Blissymbolics

Origin

Blissymbolics were developed by Charles K. Bliss (1897-1985). Bliss originally called his invention "Semantography" and intended for it to be used as a universal written language which would enable speakers of different languages to commuicate with one another.

Since 1971 Blissymbolics have been used mainly as a communication aid for people with communication, language and learning difficulties. Such people have limited or no ability to use ordinary spoken and/or written language but manage to learn Blissymbolics.

Notable features

Blissymbolics consists of over 2,000 basic symbols which can be combined together to create a huge variety of new symbols.
The symbols can be formed into sentences and their order is based on English word order
The symbols are made up of simple shapes designed to be easy to write.
Blissymbolics are used in over 33 countries.

A selection of Blissymbolics symbols

Basic Blissymbolics symbols

Blissymbolics - compound symbols and words

Links

Blissymbolics Communication International - a charitable organisation which promotes and supports the use of Blissymbolics: http://www.blissymbolics.org

Blissymbolics resources - includes an online dictionary and free fonts
http://www.symbols.net/blissre.htm

HANDICOM - includes software for writing in Bliss
http://www.handicom.nl/english/

Other alternative writing systems

Blissymbolics, Deseret, Graffiti, Interbet, Quikscript/Read Alphabet, Shavian, Shorthand, Solresol

Other International Auxiliary Languages

Blissymbolics, Esperanto, Folkspraak, Ido, Interglossa, Interlingua, Interlingue/Occidental, Lojban, Novial, Volapük