L2/19-044

TO: Unicode Technical Committee FROM: Debbie Anderson, Script Encoding Initiative, UC Berkeley SUBJECT: Bété script working documents DATE: 10 January 2019

Attached are two working documents on the Bété script by Andrij Rovenchak. At this time, additional information is being collected by Chuck Riley and Andrij Rovenchak in order to address the questions posed by the Script Ad Hoc in L2/19-047. Chuck Riley is in touch with the user community.

1. Bété syllabary ordered graphically (pp. 2-23) In this document, the characters were ordered graphically, which was recommended during discussions of the Script Ad Hoc.

The red highlighted characters indicate the duplicate shapes which might be removed from the encoding proposal, yellow indicates duplicate shapes which does not occur as single shapes and are suggested to be encoded, and green are used to indicate interim highlighting (but which are irrelevant for the purposes here).

2. On Bété script (pp. 24-26) This document discusses different sign types.

Note: An earlier list of characters appeared in L2/17-323 Report on the Bété script 2017 (pp. 3- 24).

1 Bete syllabary ordered graphically

FBB's Hex code Bete symbol IPA Unicode name Alt transcr.

bhlo2 BETE SYLLABLE BHLOO-2 À

sô sɔ BETE SYLLABLE SO Ƈ

ta ta BETE SYLLABLE TA Ƌ

trê trɛ BETE SYLLABLE TRE Ɩ

krwa / kroi BETE SYLLABLE KRWA ij krʷa

go go BETE SYLLABLE GOO ò

gou gu BETE SYLLABLE GU òò

tcho co BETE SYLLABLE COO Ǯ

tchui BETE SYLLABLE CUI ǮǮ

lou lu BETE SYLLABLE LU ǵ

lui2 BETE SYLLABLE LUI-2 Ƕ

ti ti BETE SYLLABLE TI Ǝ

bho bʰo BETE SYLLABLE BHOO ª

bhé bʰe BETE SYLLABLE BHEE ǣ

bhi bʰi BETE SYLLABLE BHI Ǥ

pa pa BETE SYLLABLE PA ū

peu pə BETE SYLLABLE PEU ūū

2 do2 do BETE SYLLABLE DOO-2 Ê

dui BETE SYLLABLE DUI ÊÊ

BETE SYLLABLE BREE-2 ¹

bri2 bri BETE SYLLABLE BRI-2 ¹¹

grou gru BETE SYLLABLE GRU Đ

grui BETE SYLLABLE GRUI ĐĐ

gba gba BETE SYLLABLE GBA Ā

di di BETE SYLLABLE DI Ä

do do BETE SYLLABLE DOO É

gou2 gu BETE SYLLABLE GU-2 ñ

djui = gûhï ??? / gɨ BETE SYLLABLE DJUI ññ

n'eu / gn ɲ BETE SYLLABLE NY ú

brou bru BETE SYLLABLE BRU ´

bhô bʰɔ BETE SYLLABLE BHO ¬

bheu bʰə BETE SYLLABLE BHEU ¯

bhyï bʰɨ BETE SYLLABLE BHYI ¯¯

bhou bʰu BETE SYLLABLE BHU •

bro bro BETE SYLLABLE BROO ·

broè BETE SYLLABLE BROE ··

3 bou bu BETE SYLLABLE BU ɵ

ba ba BETE SYLLABLE BA ¡

beu bə BETE SYLLABLE BEU ¡¡

bé be BETE SYLLABLE BEE ¦¦

bê bɛ BETE SYLLABLE BE ¥¥

beu2 bə BETE SYLLABLE BEU-2 ¢

b’yï bɨ BETE SYLLABLE BYI ɴ

bré bre BETE SYLLABLE BREE ²

bri bri BETE SYLLABLE BRI ³

bui by / bʉ BETE SYLLABLE BUI ¨¨

brou2 bru BETE SYLLABLE BRU-2 º

brui BETE SYLLABLE BRUI ºº

brui2 BETE SYLLABLE BRUI-2 µ

dé de BETE SYLLABLE DEE Å

bi bi BETE SYLLABLE BI ¤

bô bɔ BETE SYLLABLE BO £

bra bra BETE SYLLABLE BRA BLA ¶

bra 2 bra BETE SYLLABLE BRA-2 BLA °

brê brɛ BETE SYLLABLE BRE ɸ

4 brô brɔ BETE SYLLABLE BRO ±

bha ** bʰa BETE SYLLABLE BHA ɷ

bhê bʰɛ BETE SYLLABLE BHE «

bhoui BETE SYLLABLE BHUI ®

bhla BETE SYLLABLE BHLA BHRA »

bhlé BETE SYLLABLE BHLEE ¿

bhlê BETE SYLLABLE BHLE BHRE ¾

bhli BETE SYLLABLE BHLI Á

bhlo BETE SYLLABLE BHLOO BHROO ¼

bhlô BETE SYLLABLE BHLO ½

bhlou BETE SYLLABLE BHLU Â

da da BETE SYLLABLE DA Ã

tchê2 cɛ BETE SYLLABLE CE-2 ĥ

tché ce BETE SYLLABLE CEE ĥĥ

tchê cɛ BETE SYLLABLE CE Ĥ

dê dɛ BETE SYLLABLE DE Æ

dê2 dɛ BETE SYLLABLE DE-2 ǥ

dô dɔ BETE SYLLABLE DO Ç

dô2 dɔ BETE SYLLABLE DO-2 È

5 dô3 dɔ BETE SYLLABLE DO-3 ÍÍ

dou du BETE SYLLABLE DU Ë

dui2 BETE SYLLABLE DUI-2 Ì

doi dʷa / dwa BETE SYLLABLE DWA Í

dra dra BETE SYLLABLE DRA Î

dré dre BETE SYLLABLE DREE Ñ

drê drɛ BETE SYLLABLE DRE Ò

dri dri BETE SYLLABLE DRI Ð

dro dro BETE SYLLABLE DROO Ǧ

drui BETE SYLLABLE DRUI ǧ

drô drɔ BETE SYLLABLE DRO Ï

drou dru BETE SYLLABLE DRU Ó

drui2 BETE SYLLABLE DRUI-2 Ô

dja ɉa BETE SYLLABLE DJA í

djé ɉe BETE SYLLABLE DJEE è

djê ɉɛ BETE SYLLABLE DJE é

dji = gui ɉi / gi BETE SYLLABLE DJI ɹ

djo ɉo BETE SYLLABLE DJOO Ǭ

djô ɉɔ BETE SYLLABLE DJO î

6 djou ɉu BETE SYLLABLE DJU ï

fa fa BETE SYLLABLE FA Õ

fé fe BETE SYLLABLE FEE Ù

fê fɛ BETE SYLLABLE FE Ø

feu BETE SYLLABLE FEU ÚÚ

fi fi BETE SYLLABLE FI Û

fo fo BETE SYLLABLE FOO Ö

fô fɔ BETE SYLLABLE FO ×

fou fu BETE SYLLABLE FU Ý

fui BETE SYLLABLE FUI ÝÝ

fu fy BETE SYLLABLE FUE Ü

fra fra BETE SYLLABLE FRA Þ

fré fre BETE SYLLABLE FREE ÞÞ

fra2 / fla BETE SYLLABLE FRA-2 FLA å

fré2 / flé fre BETE SYLLABLE FREE-2 FLEE ä

fré3 fre BETE SYLLABLE FREE-3 ß

fri fri BETE SYLLABLE FRI à

frê frɛ BETE SYLLABLE FRE á

frou fru BETE SYLLABLE FRU â

7 fro fro BETE SYLLABLE FROO Ǩ

fro2 / flo fro BETE SYLLABLE FROO-2 FLOO ç

frô frɔ BETE SYLLABLE FRO æ

frui BETE SYLLABLE FRUI ã

ga ga BETE SYLLABLE GA éé

gue ge BETE SYLLABLE GE ð

güê gɛ BETE SYLLABLE GE ë

güi gi BETE SYLLABLE GI ê

gô3 BETE SYLLABLE GO-3 êê

gûhï gɨ BETE SYLLABLE GYI ǫ

gô gɔ BETE SYLLABLE GO ǩ

go2 go BETE SYLLABLE GOO-2 ô

gûhï2 gɨ BETE SYLLABLE GYI-2 ôô

gô2 gɔ BETE SYLLABLE GO-2 ó

gûhï3 gɨ BETE SYLLABLE GYI-3 óó

gra gra BETE SYLLABLE GRA Č

grê grɛ BETE SYLLABLE GRE ć

gra2 gra BETE SYLLABLE GRA-2 GLA ćć

gré gre BETE SYLLABLE GREE č

8 gré2 gre BETE SYLLABLE GREE-2 Ĉ

gri gri BETE SYLLABLE GRI ĉ

gri2 gri BETE SYLLABLE GRI-2 Ď

gro gro BETE SYLLABLE GROO ď

groé BETE SYLLABLE GROE ďď

grô grɔ BETE SYLLABLE GRO Ċ

groé2 BETE SYLLABLE GROE-2 ĊĊ

grou2 gru BETE SYLLABLE GRU-2 ċ

grui2 BETE SYLLABLE GRUI-2 ċċ

gbeu gbə BETE SYLLABLE GBEU ĀĀ

gba2 gba BETE SYLLABLE GBA-2 đ

gbeu2 gbə BETE SYLLABLE GBEU-2 đđ

gbé gbe BETE SYLLABLE GBEE Ă

gbê gbɛ BETE SYLLABLE GBE ăă

gbeu3 gbə BETE SYLLABLE GBEU-3 Ą

gbï gbɨ BETE SYLLABLE GBYI ĄĄ

gbi gbi BETE SYLLABLE GBI ą

gbô gbɔ BETE SYLLABLE GBO ɼ

gbo gbo BETE SYLLABLE GBOO ÿ

9 gboé BETE SYLLABLE GBOE ÿÿ

gbou gbu BETE SYLLABLE GBU ā

gbui BETE SYLLABLE GBUI āā

gbrê gbrɛ BETE SYLLABLE GBRE GBLE Ē

gbra gbra BETE SYLLABLE GBRA ĒĒ

gbra2 gbra BETE SYLLABLE GBRA-2 ę

gbré gbre BETE SYLLABLE GBREE ęę

gbré2 gbre BETE SYLLABLE GBREE-2 Ė

gbri gbri BETE SYLLABLE GBRI ė

gbro gbro BETE SYLLABLE GBROO Ĕ

gbroê BETE SYLLABLE GBROE ĔĔ

gbrô gbrɔ BETE SYLLABLE GBRO ē

gbroé BETE SYLLABLE GBROE-2 ēē

gbro2 gbro BETE SYLLABLE GBROO-2 ĕ

gbrô2 gbrɔ BETE SYLLABLE GBRO-2 Ě

gbrou gbru BETE SYLLABLE GBRU Ę

gbrui BETE SYLLABLE GBRUI ĘĘ

ka ka BETE SYLLABLE KA ě

ke ke BETE SYLLABLE KEE Ģ

10 k'yï kɨ BETE SYLLABLE KYI ģ

ki / tchi ki / ci BETE SYLLABLE KI ġ

ko2 ko BETE SYLLABLE KOO-2 Ğ

koi kwa / kʷa BETE SYLLABLE KWA Ĝ

kô kɔ BETE SYLLABLE KO ĜĜ

kuê BETE SYLLABLE KUE ĝ

kô2 kɔ BETE SYLLABLE KO-2 ĝĝ

ko ko BETE SYLLABLE KOO ğ

kou ku BETE SYLLABLE KU ğğ

kou2 ku BETE SYLLABLE KU-2 Ġ

kui BETE SYLLABLE KUI ĠĠ

kra kra BETE SYLLABLE KRA KLA ĦĦ

kra2 kra BETE SYLLABLE KRA-2 ı

kra3 kra BETE SYLLABLE KRA-3 į

kré kre BETE SYLLABLE KREE ĭ

kré2 kre BETE SYLLABLE KREE-2 Ĵ

kri kri BETE SYLLABLE KRI ĵ

kre / kré3 kre BETE SYLLABLE KREE-3 ķ

krê krɛ BETE SYLLABLE KRE İ

11 krê2 krɛ BETE SYLLABLE KRE-2 Ķ

kré4 kre BETE SYLLABLE KREE-4 KLEE Ĩ

kri2 kri BETE SYLLABLE KRI-2 KLII ĨĨ

kri3 kri BETE SYLLABLE KRI-3 KLII ĩ

kro kro BETE SYLLABLE KROO IJ

kroé BETE SYLLABLE KROE IJIJ

kro2 kro BETE SYLLABLE KROO-2 Ĭ

kro3 kro BETE SYLLABLE KROO-3 ħ

krui BETE SYLLABLE KRUI ħħ

krô2 krɔ BETE SYLLABLE KRO Į

krou kru BETE SYLLABLE KRU ĸ

krou2 kru BETE SYLLABLE KRU-2 KLU Ī

krui BETE SYLLABLE KRUI-3 ĪĪ

krui BETE SYLLABLE KRUI-2 Ĺ

krwa / kroi2 BETE SYLLABLE KRWA KLWA ī krʷa

kpa kpa BETE SYLLABLE KPA ĺĺ

kpa2 kpa BETE SYLLABLE KPA-2 Ļ

kpeu kpə BETE SYLLABLE KPEU ĻĻ

kpê kpɛ BETE SYLLABLE KPE ĺ

kpeu kpə BETE SYLLABLE KPEU-2 ǯ

12 kpyï kpɨ BETE SYLLABLE KPYI ǯǯ

kpi kpi BETE SYLLABLE KPI ǰ

kpo2 kpo BETE SYLLABLE KPOO-2 ļ

kpwa / kpoi BETE SYLLABLE KPWA DZ kpʷa

kpô kpɔ BETE SYLLABLE KPO DZDZ

kpou kpu BETE SYLLABLE KPU Dz

kpra kpra BETE SYLLABLE KPRA dz

kpre / kpré kpre BETE SYLLABLE KPREE-2 dzdz

kpré kpre BETE SYLLABLE KPREE ľ

kpri kpri BETE SYLLABLE KPRI ľľ

kprê kprɛ BETE SYLLABLE KPRE Ǵ

kpro kpro BETE SYLLABLE KPROO Ń

kproé BETE SYLLABLE KPROE ŃŃ

kprô kprɔ BETE SYLLABLE KPRO ł

kprou kpru BETE SYLLABLE KPRU Ŀ

kprui BETE SYLLABLE KPRUI ŀ

la la BETE SYLLABLE LA ń

le le BETE SYLLABLE LEE Ņ

lê lɛ BETE SYLLABLE LE ņ

13 le2 le BETE SYLLABLE LEE-2 ņņ

li li BETE SYLLABLE LI Ň

li2 li BETE SYLLABLE LI-2 ň

lo lo BETE SYLLABLE LOO ō

lui BETE SYLLABLE LUI Ō

lô lɔ BETE SYLLABLE LO ŌŌ

lou2 lu BETE SYLLABLE LU-2 ʼn

lou3 lu BETE SYLLABLE LU-3 Ŋ

lui3 BETE SYLLABLE LUI-3 ŋ

ma ma BETE SYLLABLE MA Ŏ

mé me BETE SYLLABLE MEE ő

mê mɛ BETE SYLLABLE ME Ő

mê2 mɛ BETE SYLLABLE ME-2 Ŕ

meu mə BETE SYLLABLE MEU ŕ

mi mi BETE SYLLABLE MI Ŗ

mo mo BETE SYLLABLE MOO ŏ

mô mɔ BETE SYLLABLE MO Œ

mou mu BETE SYLLABLE MU œ

mu my BETE SYLLABLE MUE ŗ

14 na na BETE SYLLABLE NA Ř

ne ne BETE SYLLABLE NEE ŘŘ

nê nɛ BETE SYLLABLE NE ŜŜ

ni ni BETE SYLLABLE NI ś

nou nu BETE SYLLABLE NU Ś

no no BETE SYLLABLE NOO Ƿ

nui BETE SYLLABLE NUI ŚŚ

nô / non nɔ BETE SYLLABLE NO ŝŝ

nou2 / no ??? nu BETE SYLLABLE NU-2 ř

gna ɲa BETE SYLLABLE NYA ɺ

gne ɲe BETE SYLLABLE NYEE ø

gnê ɲɛ BETE SYLLABLE NYE ù

gni ɲi BETE SYLLABLE NYI õ

gno ɲo BETE SYLLABLE NYOO ü

gnô ɲɔ BETE SYLLABLE NYO û

gnué BETE SYLLABLE NYUE ý

gnuê BETE SYLLABLE NYUE-2 þ

gnou ɲu BETE SYLLABLE NYU ö

gnui BETE SYLLABLE NYUI öö

15 pa2 pa BETE SYLLABLE PA-2 ŧ

pé pe BETE SYLLABLE PEE Ũ

pê pɛ BETE SYLLABLE PE ũ

pê pɛ BETE SYLLABLE PE Ū

peu2 pə BETE SYLLABLE PEU-2 Ŭ

pyï pɨ BETE SYLLABLE PYI ŬŬ

pi pi BETE SYLLABLE PI ŭ

po po BETE SYLLABLE POO ů

pui BETE SYLLABLE PUI ůů

pô pɔ BETE SYLLABLE PO Ű

pou pu BETE SYLLABLE PU ű

pu py BETE SYLLABLE PUE ǻ

pu2 py BETE SYLLABLE PUE-2 Ů

pra pra BETE SYLLABLE PRA PLA Ų

pre / pré pre BETE SYLLABLE PREE ŲŲ

vou vou BETE SYLLABLE VU Ơ

vui BETE SYLLABLE VUI ƠƠ

pra2 pra BETE SYLLABLE PRA-2 Ÿ

pré2 pre BETE SYLLABLE PREE-2 ŷ

16 pri pri BETE SYLLABLE PRI ŷŷ

prê prɛ BETE SYLLABLE PRE Ŷ

prê2 prɛ BETE SYLLABLE PRE-2 ų

pri2 pri BETE SYLLABLE PRI-2 Ŵ

pro pro BETE SYLLABLE PROO ŵ

prô prɔ BETE SYLLABLE PRO Ź

prou pru BETE SYLLABLE PRU ź

prou2 pru BETE SYLLABLE PRU-2 Ż

prui BETE SYLLABLE PRUI ŻŻ

ra ra BETE SYLLABLE RA ż

re re BETE SYLLABLE REE Ž

rê rɛ BETE SYLLABLE RE Ƃ

ri ri BETE SYLLABLE RI ƀ

ro ro BETE SYLLABLE ROO ſ

rô rɔ BETE SYLLABLE RO ž

rou ru BETE SYLLABLE RU Ɓ

rui BETE SYLLABLE RUI ƁƁ

sa sa BETE SYLLABLE SA ɱ

se / sé se BETE SYLLABLE SEE Ƅ

17 sê sɛ BETE SYLLABLE SE ƅ

si si BETE SYLLABLE SI Ɔ

sô2 sɔ BETE SYLLABLE SO-2 ƈ

sui BETE SYLLABLE SUI ƈƈ

sou su BETE SYLLABLE SU Ɖ

sui2 BETE SYLLABLE SUI-2 Ɗ

zô zɔ BETE SYLLABLE ZO Ƽ

zui2 BETE SYLLABLE ZUI-2 ƽ

té te BETE SYLLABLE TEE ƌ

tê tɛ BETE SYLLABLE TE ɲ

to to BETE SYLLABLE TOO Ɛ

to2 to BETE SYLLABLE TOO-2 Ǽ

tô tɔ BETE SYLLABLE TO ɳ

tui BETE SYLLABLE TUI ƐƐ

tui2 BETE SYLLABLE TUI-2 ǽ

tou tu BETE SYLLABLE TU Ƒ

tui3 BETE SYLLABLE TUI-3 ƑƑ

tra tra BETE SYLLABLE TRA ƒ

tre tre BETE SYLLABLE TREE ƕ

18 tri tri BETE SYLLABLE TRI Ɨ

tro tro BETE SYLLABLE TROO Ɠ

trui BETE SYLLABLE TRUI ƓƓ

trô trɔ BETE SYLLABLE TRO Ɣ

trou tru BETE SYLLABLE TRU Ƙ

trui2 BETE SYLLABLE TRUI-2 ƙ

va va BETE SYLLABLE VA ƚ

veu və BETE SYLLABLE VEU ƚƚ

ve ve BETE SYLLABLE VEE ƛ

vê vɛ BETE SYLLABLE VE Ɯ

vi vi BETE SYLLABLE VI Ɲ

vo vo BETE SYLLABLE VOO Ǿ

vo2 vo BETE SYLLABLE VOO-2 Ɵ

vô vɔ BETE SYLLABLE VO ƞ

vra vra BETE SYLLABLE VRA ơ

vre vre BETE SYLLABLE VREE ơơ

vra2 vra BETE SYLLABLE VRA-2 VLA Ƥ

vre2 vre BETE SYLLABLE VREE-2 ƤƤ

vrê vrɛ BETE SYLLABLE VRE Ƣ

19 vrou vru BETE SYLLABLE VRU ƣ

vri vri BETE SYLLABLE VRI ƣƣ

vrou2 vru BETE SYLLABLE VRU-2 ƥ

vri2 vri BETE SYLLABLE VRI-2 Ʀ

vrô vrɔ BETE SYLLABLE VRO Ƨ

wa wa BETE SYLLABLE WA Ư

ẅo wo BETE SYLLABLE WOO ɰ

wô wɔ BETE SYLLABLE WO Ʊ

gnué / wui BETE SYLLABLE WUI Ʋ

gnui / ugn BETE SYLLABLE WUIN ƴ

ẅo2 wo BETE SYLLABLE WOO-2 Ƴ

ẅou wu BETE SYLLABLE WU ƳƳ

gnuê / uin BETE SYLLABLE WUEN Ƶ

ya ja BETE SYLLABLE YA Ƭ

ye je BETE SYLLABLE YEE ɐ

yê jɛ BETE SYLLABLE YE ɑ

yo jo BETE SYLLABLE YOO ƭ

yô jɔ BETE SYLLABLE YO Ʈ

yo2 / io jo BETE SYLLABLE YOO-2 ƪ

20 ui / yui2 BETE SYLLABLE YUI-2 ƪƪ

you ju BETE SYLLABLE YU ƫ

yui BETE SYLLABLE YUI ƫƫ

za za BETE SYLLABLE ZA Ʒ

ze ze BETE SYLLABLE ZEE ƹ

zê zɛ BETE SYLLABLE ZE Ƹ

zi zi BETE SYLLABLE ZI ƻ

zo zo BETE SYLLABLE ZOO ɒ

zuê / jê BETE SYLLABLE ZUE ƺ

zô2 / jo zɔ BETE SYLLABLE ZO-2 ƺƺ

zou zu BETE SYLLABLE ZU ƾ

zui BETE SYLLABLE ZUI ƿ

zra zra BETE SYLLABLE ZRA ǀ

zre / zré zre BETE SYLLABLE ZREE ǀǀ

zré2 zre BETE SYLLABLE ZREE-2 ǁ

zri zri BETE SYLLABLE ZRI ǁǁ

zrê zrɛ BETE SYLLABLE ZRE ɓ

zro zro BETE SYLLABLE ZROO ɕ

zrô zrɔ BETE SYLLABLE ZRO ɔ

21 zrou zru BETE SYLLABLE ZRU ǂ

zrui BETE SYLLABLE ZRUI ǂǂ

a a BETE SYLLABLE A ǝ

é e BETE SYLLABLE EE ǟ

ê ɛ BETE SYLLABLE E Ǡ

eu BETE SYLLABLE EU Ʃ

eua BETE SYLLABLE EUA ƨ

i i BETE SYLLABLE I Ǟ

ou u BETE SYLLABLE U ť

ui BETE SYLLABLE UI ťť

oi2 BETE SYLLABLE OI-2 Ş

o o BETE SYLLABLE OO Ţ

kpo kpo BETE SYLLABLE KPOO Ľ

kpé kpe BETE SYLLABLE KPEE ĽĽ

o2 o BETE SYLLABLE OO-2 š

ô ɔ BETE SYLLABLE O ţ

ué BETE SYLLABLE UEE Š

uê BETE SYLLABLE UE Ť

oi wa ??? BETE SYLLABLE OI ş

22 ui2 BETE SYLLABLE UI-2 Ŧ

n' n / n̩ / ŋ BETE SYLLABLE N NG ǡ

n'an / han BETE SYLLABLE HAN ƶ

0 BETE DIGIT ZERO ɘ

1 BETE DIGIT ONE ə

2 BETE DIGIT TWO ɚ

3 BETE DIGIT THREE ɛ

4 BETE DIGIT FOUR ɜ

5 BETE DIGIT FIVE ɝ

6 BETE DIGIT SIX ɞ

7 BETE DIGIT SEVEN ɟ

8 BETE DIGIT EIGHT ɠ

9 BETE DIGIT NINE ɡ

23 On Bété script: for script ad hoc

There are several types of signs in Bété 1) A single shape (for convenience, denoted further as ‘A’) – these are the majority 2) A double shape obtained by repeating a single shape horizontally (AA) 3) A double shape obtained by repeating a single shape other than horizontally 4) A double shape obtained by combining two different single shapes horizontally (AB) 5) Diacritical marks

The hyphenation mark (↝) is applied to separate single shapes in order to distinguish between AA and A+A, e.g., Ř,Ř NA NA versus ŘŘ NE

It is thus possible to include in the proposal only the A shapes but not the AA ones.

Figure 1: Note the wavy line in the first line used to split the shapes in order to distinguish between single and double symbols.

Figure 2: Wavy arrow is used as a hyphenation mark on the right edge of the page.

24 However, we have no evidence that such a rule is applied to distinguish between AB and A+B combinations, so the proposed solution is to encode AB shapes at single codepoints. Examples include in particular

Ţ /o/ BETE SYLLABLE OO

š /o/ BETE SYLLABLE OO-2

Note that the leaf symbol Ľ corresponds to BETE SYLLABLE KPOO while the duplicate shape ĽĽ is BETE SYLLABLE KPEE. When combined with several other symbols, Bété characters with unrelated phonetic values are obtained:

ţ /ɔ/ BETE SYLLABLE O

Š /ue/ BETE SYLLABLE UEE

Ť /uɛ/ BETE SYLLABLE UE

ş /wa/ BETE SYLLABLE WA We recommended encoding symbols with the leaf element as single characters, except for the duplicate shape.

For a few double shapes obtained by repeating a single shape other than horizontally we propose to encode them at separate codepoints for simplicity, in particular, of font production.

Ă /gbe/ BETE SYLLABLE GBEE (no singular shape)

Ǧ /dro/ BETE SYLLABLE DROO

ǧ /drui/ BETE SYLLABLE DRUI

Over 20 characters are double shapes of the AA type but the single A shape is not used as a separate character to denote any syllable:

¦¦ /be/ BETE SYLLABLE BEE

¥¥ /bɛ/ BETE SYLLABLE BE

ç /fro/ BETE SYLLABLE FROO-2 We propose to encode those characters (as double shapes) but not to include singular shapes.

In some cases, combining diacritics appear on/under double shapes. What kind of encoding should be applied for such characters, e.g., AA with circumflex above? A real example is

ǐ /ʒo/ BETE SYLLABLE JOO

ƺ /zuɛ/ BETE SYLLABLE ZUE

ƺƺ /zɔ/ BETE SYLLABLE ZO-2 — not to be encoded?

See samples on the next page.

25 Figure 3: Red boxes correspond to double shapes (in the upper left corner, a singular shape is marked). Green boxes are double shapes with diacritics. This text is the first part of a memorial tribute to Frédéric Bruly Bouabré shared at his funeral in 2014. This was written in the Bété script by Bouabré’s student, Rolo Kouassi Edmond. The sample was obtained by Charles Riley via Hermann Gnepa.

26