The
Pollard script, also known as
Pollard Miao (Chinese: 柏格理苗文 Bó Gélǐ Miao-wen) or
Miao, is an
abugida loosely based on the Latin alphabet and invented by
Methodist missionary Sam Pollard. Pollard invented the script for use with
A-Hmao, one of several
Miao languages. The script underwent a series of revisions until 1936, when a translation of the
New Testament was published using it. The introduction of Christian materials in the script that Pollard invented caused a great impact among the
Miao. Part of the reason was that they had a legend about how their ancestors had possessed a script but lost it. According to the legend, the script would be brought back some day. When the script was introduced, many Miao came from far away to see and learn it.