𐰀

Derived from Sogdian 𐼁 (ʾ, “aleph”), ultimately from Classical Syriac ܐ (“aleph”).

𐰀 (a)

1. A letter of the Old Turkic runic script, representing /ɑ/ or /æ/. The backness or frontness depends on the type of the consonant.

• Tekin, Talât (1968) A Grammar of Orkhon Turkic (Uralic and Altaic Series; 69), Bloomington: Indiana University, →ISBN, page 27
• Clauson, Gerard (1972) “a:/e:”, in The Origin of Turkic Runic Alphabet, London, pages 68 and 74

Cognate with Turkish ey (“vocative particle”).

𐰀 (a)

1. a vocative particle, used for direct adress; O, oh, hey
   • 8th century CE, Ongin Inscription, F7:

     𐰋𐰏𐰠𐰼𐰢:𐰀

     beglerim:a

     O, my lords!

• Tekin, Talât (1968) “ä”, in A Grammar of Orkhon Turkic (Uralic and Altaic Series; 69), Bloomington: Indiana University, →ISBN, page 324
• Clauson, Gerard (1972) “a:”, in An Etymological Dictionary of pre-thirteenth-century Turkish, Oxford: Clarendon Press, page 1