The Missing Scripts 2023: Lampung
Ariq Syauqi zoomLampung is a script conventionally used to write Lampung language in Sumatra, Indonesia. This script, though still in use, has seen a decline in popularity due to the widespread adoption of the Latin alphabet for national communication. While the local government has implemented measures to rejuvenate its usage, such as incorporating the lessons in school curricula, its application remains limited, predominantly seen in very specific contexts like street and building signage.
Currently not encoded in Unicode, the script cannot yet be properly used for digital communication. As part of The Missing Scripts project, this research aims to develop a typographic representation of the Lampung script that is both culturally appropriate and suitable for contemporary digital environments — this undertaking is crucial given Lampung’s status as a ‘living script’, one that is still in active use albeit in a restricted scope.
To gain a comprehensive understanding of the Lampung script, it is imperative to also study its neighbouring scripts, such as Rejang and Kerinci, which share a close relationship both in form and in historical context. Investigating these scripts will provide valuable insights into the stylistic nuances and relationship of the region’s writing systems.