At first glance, the Javanese alphabet (Hanacaraka) and the Thai alphabet might be struck by a sense of déjà vu. Both systems are characterized by elegant with intricate shapes that seem to belong to the same “family”.
While they may appear identical, these alphabets actually are similar but not the same. Each of them possessing unique rules and structures.
So, why these two look so alike? Let’s step back to a time when the two nations established their deep-rooted connection.
The Shared “Parent”: The Pallava Script
The primary reason for this visual resemblance is that both scripts share a common “parent”. According to the Center for the Preservation of Cultural Values (BNPB) Yogyakarta, Javanese and Thai scripts are descendants of the Pallava script.
If we trace the lineage further back, the Pallava script itself is a derivative of the Brahmi script, which is the ancestor of almost all Indian scripts. Moreover, Brahmi also can be tracked back to the Aramaic alphabet, a writing system from the Middle East which flourished during the 10th and 9th centuries BCE.
This ancient lineage highlights how modern Southeast Asian writing systems are connected. This highlighted that most of Southeast Asian writing system have the same “parent”.
During the Hindu-Buddhist era, the Pallava script became the foundational “mother script” for many regions in Southeast Asia. Several distinct systems across SEA emerged, including Kawi (Old Javanese), the Thai script, the Burmese script, and the Batak script.
In java, the Kawi script underwent a long evolution over centuries. By the 17th century, it had transformed into modern form that we recognize today as Hanacaraka. Meanwhile, in Thailand, the same Pallava roots were adapted to fit the tonal needs of the Thai language, resulting in the Thai alphabet used today.
Cultural Exchange Across the Nations
The similarity between these two cultures is not limited to their alphabets. There has been a deep connection between Indonesia and Thailand for centuries. A notable example is the Panji stories.
Panji stories are a 13th century Javanese literary cycle originating from East Java. The whole story mainly shows on Prince Panji’s romantic search for Candra Kirana.
These stories then spread widely across Southeast Asia. Interestingly, some of the stories were also translated into various local languages, including Thai.
Due to this cultural diffusion, many Javanese words found their way into the Thai language. While many of these shared words are now considered literary or poetic, they remain understandable to Thai speakers. Again, it proves the long bond between Indonesia and Thailand.
However, despite their shared ancestry, the Javanese and Thai script have evolved to suit their respective languages differently. Thai script features around 44 consonant letters and 15 vowel symbols. While Javanese one consists of 20 characters, known as the Hanacaraka.
Furthermore, while the shapes may look similar, the pronunciation and phonetic rules are not the same. Each of them has unique sounds and linguistic, proving that the historical ties between Java and Thailand is beautiful.
