Sorabe
Encyclopedia
Sorabe, or Sora-be, is an alphabet
based on Arabic
used to transcribe the Malagasy
language (belonging to the Malayo-Polynesian language family) and the Antemoro Malagasy
dialect in particular dating from the 15th century .
Researchers are still hypothesizing about the origins of this transcription system. "Sorabe" means literally "large writings" from Arabic "sura" (writing) and Malagasy
"be" (large). This denomination might point to the existence of a previous writing system with smaller characters of Sanskrit
origin used in South East Asia as it is evidenced in some Malagasy
words.
Traditionally, a large number of researchers have speculated about the fact that this writing system was introduced through commercial contacts of Malagasy
with Arab Muslims. However, more studies claim that this writing scheme might have been possibly introduced by Java
nese Muslims . There are striking similarities between "Sorabe" and "Pegon
" writings (the Javanese
version of Arabic script).
A couple hundred old manuscripts have survived to this day though the oldest may have been written no earlier than the 17th century. Those "Sorabe" are bound in leather and the texts are named after the colour of the skin. Most of the texts contain magical formulas but there are also some historical texts concerning the origin of some of the tribes of the south east of Madagascar
. These origins are traced to Mecca
or the Prophet Mohammed even though the practice of Islam
is nowhere seen in the texts.
Sorabe eventually spread across the island beginning in the 17th century and, at the end of 18th century, the Merina
king Andrianampoinimerina
called for Antemoro scribes to teach the children of his court to read and write. This is how the future king Radama I could read and write sorabe from his childhood.
Alphabet
An alphabet is a standard set of letters—basic written symbols or graphemes—each of which represents a phoneme in a spoken language, either as it exists now or as it was in the past. There are other systems, such as logographies, in which each character represents a word, morpheme, or semantic...
based on Arabic
Arabic alphabet
The Arabic alphabet or Arabic abjad is the Arabic script as it is codified for writing the Arabic language. It is written from right to left, in a cursive style, and includes 28 letters. Because letters usually stand for consonants, it is classified as an abjad.-Consonants:The Arabic alphabet has...
used to transcribe the Malagasy
Malagasy language
Malagasy is the national language of Madagascar, a member of the Austronesian family of languages. Most people in Madagascar speak it as a first language as do some people of Malagasy descent elsewhere.-History:...
language (belonging to the Malayo-Polynesian language family) and the Antemoro Malagasy
Malagasy language
Malagasy is the national language of Madagascar, a member of the Austronesian family of languages. Most people in Madagascar speak it as a first language as do some people of Malagasy descent elsewhere.-History:...
dialect in particular dating from the 15th century .
Researchers are still hypothesizing about the origins of this transcription system. "Sorabe" means literally "large writings" from Arabic "sura" (writing) and Malagasy
Malagasy language
Malagasy is the national language of Madagascar, a member of the Austronesian family of languages. Most people in Madagascar speak it as a first language as do some people of Malagasy descent elsewhere.-History:...
"be" (large). This denomination might point to the existence of a previous writing system with smaller characters of Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
origin used in South East Asia as it is evidenced in some Malagasy
Malagasy language
Malagasy is the national language of Madagascar, a member of the Austronesian family of languages. Most people in Madagascar speak it as a first language as do some people of Malagasy descent elsewhere.-History:...
words.
Traditionally, a large number of researchers have speculated about the fact that this writing system was introduced through commercial contacts of Malagasy
Malagasy people
The Malagasy ethnic group forms nearly the entire population of Madagascar. They are divided into two subgroups: the "Highlander" Merina, Sihanaka and Betsileo of the central plateau around Antananarivo, Alaotra and Fianarantsoa, and the côtiers elsewhere in the country. This division has its...
with Arab Muslims. However, more studies claim that this writing scheme might have been possibly introduced by Java
Java
Java is an island of Indonesia. With a population of 135 million , it is the world's most populous island, and one of the most densely populated regions in the world. It is home to 60% of Indonesia's population. The Indonesian capital city, Jakarta, is in west Java...
nese Muslims . There are striking similarities between "Sorabe" and "Pegon
Pegon (language)
Pegon is an Arabic alphabet used to write the Javanese and Sundanese languages, as an alternative to the Roman alphabet or the pre-colonial Javanese script and the old Sundanese script. In particular, it was used for religious writing and poetry from the fifteenth century, particularly in writing...
" writings (the Javanese
Javanese script
The Javanese alphabet, natively known as Hanacaraka or Carakan , known by the Sundanese people as Cacarakan is the pre-colonial script used to write the Javanese language....
version of Arabic script).
A couple hundred old manuscripts have survived to this day though the oldest may have been written no earlier than the 17th century. Those "Sorabe" are bound in leather and the texts are named after the colour of the skin. Most of the texts contain magical formulas but there are also some historical texts concerning the origin of some of the tribes of the south east of Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
. These origins are traced to Mecca
Mecca
Mecca is a city in the Hijaz and the capital of Makkah province in Saudi Arabia. The city is located inland from Jeddah in a narrow valley at a height of above sea level...
or the Prophet Mohammed even though the practice of Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
is nowhere seen in the texts.
Sorabe eventually spread across the island beginning in the 17th century and, at the end of 18th century, the Merina
Merina
The Merina are an ethnic group from Madagascar. The Merina are concentrated in the Highlands and speak the official dialect of the Malagasy language, which is a branch of the Malayo-Polynesian language group derived from the Barito languages, spoken in southern Borneo. Their ancestors, the...
king Andrianampoinimerina
Andrianampoinimerina
Ruling between 1787–1810, Andrianampoinimerina , born Ramboasalama or Ramboasalamarazaka at Ambohimanga around 1745 , initiated the unification of Madagascar under Merina rule and is considered one of the greatest military and political...
called for Antemoro scribes to teach the children of his court to read and write. This is how the future king Radama I could read and write sorabe from his childhood.
External links
- La Case, les Sorabe, l'Histoire
- Arabic in Madagascar, Kees Versteegh, Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African StudiesSchool of Oriental and African StudiesThe School of Oriental and African Studies is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the University of London...
, 2001 - East Barito: Who Were the Malayo-Polynesian Migrants to Madagascar?