# Translation? Unknown Asian writing **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 27, 2009, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translation-unknown-asian-writing/507874 "2009-08-27T04:36:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translation-unknown-asian-writing/507874/1 "2009-08-27T04:36:02Z")
I suspect [Indian subcontinent or Southeast Asia](http://s294.photobucket.com/albums/mm119/badger60/asian_writing/?action=view¤t=IMG_4183.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translation-unknown-asian-writing/507874/2 "2009-08-27T04:55:02Z")
That looks very similar to the Tibetan prayer flags we’ve seen in Nepal. ---
**Author:** ![coremelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@coremelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coremelt)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translation-unknown-asian-writing/507874/3 "2009-08-27T04:59:35Z")
it’s Tibetan. > **[Tibetan script](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibetan_script)** > > Egyptian hieroglyphs 32nd c. BCE > > Adlam (slight influence from Arabic) 1989 CE > Hangul 1443 CE > The Tibetan script is a segmental writing system (abugida) of Indic origin used to write certain Tibetic languages, including Tibetan, Dzongkha, Sikkimese, Ladakhi, Jirel and Balti. It has also been used for some non-Tibetic languages in close cultural contact with Tibet, such as Thakali and Old Turkic. The printed form is called uchen script while the hand-written cursive form used in everyday writin... seeing as it’s on a prayer flag it is probably repeating variations of “om mani padme om”. literally “om the jewel in the lotus”. I don’t speak or read tibetan but from some knowledge of tibetan culture there’s a very high chance thats what it is. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translation-unknown-asian-writing/507874/4 "2009-08-27T05:00:01Z")
Yes, see [here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prayer_flag). Contains [this photo](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ladakh_prayer_flag.jpg), which is very similar to yours. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translation-unknown-asian-writing/507874/5 "2009-08-27T05:05:32Z")
It looks like [Tibetan](http://www.ancientscripts.com/tibetan.html), if that helps narrow it down. I can’t translate it, though. ---
**Author:** ![coremelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@coremelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coremelt)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translation-unknown-asian-writing/507874/6 "2009-08-27T05:05:41Z")
here’s a specific breakdown of the meaning of the “lungta” windhorse prayer flag you have. [http://www.rigpawiki.org/index.php?title=Lungta](http://www.rigpawiki.org/index.php?title=Lungta) ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translation-unknown-asian-writing/507874/7 "2009-08-27T13:18:22Z")
Many thanks!