semisyllabary

A semisyllabary is a term used in writing system typology to describe a hybrid class of scripts that lies between syllabaries and alphabets. In a semisyllabary, the primary set of graphemes encodes syllables—typically consonant-vowel (CV) combinations—while the system also includes mechanisms to represent additional syllables using a separate consonant or vowel element, diacritics, or sign combinations. This hybrid design yields a script that is more compact than a full syllabary but can be more expressive than a simple alphabet.

The specific implementation varies: some signs stand for whole syllables, whereas other signs correspond to individual phonemes that must be combined with vowel carriers or diacritic marks to form syllables not directly encoded by a syllabic sign. The same script may also encode final consonants or vowel quality through modifiers.

Because the term semisyllabary is not universally applied, classification is debated. Some scholars reserve it for scripts that clearly blend syllabic and alphabetic conventions, while others use it as a catch-all for historic or experimental systems that do not fit neat categories. In practice, semisyllabaries are relatively rare in comparison with strict syllabaries or alphabets, and they are most often discussed in historical or typological contexts rather than as living writing systems.

In summary, a semisyllabary acknowledges hybridization between syllabaries and alphabets, capturing a middle ground in the spectrum of writing systems.