Contextual Analysis of Khat-E-Nastaleeq

Contextual Analysis
Of
Khat-e-Nastaleeq
By
Mohsin Hijazee
Center of Excellence for Urdu

Informatics
1
Abstract
This document presents the contextual analysis for Nastaleeq. In its first
version, our purpose is to identify all the possible shapes that form the Nastaleeq
script. Furthermore, the concentration of the effort is more on typography then
calligraphy. We avoid the calligraphic alternates and try to use an existing shape with
a little modification possible. I have tried to list almost all the initial, medial and
terminal shapes that form the Nastaleeq Script. The over all style of the Khat is
Dehelvi Nastaleeq. The Lahori style of Nastaleeq will be later on analyzed and
simplified for computing purposes. The primary objective of the current analysis is to
prepare a standard OTF based font for Urdu computing that will stand as a standard in
Pakistan for Nastaleeq. The analysis regarding the initials that join with the terminals
to form two letter words is complete. For the initial shapes that will go with the
medial, we will be using the same shapes and will not introduce any variations as the
Nastaleeq sometimes do. In this version of document, we omit some extreme cases of
medial shapes for example middle shapes having thick or thin ends on both sides. In
some later version, they may appear.
Extreme case for initial shapes is 8 shapes and best case is 6. Similar is the
case with the medial shapes. For terminals, most of the time we have only a single
shape but sometimes we have two shapes depending upon the context.
During the analysis phase, some patterns were observed. Some groups of
characters behave in very similar ways. For example, the initial or medial forms that
fit with a terminal form are mostly dependent on their terminal form and there are
certain groups of terminal forms that force the initial or medial characters to take
certain style. Though there are exceptions to it, but most of the time these groups are
very visible and observable. The exceptions are in most cases are of the kind that the
rule under consideration does not hold for whole group rather only to a subset of it. In
this version of document, we only record those groups that are very visible and appear
the most. The variations may be eliminated with further deep analysis. And if not
eliminated, can be minimized to result more harmony.
During the analysis phase, following groups were observed
• Thicker. This group forces the initial or medial shapes following them to
have a thicken ending. These are Alif, Kaaf, Laam and Daal. But there are few
exceptions. Kaaf takes different shape in case of Laam. Kaaf and Laam take
different shapes in case of Alif. This variations and others are listed in detail in
the rest of the document
• Thinners. This group forces there medial and initial shapes to be a little
thin. This group consists of Bay, Seen, Suad, Toay, Ain, Fay, Qaaf, Noon and
Wao
• Thinners Above. This group forces the medial and initials to be thin and
has a join from upper side of the characters. This group consists of Hhy,
Meem, dHay and Choti Yeh.
• Ray Waved. Takes a different form. Its second shape of Ray. Please see
the relevant section for details.
• Barri Yeh. Contains initials and medial shapes that join with Barri Yeh
2
• Goal Hay. Forces the shapes to be more thick and more weaved.
Currently, we do not mention these groups explicitly. Neither have we touched the
exceptional cases. These will be handled in the next version of the document. The
work presented here is by no means final as I am continuously mentioning next
versions of this document because I intend to make Nastaleeq Script more compact
and simple.
Working on Nastaleeq Script was my fantasy. For the first time when I faced this
task, it was almost impossible for me to do that. I am thankful to Allah Almighty who
guided me through intuition about the hidden patterns lying there waiting for me to
explore them.
I am obliged by the encouragement from Dr. Atash Durrani. His layman approach
always almost works. Perhaps some sort of magic is on work there… So I took that
approach to solve some the most complex problems. And the layman comes out of the
court weaving his hands due to the winning excitement.
I am thankful to Mr. Taariq Hameed for putting me on right place and guiding me
through know and unknown ways.
The person who leads me through the bright and clean corridors of a private
hospital up to a cafeteria can not be thanked… Because he is going to do it again and
again for me, it’s Mr. Akbar Sajjad. I thank him for the nice and kind support and for
the care of many other matters that I can not deal directly.
Mohsin Hijazee
23th September 2005
3
Initial Shapes
These are the initials of Bay

• Shape one goes with middle and terminals of Alif, Daal, Kaaf, Laam (The
only exception if Kaaf/Gaff is followed by Alif/Laam, in that case shape six is
used)
• Shape two goes with middles and terminals of Bay and Noon (Actually, it’s a
shape on Noon that is fitted onto Bay) (Exception1: if Bay/ Noon is followed
by Ray then shape 1. Exception2: if Bay/Noon is followed by Bay/ Noon or
Seen then Shape 1. The middle of Bay/ Noon or Seen also affected. The tooth
shape is used there.)
• Shape three goes with all middles and terminals Hhy
• Shape four goes with all terminals and middles of Meem and dHay and
additionally with middles of Hay (Actually, it’s a shape of dHay that is fitted
onto Meem)
• Shape five goes with Terminal of Ray
• Shape Six goes with middles and terminals of Seen, Suad, Toay, Ain, Fay and
Qaaf. This shape is also used if Bay is followed by middles of Kaaf/Gaff
having Alif /Laam at its end. It’s a modification of the shape that fits with
Wao. Its is made a little thick to fit. Wao Shape is also borrowed from the
shape of Barri Yeh where it is little contracted. Please see the details of next
Shape for details
• Shape Seven is the shape of Barri Yeh that goes with Wao and Barri Yeh. It’s
actually shape of Barri Yeh which is a little contracted to fit on both Wao and
Barri Yeh. Moreover, after contraction, the terminal join of this shape is made
a little thick to fit the seen family as is decried in the sixth Shape.
• Shape Eight is the shape of Bay that goes with Goal Hay
• Shape Nine is the shape of Bay that goes with Choti Yeh
The same analysis is true for Choti Yeh, Barri Yeh and Noon.
4
These are the initials of Hhy
• Shape one goes with middles and terminals of Alif, Daal, Kaaf and Laam
(Exception1: if Kaaf is followed by Alif/Laam then shape four is used.)
• Shape two goes with all middles and terminals of Hhy, Meem and dHay,
terminal of Choti Yeh and middles of Hay
• Shape three goes with terminals of Ray
• Shape four goes with all middles and terminals of Bay, Seen, Suad, Toay, Ain,
Fay, Qaaf, Noon and Wao. (In fact, the original shape that comes with this
family is a little short length and collides with many characters. Worst case is
the Fay where it collides the most. To avoid this, this shape of Hhy is made a
little lengthy and then is fitted on all the other members of this Shape)
(Exception1: if Bay* is followed by Ray then shape 1. Exception2: if Bay* is
followed by Bay* or Seen then Shape 1. The middle of Bay/ Noon or Seen
also affected. The tooth shape is used there.)
•
• Shape five is the shape that goes with Terminal of Barri Yeh
• Shape Six is the shape that goes with terminal of Goal Hay.
These are the shapes of Seen

• Shape one goes with middle and terminals of Alif, Daal, Kaaf and Laam
(Exception1: if Kaaf is followed by Alif/Laam then shape 4 is used)
• Shape two goes with middles and terminals of Hhy, Meem, Choti Yeh and
dHay and middles of Hay.
• Shape three goes with waved terminal of Ray
• Shape four goes with middle and terminals of Bay, Suad, Toay, Ain, Fay,
Qaaf, Noon and Wao (Noon has a different shape but that is resolved with this
one.) (Exception1: if Bay* is followed by Bay/Seen/Noon then shape 1 is used
and middle turns into tooth.Exception2: if Bay* is followed by Ray then
shape1 is used.)
• Shape five is the shape that goes with terminal of Barri Yeh
• Shape Six goes with terminal of Goal Hay
• Shape Seven goes with middle and terminals of Seen
5
These are the shapes of Suad
(Exception1: if Kaaf/Gaff is followed by Alif/Laam then shape four is used.)
• Shape two goes with middles and terminals of Hhy, Meem, Choti Yeh dHay
and middles of Hay.
• Shape three is for terminal Ray
• Shape four is for Bay, Seen, Suad, Toay, Ain, Fay, Qaaf, Noon and Wao.
followed by Bay* or Seen then Shape 1. In case of exception 2 the middle of
Bay/ Noon or Seen also affected. The tooth shape is used there.)
•
• Shape five is for terminal of Barri Yeh
• Shape Six is for terminal of Goal Hay
These are the shapes of Toay

and with middles of Hay.
• Shape three is for Terminal Ray
• Shape four is for middles and terminals of Bay, Seen, Suad, Toay, Ain, Fay,
Qaaf, Noon and Wao. (Exception1: if Bay* is followed by Ray then shape 1.
Exception2: if Bay* is followed by Seen then Shape 1. In case of exception 2
the middle of Bay/ Noon or Seen also affected. The tooth shape is used there.)
•
These are the shapes of Ain
6
• Shape one goes with middles and terminals of Alif, Daal, Kaaf and Laam.
and middles of Hay.
• Shape three is for terminal of Ray
Qaaf, Noon and Wao.
followed by Bay* or Seen then Shape 1. In case of exception 2 the middle of
Bay/ Noon or Seen also affected. The tooth shape is used there.)
These are the shapes of Fay

• Shape one goes with middles and terminals of Alif, Daal, Kaaf and Laam.
and middles of Hay.
• Shape three is terminal for Ray
Qaaf, Noon and Wao.
followed by Seen then Shape 1. In case of exception 2 the middle of Bay/
Noon or Seen also affected. The tooth shape is used there.)
• A new shape of Gaff to be added that goes with Choti Yeh to achieve a linear
look.
This formation is valid for Qaaf as well.
These are the shapes of Kaaf

• Shape one goes with middle and terminal of Alif and Laam
• Shape two goes with middle and terminals of Daal, Kaaf
7
• Shape three goes with middles and terminals of Hhy, Meem, Choti Yeh dHay
and with middles of Hay.
• Shape four is for terminal of Ray
• Shape Five is for middle and terminal of Bay, Seen, Suad, Toay, Ain, Fay,
Qaaf, Noon and Wao.
• Shape Six is for terminal Barri Yeh
• Shape Seven is for terminal Goal Hay
• A new shape to be added that goes with Choti Yeh to achieve a linear look.
These are the shapes of Gaaf

• Shape one goes with middles and endings of Alif and Laam
• Shape two goes with middles and endings of Daal, Kaaf
• Shape three goes with middles and terminals of Hhy, Meem, Choti Yeh dHay
and middles of Hay.
• Shape four is for terminal Ray
• Shape Five is for middles and terminals of Bay, Seen, Suad, Toay, Ain, Fay,
Qaaf, Noon and Wao.
• Shape Six is for terminal Barri Yeh
• Shape Seven is for terminal Goal Hay
• A new shape of Gaff to be added that goes with Choti Yeh to achieve a linear
look.
These are the shapes of Laam
8
• Shape one goes with terminal Alif
• Shape two goes with middle and terminals of Daal, Kaaf, and Laam
• Shape three goes with middles and terminals of Hhy, Meem, Choti Yeh and
dHay(It’s a shape of Choti Yeh, Meem and dHay which whose terminal joint
is made a little thin so that it can be fitted on Hhy) Also same shape is used
with the middle of Hay.
• Shape four goes terminal form of Ray
• Shape five goes with middles and terminals of Bay, Seen, Suad, Toay, Ain,
Fay, Qaaf, Noon and Wao.
•
• Shape Six goes with terminal Barri Yeh
• Shape Six goes with Endings of Goal Hay.
• A new shape of Laam to be added that goes with Choti Yeh to achieve a linear
look.
These are the shapes of Meem

• Shape one goes with middles and terminals of Alif, Daal, Kaaf, Laam
dHay and with middles of Hay.
• Shape three goes with terminal of Ray
• Shape four goes with middles and terminals of Bay, Seen, Suad, Ain, Toay,
Fay, Qaaf, Noon and Wao (It is recommend that the shape of Meem that
comes with Wao in Noori Nastaleeq should be used here. In the sample above,
its that shape).
• Shape five is the shape that goes with terminal of Barri Yeh
• Shape Six is the shape that goes with terminal of Goal Hay
9
These are the shapes of dHay
• Shape one goes with middle and terminals of Alif, Daal, Kaaf and Laam
dHay and with the middles of Hay.
• Shape there goes with terminal of Ray
• Shape Four goes with middles and terminals of Bay, Seen, Suad, Toay, Ain,
Fay, Qaaf, Noon and Wao (Qaaf and Wao has a different shape but that is
resolved with the on that fits with Bay).
• Shape Five fits with terminal of Barri Yeh
• Shape Six goes with Ending of Goal Hay
Medial Shapes
These are all of the middle shapes

• Shape one is the shape of bay that goes with middles and terminals of Alif,
Daal, Kaaf and Laam
• Shape two is the shape of bay that comes with middles and terminals of Hhy,
Meem, Choti Yey and dHay and with middles of Hay.
• Shape three is the shape of bay that comes with terminal Ray
• Shape four is that comes with middles and terminals of Bay, Seen, Suad,
Toay, Ain, Fay, Qaaf Noon and Wao.
10
(Exception1: Seen/Noon comes after this shape, this turns into shape five.
Exception2: if this shape has Seen before it, regardless of what follows it, it
takes shape 5)
• Shape five is the shape that always comes with ending Seen and Noon. This
also comes if bay has ending of Bay Fay, Ain, Qaaf Noon and Wao but has a
starting of seen. Please see the definition of shape four.
• Shape six is the shape that comes with Endings of Barri Yey
• Shape Seven is the shape that comes with the endings of Goal Hay
Above mentioned analysis is valid for Noon, Choti Ye and Barri Yeh.
These are the middle shapes of Hhy

• Shape one is the shape of Hhy that comes with middles and endings of Alif,
Daal, Kaaf and Laam
• Shape two is the shape of Hhy that comes with middles and terminals of Hhy,
Meem, Choti Yeh and dHay and with the middles of Hay.
• Shape three is the shape of Hhy that comes with ending Ray
• Shape four is the shape of Hhy that comes with middles and terminals of Bay,
Seen, Suad, Toay, Ain, Fay, Qaaf and Noon and Wao.
takes shape 5)
• Shape Five is the one that comes with terminal of Barri Yeh
• Shape Six is the one that comes with Endings of Goal Hah
These are the forms of Seen

• Shape one is the shape that comes with middles and terminals of Alif, Daal,
Kaaf and Laam
• Shape Two is that comes with middles and terminals of Hhy, Meem, Choti
Yeh and dHay and middles of Hay.
• Shape three comes with ending of Ray
• Shape Four comes with middles and terminals of Bay, Suad, Toay Ain, Fay,
Qaaf, Noon and Wao (Three is a separate and special form for Noon but that is
resolved with this one.)
11
takes shape 5 Exception3: if is followed by Seen, shape five is used)
• Shape five comes with middle and terminal of Seen
• Shape Six comes with terminal of Barri Yeh
• Shape Six comes with Endings of Goal Hay
These are the forms of Suad

• Shape one is the shape that comes with middles and terminals of Alif, Daal,
Kaaf and Laam
• Shape Two is that comes with middles and terminals of Hhy, Meem, Choti
Yeh and dHay and with middles of Hay.
• Shape three comes with terminal of Ray
• Shape Four comes with middles and terminals of Bay, Suad, Toay Ain, Fay,
Qaaf, Noon and Wao.
takes shape 5)
• Shape five comes with terminals of Barri Yeh
• Shape Six comes with Endings of Goal Hay
These are the forms of Toay

• Shape one comes with middles and terminals of Alif, Daal, Kaaf and Laam
• Shape two comes with middles and terminals of Hhy, Meem, Choti Yeh and
dHay middles of Hay.
• Shape three comes with terminal of Ray
• Shape four comes with middles and terminals of Bay, Seen, Suad, Toay, Ain,
takes shape 5)
• Shape Five comes with terminal Barri Yeh
• Shape six comes with endings of Goal Hay.
12
These are the forms of Ain
dHay and with middles of Hay.
• Shape three goes with terminal Ray
• Shape Four goes with Bay, Seen, Suad, Toay, Ain, Fay, Qaaf, Noon and Wao.
takes shape 5)
• Shape Five goes with terminal of Barri Yeh
• Shape Six goes with Endings of Goal Hay
These are the shapes of Fay

dHay and with terminals of Hay.
• Shape three goes with terminal of Ray
• Shape four goes with middles and terminals of Bay, Seen, Suad, Toay, Ain,
takes shape 5)
• Shape five goes with terminal of Barri Yeh
Same is true for middles of Qaaf.
13
These are the shapes of Kaaf
• Shape one goes with middles and terminals of Alif and Laam
• Shape two goes with middles and terminals of Kaaf and Daal
dHay (The given shape is actually of Hhy and the other three shapes are little
different. But the shape shown above will be adjusted to fit with rest of the
three terminals) and with middles of Hay.
• Shape four goes with terminal of Ray
• Shape five goes with middles and terminals of Bay, Seen, Suad, Toay, Ain
takes shape 5)
• Shape Six goes with terminal of Barri Yeh
• Shape Seven goes with terminal of Goal Hay.
These are the shapes of Gaaf

• Shape one goes with middles and terminals of Alif and Laam
• Shape two goes with middles and terminals of Kaaf and Daal
three terminals)
Shape four goes with terminal of Ray
• Shape five goes with middles and terminals of Bay, Seen, Suad, Toay, Ain
takes shape 5)
• Shape Six goes with terminal of Barri Yeh
• Shape Seven goes with terminal of Goal Hay.
14
These are the shapes of Laam
• Shape one goes with terminal of Alif
• Shape two goes with middles and terminals of Daal, Kaaf and Laam
three terminals) and with the middles of Hay.
• Shape four goes with Ray
• Shape five goes with Bay, Seen, Suad, Toay, Ain, Fay, Qaaf, Noon and Wao
• Shape six goes with Barri yeh
• Shape Seven goes with Endings of Goal Hay
These are the shapes of Meem

• Shape one goes with Alif, Daal, Kaaf and Laam
• Shape two goes with Hhy, Meem, Choti Yeh and dHay
• Shape three goes with Ray
• Shape four goes with Bay, Seen, Suad, Toay, Ain, Fay, Qaaf, Noon and Wao
• Shape five goes with Barri Yeh
• Shape six goes with Goal Hay
These are the shapes of Goal Hay
15
• Shape one goes with Alif, Kaaf, Daal and Laam
• Shape two goes with Hhy, Meem , Choti Yeh and dHay
• Shape four goes with Bay, Seen, Suad, Toay, Ain, Fay, Qaaf, Noon and Wao.
(There was another variant of the shape that comes with Ain, Wao, Noon and
others but it has more height and hence was neglected. Rather, the form that
Seen and Bay pick is used because it’s more linear.)
These are the shapes of dHay

• Shape one goes with Alif, Daal, Laam and Kaaf
• Shape two goes with Hhy, Meem, Choti Yey and dHay
• Shape for goes with Bay, Seen, Suad, Toay, Ain, Fay, Qaaf, Noon and Wao
(There was a different shape for Wao but that is resolved with the one that
comes with Bay)
• Shape five goes with Barri Yeh
Terminal Shapes
Usually there is a single terminal shape of a character but there are exceptions to this
rule. For example, Bay, Ray and Choti Yeh take two ending shapes depending on the
character preceding it.
Here all the characters those have only a single terminal shape.
16
Following are all the characters that have two shapes.
• The first shape of Ray goes with Bay, Noon, Hhy, Choti Yeh and Barri Yeh.
Second shape of Ray goes with everything else.
• First shape of Bay goes with Bay, Noon, Choti and Barri Yeh, Kaaf and Laam.
Second goes with everything else.
• Second shape of Choti Yeh goes with Bay, Noon, Choti and Barri Yeh. The
first shape is for all others
17

Contextual Analysis of Khat-E-Nastaleeq

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Contextual Analysis of Khat-E-Nastaleeq

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Contextual Analysis

Center of Excellence for Urdu

During the analysis phase, following groups were observed

These are the initials of Bay

These are the shapes of Seen

These are the shapes of Toay

These are the shapes of Ain

These are the shapes of Fay

This formation is valid for Qaaf as well.

These are the shapes of Kaaf

These are the shapes of Gaaf

These are the shapes of Laam

These are the shapes of Meem

These are all of the middle shapes

These are the middle shapes of Hhy

These are the forms of Seen

These are the forms of Suad

These are the forms of Toay

These are the shapes of Fay

These are the shapes of Gaaf

These are the shapes of Meem

These are the shapes of Goal Hay

These are the shapes of dHay

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