Fremen alphabet

The Fremen alphabet was created by John Quijada (who also created the Ithkuil language) in 1984 for The Dune Encyclopedia. It is a very simplified version of the Arabic script.

Notable features

Type of writing system: alphabet.
Direction of writing: right to left in horizontal lines, or boustrophedon in some dialects. Numbers are written left-to-right.
Used to write: Fremen.
The Fremen alphabet has no upper or lowercase letters.
Unlike Arabic, Fremen is an alphabet with full vowel indication and isn't cursive, most letters have a single form and there are no ligatures.
The letters s, sh and dh have a medial form.
The medial sh is also used as a diacritic, it is then called a shadda and marks gemination.
Many Fremen letters look different from their Arabic counterparts, since the i‘jām are not used anymore, each letter is visually distinct from the others instead.
Several sounds of Arabic and their letters have disappeared in Fremen.

Internal origin

The Fremen alphabet is used by the Fremen people of planet Arrakis to write their language, that mostly evolved from Arabic.

Fremen alphabet

Fremen alphabet and pronunciation

Sample texts

Transliteration

ida rayt al-tin abshir b-al-tin

Translation

When you see the fig season, then you can announce the muddy season.

Transliteration

ida lam laktafil anta fil

Translation

If you cannot be satisfied, you are an elephant (said to overeating children).

Links

Information about the Fremen alphabet and language
http://dune.wikia.com/wiki/Fremen_language

Official Fremen font
http://www.oocities.org/timessquare/4965/sffont.html

Information about the Dune novels
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dune_(franchise)

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