Yi syllable vyr

It represents one Nuosu Yi syllable; its word depends on context. In standardized Liangshan romanization, vyr names the syllable. Final t, x, and p mark other tones; because vyr has none of these, it carries the mid-level tone. The romanization was introduced in 1956.

Traditional Yi writing was historically also called Cuan or Wei, and local forms differed in glyphs and writing direction. Nuosu tradition credits the culture hero Aki with devising the script during the Tang dynasty (618–907). A bronze-bell inscription dated 1485 is commonly cited as the oldest reliably dated example. Bimo priests—ritual specialists—copied traditional texts on religion, magic, medicine, and family lineages; stone and bronze inscriptions may also point to literate local officials.

The standardized Liangshan Yi syllabary was devised in 1974 and officially promulgated in 1980. It grew from older Yi ideographs—signs for ideas or words—into a syllabary for Liangshan Nuosu, one variety among several Yi languages. It later appeared in textbooks, literature, newspapers, and adult-learning materials. One account of Liangshan education describes some younger readers gravitating toward Chinese while Yi-literacy materials reach both schoolchildren and adults.

How do you type ꃿ?

Use a Liangshan Yi input method that accepts vyr. Yiyu Pinyin, a romanized system used in Nuosu dictionaries, also works with compatible keyboards and converters: enter vyr, then select ꃿ from the results.