Yi syllable Nro

It writes the Yi syllable “nro”; its word meaning depends on context.

In the Liangshan Yi romanization, “nro” is the spelling used for this syllable, not an English translation. The missing final tone letter marks a steady, mid-level pitch.

Why was the Liangshan Yi script standardized?

Traditional Yi writing, historically called Cuan or Wei, used ideographic signs: symbols that could stand for words or ideas. These signs appear not to derive from Chinese characters. Bimo, Yi ritual specialists, passed down manuscripts about religion, medicine, magic, and family histories; local forms and writing directions differed among communities.

One widespread origin tradition credits a figure named Aki with devising about 1,840 signs during the Tang dynasty. The earliest surviving dated Yi-script example is an inscription on a bronze bell from 1485.

Traditional forms varied and did not consistently represent the sounds of modern Yi. A Liangshan standard was devised in 1974 and officially promulgated in 1980 to improve literacy. It is for the Liangshan variety, not a single standard for every Yi dialect.

How do I type ꎙ?

Use the Yi input method and choose the matching character.

As of 2024, Microsoft documents a Windows Yi input method: type the syllable’s sounds with ordinary English letter keys, then choose the matching Yi character from the candidates. It works without changing the Windows display language.