How did the Burmese writing system develop?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

The Burmese writing system, which dates back to the 11th century, is part of the Indic writing systems tradition. It is derived from the script of the Mon language, which itself originated from South Indian scripts associated with the Brahmi tradition.123

The earliest extant examples of Burmese writing appear in the mid-11th century, utilizing an alphabet influenced by the Pali language of India and Ceylon. The Myazedi inscription, dating to 1113, serves as a significant historical benchmark, illustrating the period when the Burmese language was maturing as a literary medium by adopting and adapting the Mon script. Over time, this system evolved into the modern Burmese script, which subsequently served as the basis for the writing systems of various other Tai dialects.4513