi	Ithe	Munalo	Dapith	Jheiln	'sa	Pateihe
Pash	Eshi	Fethasae	Pashesh	Veife	'sa	Vadheizó
Dhaje	Bigh	Ghihajai	Dhabigh	Geith	'sa	Hágheichu