Arabic Calligraphy: Learn Kufic Script

Overview

“There are no vowels in Arabic writing. The vowel sounds are indicated using small marks known as harakât (vocalisation) above or below the letters. In calligraphy, they are always added after the text, sometimes by a different person, because they require a smaller pen. In Manuscript Kufic, the system is much simpler than in later styles, and these marks are red dots. I will explain how to plan for them and demonstrate adding them to my page in red paint.”

In this video lesson Joumana Medlej addresses the topic: Vocalisation Marks (Red Dots), which is part of the Domestika online course: Arabic Calligraphy: Learn Kufic Script. Explore the ancient Arabic script style of Kufic by learning to write a short text using traditional artistic practices.

Partial transcription of the video

“Vocalisation Marks (Red Dots) In the Arabic letters, there are no vowels. The vowel sounds are indicated after writing the text with special marks called vocalisation marks or diacritics. In Arabic they're called harakat, and these diacritics took on several different forms along history before they became finalized as what we use today, and in this script, if you see this text, you see all these red dots, which are the vowel marks, so it's a simple system because it's only red dots and it's their positioning that determines what the sound is. Above the line it's "A". On the line it's "U". ...”

This transcript is automatically generated, so it may contain mistakes.

Course summary for: Arabic Calligraphy: Learn Kufic Script

• Level: Beginner
• 99% positive reviews (109)
• 3848 students
• 5 units
• 17 lessons (2h 24m)
• 9 downloads

• Category

  Calligraphy & Typography

• Areas

  Calligraphy