Shavian Unicode Block

The Shavian Unicode block, officially designated as "Shavian" or "Shaw Alphabet," is a collection of characters encoded to support the script devised by George Bernard Shaw's will for the English language. This unique alphabet, developed in the mid-20th century, was created to provide a more phonetically consistent method of writing English, eliminating irregular traditional spelling. The Shavian script consists of 48 letters, each representing distinct sounds found in English, aiming to achieve a one-symbol-per-sound correspondence, which is much simpler than the multi-letter combinations often found in conventional English orthography. The Shavian block in Unicode ranges from U+10450 to U+1047F and provides a digital means to represent this alternative script across computing platforms, ensuring that texts written in Shavian can be accurately displayed and processed.

The introduction of the Shavian script into Unicode was a significant step in the preservation and academic study of alternative alphabets. It allows linguists, historians, and typography enthusiasts to explore the potential of phonetic writing systems designed to simplify and regularize English spelling. While the Shavian script has not replaced the Roman alphabet in any mainstream capacity, it remains a subject of interest for those exploring linguistic reform and the historical development of orthographies. In digital texts, Shavian can be used to illustrate specific phonetic pronunciations or as a cipher to engage readers in linguistic diversity. The block's inclusion in the Unicode Standard underscores the importance of supporting lesser-known scripts, promoting cultural and linguistic inclusivity in the digital world.

View a range of fonts that support the Shavian block.

Below you will find all the characters that are in the Shavian unicode block. Currently there are 48 characters in this block.