Script - Osmanya

Osmanya is a script invented in the 1920s by Osman Yusuf Kenadid for the Somali language, designed to replace the Arabic and Latin scripts previously used. In text processing, the “Osmanya” value identifies characters belonging to this specific writing system, which includes 22 consonants, 8 vowels, and a set of digits, all written from left to right. These characters are primarily used for historical and cultural documentation, as well as in modern digital contexts where Somali orthography is preserved. The script features a distinct, geometric appearance with no cursive connections, making it visually unique among African writing systems. Its inclusion in digital standards ensures that texts written in Osmanya can be accurately encoded, displayed, and analyzed without confusion with other scripts, thereby supporting linguistic heritage and research.