tashkili

Tashkili, from the Arabic term tashkīl meaning "formation" or "diacritization," refers to two related practices in scripts that use the Arabic alphabet.

In its most common sense, tashkīl denotes the system of diacritical marks added to letters to indicate vowels, pronunciation, and grammatical features. The marks—fathah, dammah, kasrah, sukun, shaddah, and tanween—guide reading and meaning, and are especially important in Qur’anic editions, dictionaries, and language-learning materials. Diacritics are often omitted in ordinary Arabic texts and many online fonts, with readers supplying the vowels from context.

In a different tradition, tashkīl also designates a decorative calligraphy technique used in Persian, Ottoman, and related art forms. It involves forming letters or words into elaborate geometric, floral, or figurative compositions, creating visual patterns rather than straightforward script. This practice is associated with manuscript illumination and contemporary decorative arts, and is sometimes referred to as tashkili or tashkil calligraphy.

Digital and linguistic contexts sometimes distinguish tashkīl as diacritics from tashkili as a stylized calligraphic practice. Both senses reflect the broader use of Arabic-script writing to convey sound, meaning, and aesthetic form.