Canadian Syllabics Loo

It marks the “loo” syllable in Canadian syllabics.

In this writing system, a sign usually represents a whole consonant-and-vowel syllable. ᓘ belongs to the L-series, the group built around an L sound, and marks L plus the vowel in “blue.” The surrounding signs spell the word, so this glyph alone has no whole-word translation.

The system took shape around 1840 as an easy-to-learn way to write Cree and Ojibwe that suited their sound patterns and could be used in teaching and print. James Evans printed a Cree syllabic hymn book in 1841.

Who developed Canadian syllabics?

The print history credits James Evans and Indigenous language speakers.

Ojibwe and Cree speakers contributed essential knowledge to the system’s development; the print record describes a collaboration, not one isolated inventor.

The origin story has another account: a 2024 report describes Cree oral traditions in which a spirit-world gift is associated with Calling Badger. A 2003 study records Cree readers using syllabics for letters, family records, and diaries, so the script also served everyday communication beyond missionary print.

Why is ᓘ used in both Cree and Inuktitut?

The writing system was adapted to fit different languages.

The same glyph is listed for Inuktitut and several Cree spelling traditions. Communities adapted the syllabic family to their languages, so the surrounding word and local spelling determine how to read it.

The script’s design has been linked to Devanagari, a writing system used for several South Asian languages, British shorthand systems for writing quickly, and reports of the Cherokee writing system’s success. Canadian syllabics was not copied from Pitman shorthand. The later Pollard script, a separate writing system used in southwest China, was partly inspired by it.