Tulu Script Added to Unicode: A Milestone for Language Preservation

The Unicode Consortium has included the Tulu script in its Unicode 16 update, adding 80 new characters. This addition enhances digital communication for over 1.8 million Tulu speakers worldwide, enabling native script use on digital platforms. The achievement follows years of advocacy and effort by Tulu scholars since 2001.

The Unicode Consortium has announced a significant update: the inclusion of the Tulu script in its latest version, Unicode 16. This development adds 80 characters to the Unicode Standard, marking a monumental milestone for the Tulu-speaking community.

The journey to this achievement began in 2001 when a Unicode Consortium member helped fix the Kannada script and advocated for Tulu's inclusion. Despite initial misunderstandings with the Tulu Academy in Mangaluru, the groundwork was laid by Tulu experts such as S.A. Krishnaiah.

By 2014, efforts to create a Tulu Wikipedia gained momentum, leading to its launch in 2016. Recognizing the need for Tulu Unicode, the Tulu Academy formed a committee in 2017 to finalize the characters with technical guidance. The Unicode version mostly aligns with the Tulu Academy's list, with the addition of Tulu digits and diacritic marks for Sanskrit.

The inclusion of Tulu script in Unicode facilitates an enhanced digital presence for Tulu speakers. This update will enable the creation of educational materials and streamline digital communication through Unicode-encoded fonts, keyboard software, and converters. The global recognition of Tulu in Unicode will encourage more software and app developers to support it, making the script more visible and usable worldwide.

Overall, this will empower Tulu speakers to communicate effectively and confidently in their language, locally and globally.

(With inputs from agencies.)