Scripts to encode
SEI maintains a list of scripts that remain to be encoded in the Unicode Standard.
Each row contains basic descriptive information about a script and our assessment of its readiness for Unicode encoding. This is a subjective measure based on accordance with principles generally adhered to by the Unicode Technical Committee in the past. See our Tips for Proposals for more information on criteria for Unicode inclusion.
We are always updating this page based on available information. Please reach out if you can provide input on any of these scripts!
Credits: Geodata for scripts was funded in part by a Google research grant. We thank Vyshantha Simha for sharing additional data!
Interactive map
High
Preliminary proposals exist. Script is considered established and unique; community contacts, experts, and encoding strategy are likely identified, but may require some further investigation. A proposal author may Still need to be assigned.
High-readiness should be targeted in the near future or are being actively advanced by SEI or others.
Medium
and viable for Unicode inclusion
More research is required to either a) identify experts to provide review, b) Clarify the proposal strategy (e.g. to unify with existing code block or propose as new), or c) identify a proposal author.
Medium-readiness scripts are excellent candidates for advanced research projects, which can result in the advancement of a script proposal, but may require sizeable effort.
Low
Possible issues include:
- limited evidence of adoption, durability, and/or stability
- issues with intellectual property rights
- limited understanding of the script and/or awaiting decipherment
- unclear status as a writing system
Low-readiness scripts are unlikely to be funded for a full proposal by SEI until conditions drastically change, Scripts in this category are considered suitable for research reports/ Introductory proposals, or scholarship to contribute to general knowledge.
Script Name | Region | Location | Origin | Proposal Status | High/Medium/Low | ||||||||
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Adinkra alphabet | Africa | Ghana | Modern | Not started | Low | ||||||||
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Adinkra symbols | Africa | Ghana | Historic | Not started | Medium-Low | ||||||||
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Afáka | America | Suriname, French Guyana | Modern | Active – others | High | ||||||||
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Angka bejagung | South East Asia | Sumatra, Indonesia | Historic | / | Low | ||||||||
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Ariyaka | South East Asia | Thailand | Historic | Not started | Medium | ||||||||
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Avoiuli | Oceania | Pentecost Island, Vanuatu | Modern | / | Medium-Low | ||||||||
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Aztec Hieroglyphs | America | Central Mexico | Historic | Not started | Medium | ||||||||
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Badaga | South Asia | Tamil Nadu, India | Modern | / | Medium-Low | ||||||||
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Bagam | Africa | Cameroon | Historic | Not started | Low | ||||||||
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Balti A | South Asia | Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan | Historic | / | Medium-Low | ||||||||
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Balti B | South Asia | Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan | Historic | / | Medium-Low | ||||||||
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Bété | Africa | Cote d'Ivoire | Modern | Active – SEI | Medium-Low | ||||||||
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Bhujinmol | South Asia | Nepal | Historic | Inactive – SEI | Medium-High | ||||||||
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Bima | South East Asia | Indonesia | Historic | Active – others | High | ||||||||
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Blisssymbols | Oceania | Australia, worldwide | Modern | Active – others | High | ||||||||
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Book Pahlavi | Middle East | Iran | Historic | Active – SEI | High | ||||||||
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Borama | Africa | Somalia (Borama) | Modern | Not started | Medium-Low | ||||||||
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Box-Headed | South Asia | South India | Historic | Active – others | High | ||||||||
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Bronze Script | East Asia | China | Historic | / | Low | ||||||||
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Brusha | Central Asia | Tibet | Historic | Inactive – SEI | Medium-Low | ||||||||
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Byblos | Middle East | Lebanon | Historic | Inactive – SEI | Medium-High | ||||||||
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Chak | South East Asia | Modern | Active – others | High | |||||||||
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Chong | South East Asia | Eastern Thailand | Modern | Not started | Low | ||||||||
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Coorgi-Cox Alphabet | South Asia | Karnataka, India | Modern | / | Low | ||||||||
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Cretan Hieroglyphs | Europe | Crete | Historic | Not started | Medium-Low | ||||||||
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Danu | South East Asia | Modern | / | Low | |||||||||
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DeafWrite | America | Modern | Not started | Low | |||||||||
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Demotic Egyptian | Africa | Egypt | Historic | Not started | Medium | ||||||||
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Dham lipi | South Asia | Nepal, India | Modern | / | Medium-Low | ||||||||
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Ditema tsa Dinoko | Africa | South Africa | Modern | Active – SEI | Medium-Low | ||||||||
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Diwani Siyaq Numbers | Middle East | Middle East | Historic | Inactive – others | Medium-High | ||||||||
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Eebee Hmong | South East Asia | Thailand | Modern | Inactive – others | Medium-High | ||||||||
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Epi-Olmec | America | Mexico | Historic | Not started | Medium | ||||||||
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Ersu Shaba | East Asia | China | Historic | / | Low | ||||||||
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Eskaya | Oceania | Bohol, Phillippines | Modern | Inactive – SEI | Medium | ||||||||
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Fakkham | South East Asia | Northern Thailand (historic), Laos | Historic | Not started | Medium | ||||||||
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Fula Ba | Africa | West Africa | Modern | Not started | Low | ||||||||
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Fula Dita | Africa | West Africa | Modern | Not started | Low | ||||||||
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Gabelsberger Shorthand | Europe | Germany | Historic | Not started | Medium | ||||||||
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Gbékoun | Africa | Benin | Modern | Not started | Medium-Low | ||||||||
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Goulsse | Africa | Burkina Faso, West Africa | Modern | Not started | Low | ||||||||
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Goya Kannadi | South Asia | Goa, India | Historic | Inactive – others | Medium-High | ||||||||
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Gregg Shorthand | Europe | North America | Modern | Not started | Medium | ||||||||
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Gurung Khe Phri | South Asia | Nepal | Modern | / | Medium-Low | ||||||||
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Hamburg Notation System | Europe | Germany | Modern | / | Medium | ||||||||
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Hausa 1 | Africa | Niger | Modern | Not started | Low | ||||||||
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Hausa 2 | Africa | Nigeria | Modern | Not started | Low | ||||||||
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Hausa 3 | Africa | Nigeria | Modern | Not started | Medium-Low | ||||||||
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Iban | South East Asia | Borneo, Malayasia | Modern | / | Low | ||||||||
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Indus Valley | South Asia | South Asia | Historic | Inactive – others | Medium-High | ||||||||
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Initial Teaching Alphabet | Europe | Modern | Active – others | Medium-High | |||||||||
Jing | East Asia | China | Historic | Not started | Medium | ||||||||
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Jurchen | East Asia | Manchuria, China | Historic | Active – others | High | ||||||||
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Kadamba | South Asia | India | Historic | Not started | Medium | ||||||||
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Kaddare | Africa | Somalia | Modern | Not started | Medium-Low | ||||||||
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Kadu | South East Asia | Northern Myanmar | / | / | Low | ||||||||
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Kaida | East Asia | Yaeyama Islands, Japan | Historic | Not started | Medium | ||||||||
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Karani | South Asia | Orissa | Historic | Active – others | High | ||||||||
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Kerinci | South East Asia | Sumatra, Indonesia | Historic | Active – SEI | High | ||||||||
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Khamti | South East Asia | Assam & Arunachal Pradesh, India | Modern | Active – others | High | ||||||||
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Kharpa | South Asia | Sikkim | Modern | Not started | Low | ||||||||
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Khatt-I Baburi | Central Asia | Central Asia | Historic | Inactive – SEI | Medium | ||||||||
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Khitan Large Script | East Asia | N China, Mongolia, northern Korea, Russian Far East | Historic | Inactive – others | Medium | ||||||||
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Khom | South East Asia | Historic | Not started | Medium | |||||||||
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Khotanese | Central Asia | Central Asia | Historic | Active – others | High | ||||||||
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Klingon | America | / | / | Medium-Low | |||||||||
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Kore Sebeli | Africa | West Africa | Modern | Active – others | High | ||||||||
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Kpelle | Africa | Liberia | Modern | Active – SEI | Low | ||||||||
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Kui Gaari | South Asia | Odisha | Modern | Inactive – others | Medium-Low | ||||||||
Kulitan | Oceania | Pampanga, Philippines | Modern | Active – SEI | High | ||||||||
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Kurukh Banna | South Asia | Modern | Active – others | Medium-Low | |||||||||
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Kushan | Middle East | Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan to southern Afghanistan | Historic | Not started | Medium-Low | ||||||||
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Kuy | South East Asia | Cambodia, Laos, Thailand | Modern | / | Low | ||||||||
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Kwekaw | South East Asia | Eastern Myanmar | Modern | Active – others | Medium-High | ||||||||
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Lampung | South East Asia | Sumatra, Indonesia | Historic | Active – SEI | High | ||||||||
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Landa | South Asia | Northwestern India | Historic | Inactive – SEI | Medium-High | ||||||||
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Leke | South East Asia | Karen State, Myanmar | Modern | Active – others | High | ||||||||
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Lik Hto Ngouk | South East Asia | / | / | Unassigned | |||||||||
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Linear Elamite | Middle East | Iran | Historic | Active – SEI | High | ||||||||
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Lisu Monosyllabic | East Asia | Modern | Active – others | High | |||||||||
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Loma | Africa | Guinea, Liberia | Modern | Active – SEI | Low | ||||||||
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Lontara Bilang Bilang | South East Asia | Sulawesi, Indonesia | Historic | / | Medium | ||||||||
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Lota Ende | South East Asia | Indonesia | Historic | Inactive – SEI | Low | ||||||||
Luo Lakeside | Africa | Kenya | Modern | Active – SEI | Medium-Low | ||||||||
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Mandombe | Africa | Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo | Modern | Not started | Medium | ||||||||
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Marchung | Central Asia | Tibet | Historic | Not started | Medium | ||||||||
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Masaba | Africa | Mali | Modern | Active – SEI | High | ||||||||
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Mayan Hieroglyphs | America | Cental America | Historic | Active – SEI | High | ||||||||
Mayan Hieroglyphs, Classical | America | Cental America | Historic | Active – SEI | High | ||||||||
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Meetei Yelhou | South Asia | Assam, India | Modern | / | Medium-Low | ||||||||
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Meru | Africa | Kenya | Modern | Not started | Low | ||||||||
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Micmac Hieroglyphs | America | Eastern Canada | Historic | Not started | Medium | ||||||||
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Minim Dag Noore | Africa | Modern | Active – SEI | High | |||||||||
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Mixtec | America | Mexico | Historic | Not started | Medium | ||||||||
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Moon | Europe | Americas, Europe | Modern | / | Medium-Low | ||||||||
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Mwangwego | Africa | Malawi | Modern | Active – SEI | High | ||||||||
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N'ti | Africa | Mali, Rep of Congo, Ivory Coast | Modern | Active – SEI | High | ||||||||
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Nag Chiki | South Asia | / | Inactive – others | Medium-Low | |||||||||
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Nasu | East Asia | Yunnan and Guizhou, China | Modern | / | Unassigned | ||||||||
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Naxi Dongba | East Asia | Southwestern China | Modern | Active – others | High | ||||||||
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Naxi Geba | East Asia | Yunnan, China | Modern | Inactive – others | Medium | ||||||||
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Ndebe | Africa | Nigeria | Modern | Not started | Low | ||||||||
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Neo-Nsibidi | Africa | cross river region, south eastern Nigeria, Cameroon | Modern | Not started | Low | ||||||||
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Nilerian | Africa | North and South Sudan | Modern | / | Low | ||||||||
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Njano | Africa | Kenya | Modern | Not started | Low | ||||||||
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Nosu | East Asia | SW Sichuan, NW Yunnan, China | / | / | Unassigned | ||||||||
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Nsibidi | Africa | Nigeria | Historic | Not started | Medium | ||||||||
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Numidian | Africa | Historic | Not started | Medium | |||||||||
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Nung Lungmi | South East Asia | Northern Myanmar | / | / | Low | ||||||||
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Nwagu Aneke Igbo | Africa | Nigeria | Modern | Not started | Low | ||||||||
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Odùdùwa | Africa | Benin, Nigeria | Modern | Active – SEI | High | ||||||||
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Old Khmer | South East Asia | Cambodia | Historic | / | Medium-Low | ||||||||
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Old Minahasa | South East Asia | Sumatra, Indonesia | Historic | / | Medium-Low | ||||||||
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Old Mon | South East Asia | Lower Myanmar | Historic | / | Medium-Low | ||||||||
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Oracle Bone | East Asia | China | Historic | / | Low | ||||||||
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Ottomaung | Oceania | Papua New Guinea | Modern | / | Medium-Low | ||||||||
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Pabuchi | South Asia | Himachal Pradesh, India | Historic | Active – others | High | ||||||||
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Pahawh Hmong First Stage | South East Asia | Laos, USA | Historic | Inactive – others | Medium-High | ||||||||
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Palaeohispanic | Europe | Spain and Portugal | Historic | Inactive – SEI | Medium-High | ||||||||
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Pallava | South Asia | India | Historic | Inactive – SEI | Medium-High | ||||||||
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Pau Cin Hau Logograph | South East Asia | Myanmar | Modern | Inactive – SEI | Medium-High | ||||||||
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Persian Siyaq Numbers | Middle East | Iran | Historic | Active – SEI | High | ||||||||
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Pitman Shorthand | Europe | Modern | Inactive – others | Medium-High | |||||||||
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Proto-Cuneiform | Middle East | Middle East | Historic | Active – SEI | High | ||||||||
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Proto-Elamite | Middle East | Western Iran | Historic | Active – SEI | High | ||||||||
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Proto-Sinaitic | Middle East | Historic | Inactive – SEI | Medium-High | |||||||||
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Pungchen | Central Asia | Tibet | Historic | Inactive – SEI | Medium | ||||||||
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Pungchung | Central Asia | Tibet | Historic | Not started | Medium | ||||||||
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Pyu | South East Asia | Myanmar | Historic | Inactive – SEI | Medium | ||||||||
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Quikscript | Europe | Modern | Not started | Medium | |||||||||
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Rakhawunna | South East Asia | Myanmar | Historic | / | Low | ||||||||
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Ranjana | South Asia | Asia | Historic | Active – SEI | High | ||||||||
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Rma | East Asia | Modern | Active – others | High | |||||||||
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Rongorongo | Oceania | Easter Island | Historic | Inactive – others | Medium | ||||||||
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Satavahana | South Asia | India | Historic | Not started | Medium | ||||||||
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Savara | South Asia | India | Modern | / | Low | ||||||||
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Shankha | South Asia | India | Historic | Not started | Medium | ||||||||
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Sheek Bakrii Saphaloo | Africa | Ethiopia | Modern | Active – SEI | High | ||||||||
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Shuishu | East Asia | Guizhou, China | Modern | Inactive – others | Medium | ||||||||
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Siamese Grantha | South East Asia | Thailand | Historic | / | Medium-Low | ||||||||
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Sirmauri | South Asia | Himachal Pradesh, India | Historic | Active – SEI | High | ||||||||
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Small Seal | East Asia | China | Historic | Active – SEI | High | ||||||||
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Songhai | Africa | Mali | Modern | Not started | Low | ||||||||
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Stokoe (Stokoe Notation) | America | United States, Europe, Australia | Modern | Inactive – others | Medium | ||||||||
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Sukhothai | South East Asia | Historic | Not started | Medium | |||||||||
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Sumbawa | South East Asia | Indonesia | Historic | Inactive – SEI | Low | ||||||||
Surat Ulu | South East Asia | Sumatra, Indonesia | Historic | Active – others | High | ||||||||
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Tai Nithet | South East Asia | Historic | Not started | Medium | |||||||||
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Tai Noi (Lao Buhan) | South East Asia | Thailand, Laos | Historic | Not started | Medium | ||||||||
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Tai Pao | South East Asia | / | / | Medium | |||||||||
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Tai Xaau | East Asia | Yunnan, China | Historic | Active – others | Medium-High | ||||||||
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Tajin | America | El Tajin, Mexico | Historic | / | Low | ||||||||
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Takalik Abaj | America | Historic | / | Medium | |||||||||
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Tanchangya | South East Asia | Chittagong Hill Tracts, Myanmar | Modern | Active – others | Medium-Low | ||||||||
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Tangsa Khimhun | South Asia | Arunachal Pradesh, India | Modern | / | Medium-Low | ||||||||
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Tani | South Asia | Arunachal Pradesh, India | Modern | / | Medium-Low | ||||||||
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Teotihuacan | America | Mexico | Historic | Not started | Medium | ||||||||
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Tironian notes | Europe | Historic | / | Medium | |||||||||
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Tocharian | Central Asia | Central Asia | Historic | Active – others | High | ||||||||
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Traditional Azhe | East Asia | Yunnan, China | Modern | / | Unassigned | ||||||||
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Traditional Nisu | East Asia | Historic | / | Unassigned | |||||||||
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Umwero | Africa | Rwanda | Modern | Not started | Medium-Low | ||||||||
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Vatteluttu | South Asia | South India | Historic | Active – SEI | High | ||||||||
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Veso Bey | Europe | Albania | Historic | Not started | Medium | ||||||||
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Visible Speech | Europe | Americas, Europe | Modern | / | Low | ||||||||
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Western Cham | South East Asia | Cambodia, Vietnam (S) | Modern | Inactive – others | Medium-High | ||||||||
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Woleai | Oceania | Caroline Is., Micronesia | Historic | Inactive – SEI | Medium | ||||||||
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Yi Ideographs | East Asia | Historic | Inactive – others | Medium-High | |||||||||
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Yi, Chuxiong | East Asia | China | / | Not started | Medium | ||||||||
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Yi, Sani | East Asia | S Yunnan, China | / | Not started | Medium | ||||||||
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Yuttasara | South East Asia | Thailand | / | / | Low | ||||||||
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Zapotec | America | Oaxaca, Mexico | Historic | Not started | Medium | ||||||||
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Zhuang Square | East Asia | China | Historic | / | Unassigned | ||||||||
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Zou | Africa | Republic of Congo (Brazzaville) | Modern | Not started | Low | ||||||||
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Zou (zolai) | South Asia | Manipur, India | Modern | Active – SEI | High | ||||||||
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