Gurmukhi

Gurmukhi is a script used to write the Punjabi language, primarily in the Indian state of Punjab and among Punjabi-speaking communities worldwide. It is the standard script for Punjabi literature and media, and for Sikh religious texts.

Origins and name: It was standardized in the 16th century by Guru Angad, the second Sikh Guru, building on earlier Laṇḍā scripts to better represent Punjabi sounds. The name means "from the Guru's mouth" (gur-mukhi).

Structure and features: It is an abugida with a distinctive horizontal headstroke over most letters. It comprises 35 consonants, with vowels written as separate letters or diacritic matras; nasalization is indicated with diacritics; it uses its own numerals (੦ ੧ ੨ ੩ ੪ ੫ ੬ ੭ ੮ ੯).

Usage and encoding: Gurmukhi is encoded in Unicode from U+0A00 to U+0A7F, with digits U+0A66–U+0A6F. It is the official script taught in schools in Punjab and is used in Gurbani, modern literature, media, and education. The script coexists with Shahmukhi, the Perso-Arabic script used for Punjabi in Pakistan.

As one of the two principal scripts for Punjabi, Gurmukhi plays a central role in the language's modern standardization and Sikh literary culture.