Uighur alphabet - Definition and Overview

The Uighur alphabet is any of the following:

• A descendant of the Sogdian alphabet, used for texts of Buddhist, Manichæan and Christian contents for 700–800 years in East Turkestan. Last known manuscripts are dated the 18th century. This was the prototype for Mongolian and Manchu alphabets and was also called the Old Uighur alphabet.
• A modified Arabic alphabet, widely used by modern Uighurs in Xinjiang, China.
• A modified Latin alphabet, used by Uighurs in Chinese East Turkestan for 15–20 years until late 1980s. Still in use for Internet communications in Uighur.
• A modified Cyrillic alphabet, used by Uighurs in former Soviet Republics of Central Asia.

See also: Orkhon script