Introduction[]
The Tettof script is the writing system developed by the Tairese for use in writing their language. It is commonly written on paper, but was originally intended for use on clay and stone tablets. It is a fairly simple alphabet/syllabary read from top to bottom and left to right.
Each word occupies its own line, so words are written in a descending vertical format, though the words themselves are written horizontally.
Development[]
Tettof is originated as a pictographic system but over several thousand years and exposure to many different cultures, it slowly evolved into something more akin to an alphabet. However, Tettof has proved difficult for speakers of some other languages to adapt, as it was designed to work with the Tairese language, a primary monosyllabic language where most words consist of only three sounds, a consonant, a vowel, and another consonant.
Example[]
Tettof
is
generally
formatted
like
this
text.
Key[]
Note: Symbols alternate between being above their assigned letter and below it to save space and make it less crowded. A plain vowel represents the short version of that vowel, one with an umlaut is the long version.
In Use[]
An example of Tettof actually in use.
This example inscription reads:
DAINKUTBUT
TUZH
VOH
SHAP
PEIK
or alternatively
DÄNKUTBÜT
TÜŽ
VÖH
ŠAP
PÄK
Which translates to "Dainkutbut is the greatest of queens."
Dainkutbut is a name, made up of the parts dain ("god" or "a god"), kut ("judge", "a judge", or "magistrate"), and but ("is my", "it is mine", or "belongs to me"), roughly translating to "God is my judge". Tuzh is the present tense verb "to be", voh is a definite article, shap means "queen" or "royal woman", and peik means "best", "greatest", or "most excellent of all".