Languages and Scripts Involved:
This contribution concerns the Shughni language (ISO 639-3: sgh), an Eastern Iranian language primarily spoken in Tajikistan, as well as parts of Afghanistan. The proposed script for inclusion and documentation is a Latin-based alphabet designed to represent Shughni accurately and accessibly.
Background and Rationale:
Although historical texts and older materials in Shughni have been written using the Arabic script, it presents significant accessibility and digital usage challenges for native speakers in Tajikistan. The Arabic-based writing system is less familiar and less practical for the majority of Shughni speakers, who are educated in Tajik (Cyrillic) and increasingly exposed to Latin scripts through international media and technology.
As a result, a Latin-based orthography—incorporating a few Greek-derived letters—has organically emerged in digital communication, educational materials, and community-driven literacy efforts. This contribution documents and proposes a standardized alphabet that reflects both current usage and phonological accuracy for Shughni. The inclusion of Greek letters helps represent sounds not easily captured by standard Latin characters, while maintaining readability and ease of digital use.
Proposed Latin-Greek Alphabet for Shughni:
A a, Ā ā, B b, C c, Č č, D d, Δ δ, E e, Ê ê, F f, G g, Ɣ ɣ, Ɣ̌ ɣ̌, I i, Ī ī, J j, K k, L l, M m, N n, O o, P p, Q q, R r, S s, Š š, T t, Θ ϑ, U u, Ū ū, Ů ů, V v, W w, X x, Ẋ ẋ, Y y, Z z, Ž ž, Ʒ ʒ.
Attribution and Reference Sources:
This submission is based on community-driven usage, linguistic studies, and informal orthographic standards shared among Shughni speakers. Key references include:
- Community forums and social media usage among Shughni speakers in Tajikistan
- Comparative work with other Pamiri languages adopting Latin orthographies
- Field notes and informal documentation shared by native speakers and linguists