Yi Syllable Hlep

ꆪ is the Yi syllable hlep in the Liangshan standard.

It writes one syllable in Nuosu, a Yi language. Yi Pinyin is the Latin-letter system used to spell Yi readings; hlep is this syllable’s spelling, and final -p marks its low-falling tone, a voice pitch that drops at the end. The spelling guides pronunciation; it is not an English word to substitute.

Older Yi writing belonged to several regional traditions, not one uniform script. Local forms carried religious, magical, medical, and genealogical texts, often through ritual specialists. A bronze bell dated 1485 is an early surviving landmark; proposed earlier inscriptions and manuscripts are disputed.

The standardized Liangshan form was devised in 1974 and officially promulgated in 1980 to support shared literacy. It grew from older Yi writing, but it is not a universal writing system for every Yi language. It supports education, public signs, newspapers, literature, and subtitles.

How do I type ꆪ?

Enter hlep in a Yi input method, then select ꆪ.

With Yi Pinyin input, enter hlep using Latin keys and choose the matching candidate. Keep the final -p: it marks the tone, and changing it can bring up a different syllable.