How dual alphabets can define your product

The first step to successful localization of your product is choosing the right language. The second step is choosing the right alphabet or writing script. And lastly, you need to choose a software translation management tool.

Out of 7000 living languages around the world, there are many which have dual alphabets or even several active writing scripts. In this article, we will cover different types of writing systems, discuss languages with dual alphabets and tackle the puzzle of multi scripts.

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Types of Writing Systems

What are writing systems? Basically, writing systems are groups of symbols used to represent language. Linguists divide writing systems into specific groups based on the type of symbols speakers use.

1. Pictographic / Ideographic Writing Systems

Pictographic writing systems use graphics or pictures to represent words or abstract ideas. The most famous example in history is hieroglyphs. Today, the most commonly used pictographic system is emojis.

Since Shigetaka Kurita invented emojis in 1999, they have become an instant hit. Nowadays, almost every internet user in the world is familiar with emojis. We can assume the reason for their popularity is their universal meaning and ease of expression. However, while that idea is not completely wrong, it is not completely true either.

The tricky part about pictographic or ideographic writing systems is that they are far from universal. Some linguists would even argue that you cannot read pictographic writing systems—only interpret them.

For example, an average user will be able to assume that a facepalm emoji represents something bad. On the other hand, we would struggle to infer what a sun hieroglyph means. Furthermore, pictographic writing systems are tied to the culture they come from. With that in mind, it is not surprising that emojis were invented in Japan.

2. Syllabary

A syllabary writing system uses symbols that represent entire syllables.

Most languages that use syllabary or ideographic writing systems do not rely on a single script. Usually, the result is a mixture of multiple systems, offering greater freedom of expression. However, this can also increase the potential for misinterpretation and poor translation.

3. Alphabets

Alphabets are writing systems in which a single symbol represents an individual sound.

They can be further divided into groups depending on whether they contain symbols for both consonants and vowels or primarily one category. For example:

• The Latin, Greek, and Cyrillic alphabets include symbols for both consonants and vowels.

• The Arabic and Hebrew scripts primarily represent consonants.

Even among languages that use alphabetic writing systems, there are interesting variations. For example, Serbian uses both the Latin and Cyrillic alphabets.

What Is Digraphia?

Digraphia is the use of two writing scripts within a single language and writing system.

It can refer to:

• Synchronic digraphia — two scripts used simultaneously.

• Diachronic digraphia — a language transitioning from one script to another over time.

Dual Alphabet in the Serbian Language

An interesting example of synchronic digraphia is Serbian.

The Serbian language has two official alphabets:

• Latin

• Cyrillic

Speakers use both alphabets, and the choice is usually a matter of personal preference.

For example:

Ana ima psa.

Ана има пса.

The meaning of both sentences is identical; only the script differs.

While this may sound complicated, there are advantages. The Serbian alphabets are largely “mirrored,” meaning each sound corresponds to a matching symbol in the other script. This makes transliteration (switching between scripts) relatively straightforward.

However, if you are choosing the appropriate script for your product, investing in research is essential. In the article Pragmatics Meets Ideology: Digraphia and Non-standard Orthographic Practices in Serbian Online News Forums, Dejan Ivkovic highlights the importance of understanding the target audience when selecting a script.

For Serbian:

• Using the Latin alphabet often allows broader regional reach.

• Using Cyrillic can narrow the audience but may better align with certain demographics and official contexts.

Multiscript Languages

Japanese is an excellent example of a multiscript language.

Modern Japanese writing combines logographic and syllabic scripts.

There are three primary writing systems:

• Kanji — a logographic system derived from Chinese characters, primarily used for nouns and personal names.

• Katakana — a syllabary used for foreign words, names, and onomatopoeia.

• Hiragana — a syllabary used for grammatical particles, verb endings, and adjective modifications.

It is common to find all three scripts in a single sentence.

With thousands of characters and multiple writing systems, working with a native speaker during localization is highly recommended.

Examples of Writing Scripts and Their Languages

International Standards for Language Codes

To make language identification easier, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) created international standards for language codes.

• ISO 639-1 defines two-letter language codes.

• ISO 639-2 expands this system with three-letter codes.

• ISO 639-3 further extends language coverage.

In addition, the ISO 15924 standard defines script codes:

http://www.unicode.org/iso15924/iso15924-codes.html

Examples:

Ana ima psa.

ISO code: sr-Latn

• sr = Serbian

• Latn = Latin script

Ана има пса.

ISO code: sr-Cyrl

• sr = Serbian

• Cyrl = Cyrillic script

The ISO 639 standards were originally created for linguistics and bibliographic purposes. Today, understanding and correctly applying ISO language and script codes is an essential part of successful localization.

How the Internet Is Changing Things

In its early days, the Internet was largely restricted by ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange).

Because ASCII was based on the English Latin alphabet, users worldwide adapted their native writing systems to fit Roman keyboards.

These technological constraints significantly influenced many languages, including Serbian and Japanese.

For Serbian, this often meant abandoning Cyrillic in digital communication and adapting Latin script by omitting diacritics. Even today, these adaptations remain common in informal online communication.

The dominance of the Latin alphabet also encouraged the romanization of languages such as Japanese and Greek. It may even have indirectly contributed to the creation and spread of emojis.

How Do Different Scripts Influence the Market?

Localization and translation can be challenging even when the goal is simply to preserve meaning.

Choosing the correct writing script is equally important.

For example:

• Japanese uses Katakana for foreign names.

• Serbian commonly uses Cyrillic for official documents and Latin script for less formal communication.

These nuances matter for any product entering a new market.

Proper localization, cultural adaptation, and review by native-language professionals are essential investments. Choosing the correct language is only the first step—choosing the correct script can be just as important for reaching your audience effectively.