written mando'a in rebels

[GJ504b]

i just happened on this gif--Maul has KENOBI written on his wall ! it's from episode 10 (Visions And Voices) of season 3. Here's a larger still image--


(The preview for this post shows this image disastrously large and cropped by the forum size, so i've also got it linked to the full-size image. Let me know if you're having problems seeing it !)

i'll search the episode slower if anyone would like me to check if there's a frame or 2 where each letter is fully visible.

in the old & new mando forum fonts for comparison:

• old: KENOBI
• new: KENOBI

Looks like these are about the same? Very small differences in some letters.

Some things i've noticed:

• K on the wall has the triangular blade on the right side; the fonts lack this blade, instead featuring a curve crossing over the main stem.
• E on the wall doesn't have the triangle blade on the bottom, it tapers straight down. Both fonts feature the blade.
• N on the wall has an elongated triangle floating to the left; font N's triangle is small.
• O on the wall has a blade/triangle on the left side and tapers fully to a point; font O is straight and without tapering (old font is totally squared, new font has some angles but isn't tapered).
• B on the wall has a stronger serif at the upper right.
• I is... basically the same.

i've only ever seen people bring up the font as it appears in the movies, and nothing appeared when i searched the forum for Maul and Kenobi, so apologies if this has been posted before but i'm very excited about it lol

[Mittramikad]

Kandosi vod! The more I look fonts and examples of mando'a in it's written form, the more I think that as a language it's not meant to be written. It's meant to be painted. What do you think?

[GJ504b]

it's definitely at least not meant to be handwritten with a thin tool. Maybe a pen or marker with a broader tip, for all those weighted and tapered lines... Paint/ink is a good medium for that.

[Vlet Hansen]

Painting is an interesting option, and you're right about how it looks.

I always thought it looked like cuneiform...

[Mittramikad]

Definitely, I can see that with all those "sharp" angles and points.

[Tal’jair Rusk]

Im thinking that initially the mando’a could be written with sharpened sticks. I found these examples that were actually used by chinese.

[Vlet Hansen]

THat could be, or with knives in a soft surface

[Mereel Kestan]

I liked seeing that. I recognized it for what it was right away. My brother did not.

[Ciri Rhaw]

It's an interesting theory - I've gotten fairly decent at writing with a pencil (my bastardized letters at least) but I should try it with calligraphy. Might be easier to get the real thing.

[Outis Hawkwind]

Ibic cuy aru'ela nare.
Barycir cabure, naastar aruetiise!