Aksara Bali

A Latin-to-Balinese script transliteration app based on Bali Simbar font

Update: improved version can be accessed at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=id.ac.undiksha.aksarabali

A Latin-to-Balinese script transliteration app based on Bali Simbar font and the writing rules at The Balinese Alphabet document (http://babadbali.com/aksarabali/alphabet.htm).

As a mobile learning media, this app is a contribution from Computer Science Graduate Program of Universitas Pendidikan Ganesha (Undiksha), Indonesia (http://pasca.undiksha.ac.id/ilkom/) for local culture preservation related to the Balinese script transliteration knowledge.

So far, this app accomodates seventeen kinds of special word exist at The Balinese Alphabet document (more on app tab Info), i.e:

1. The words where its vowel at the initial position was specifically transliterated by using the independent vowel. For an example: “Akśara” (letter).

2. The words and their variants that refer to one meaning and should be transliterated the same. For an example: “Kāděp” – “Kaděp” (sold).

3. The words and their variants that refer to one meaning and should be transliterated the same. For an example: “Jěro” – “Jero” (house).

4. The words and their variants that refer to one meaning and should be transliterated the same. For an example: “Daitya” – “Dêtya” (giant).

5. The words and their variants that refer to one meaning and should be transliterated the same. For an example: “Talěr” – “Taler” (also).

6. The words and their variants that refer to one meaning and should be transliterated the same. For an example: “Briag” – “Bryag” (laughter).

7. The words and their variants that refer to one meaning and should be transliterated the same. For an example: “Bhiśama” – “Bhisama” (decree).

8. The words where their syllable sound must be end by using sound killer (pangangge tengenan) ulu candra or ulu ricem, as part of akśara modre sign (holy symbol). For an example: “Om” (symbol of God).

9. The words and their variants that refer to one meaning and should be transliterated the same. For an example: “Chelagi” – “Celagi” (Tamarind fruit).

10. The words where their vowel “a” at the end position can be pronounced (and written) as vowel “ĕ” to create their variant word. The words and their variant word refer to one meaning and should be transliterated the same. For an example: “Sěkala” – “Sěkalě” (real).

11. The words and their variants that refer to one meaning and should be transliterated the same. For an example: “Kśatria” – “Kśatriya” (warrior).

12. The words with their certain single-consonant syllable and their variant word with their double-consonanst syllable, both have a single same sound for those syllables (the term for this in Balinese is dwita). Both words refer to one meaning and should be transliterated the same. For an example: “Utama” – “Uttama” (primary).

13. The words belong to the foreign words. For an example: “Bank”.

14. The words and their variants that refer to one meaning and should be transliterated the same. For an example: “wianjana” – “wyanjana” (consonant).

15. The exception words from the rule said that sound killers (pangangge tengenan) cecek (“ng”) or bisah (“h”) only appears at the end of a word unless it has the same syllables, e.g. “Cengceng” (musical instrument). For an example: “Angklung” (musical instrument).

16. The words consist of gantungan or gempelan that happens very rarely when a non semi-vowel acts like a semi vowel (the term for this in Balinese is pluta). For an example: “Smerti” (books of Vedha).

17. The words consist of three-consonants cluster (the term for this in Balinese is tumpuk telu) where it is stacking gantungan and gantungan altogether in their Balinese script. Bali simbar font does not support that form, so sound killers (pangangge tengenan) adeg-adeg can be used even it is not so nice to have it in the middle of a word. For an example: “Tamblang” (a village’s name).