The word 'Gurmukhi' literally means from the mouth of the Guru(Lord). Gurmukhi has some similarities to older Indian scripts of the times, but it's thirty five characters and vowel modifiers were standardized by Guru Angad Dev ji. Rather than use the Hindu scripts such as Sanskrit, Guru Angad Dev ji choose to make a new script the standard for the Sikhs. Sanskrit was only restricted to the "priestly Hindu class", but the Gurus did not believe in this 'elitism'. Guru Angad Dev ji spent his lifetime teaching the 'Gurmukhi' script to the common people of Punjab. Gurmukhi is not only used by Sikhs but by Hindus as well as Muslims living in Punjab to represent their common spoken language, Punjabi. Sikhs are expected to make an effort at learning the Gurmukhi script and teaching it to their children in order to read the Guru Granth Sahib ji in its original written form.
Gurmukhi has 35 letters as well as nine vowel modifiers. In addition there are six special sound modifiers symbols. A 'VERTICAL BAR' (|) is used to indicate the end of a sentences like in English 'FULL STOP' (.) is used. Two 'VERTICAL BARS' (||) indicate a longer pause between sentences or paragraphs. The vowel modifiers are presented with english words, the sounds that they make being emphasized in capital letters.
Gurmukhi has 35 letters as well as nine vowel modifiers. In addition there are six special sound modifiers symbols. A 'VERTICAL BAR' (|) is used to indicate the end of a sentences like in English 'FULL STOP' (.) is used. Two 'VERTICAL BARS' (||) indicate a longer pause between sentences or paragraphs. The vowel modifiers are presented with english words, the sounds that they make being emphasized in capital letters.
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| Fig : - Gurmukhi Alphabets |
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