Akson Lao (Lao: ອັກສອນລາວ [ʔáksɔ̌ːn láːw]) is the primary script used to write the Lao language and other minority languages in Laos. Ultimately of Indic origin, the alphabet includes twenty-seven consonants (ພະຍັນຊະນະ [pʰāɲánsānā]), seven consonantal ligatures (ພະຍັນຊະນະປະສົມ [pʰāɲánsānā pá sǒm]), thirty-three vowels (ສະຫລະ [sálā]) (some based on combinations of symbols), and four tone marks (ວັນນະຍຸດ [ván nā ɲūt]). According to Article 89 in the 2003 Amended Constitution of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, the Lao alphabet, though originally used solely for transcribing the Lao language, is also used to write several minority languages. Some minority languages use separate writing systems; The Hmong have adopted the Roman Alphabet. An older version of the script was also used by the