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Writing systems:
abjads |
alphabets |
syllabic alphabets |
syllabaries |
semanto-phonetic scripts
undeciphered scripts |
alternative scripts |
your con-scripts |
A-Z index |
Direction index
Pseudoglyphs were created by Andrew Mendes in early 2004 to write his conlang, Umu Ðina. As the name suggests, it is actually a syllabary where words are assembled phonetically then morphed into distinct glyph-like forms. Glyphs can be sounded out phonetically, but given their complex nature, they must be memorized individually when learning to write. This gives the writing system a semanto-phonetic-like nature.
The pseudoglyphic script was inspired by several writing systems. The aesthetic is similar to Mayan or Egyptian hieroglyphs. Glyphs can often resemble human forms, actions, birds, fish, tools, supernaturals, abstract designs-which could be mistaken f or pictograms or ideograms.
Symbols are written in four different orientations to indicate different vowels. This feature is borrowed from the Ojibwe syllabary. Being limited to four symbols to represent Umu's numerous vowels means that symbols take on a plurality of sounds (example: [a] and [e] are written with the same symbol). This makes pronunciation ambiguous yet manageable. Liken this to non-written vowels in Semitic languages or to Chinese, were you must memorize both a glyph's meaning and pronunciation.
Umu Ðina, a fictional language under development. Umu is agglutinative in its morphology, VSO in its syntax, and influenced heavily by the Korean, Irish Gaelic, and Mongolian languages. Umu Ðina means 'language of the people'.
Many glyphs in Umu can be pronounced two different ways. This characteristic feature of Umu is called vowel harmony. The concept of vowel harmony is extremely straightforward. It simply means that a word can only contain either 'dark' vowels (a, o) or 'light vowels' (e, u), but not both at the same time. The vowels i and ö are considered neutral and can therefore occur in both dark and light voweled words. When they make up an entire word, it is considered to be light voweled.
Vowel harmony also affects some pairs of consonants. These pair of consonants are distinct in English, but merged in Umu. They are:
g and k; d and t; b and p; c and c; r and l
The former occur only in dark-voweled words and the latter only in light-voweled words.
Most dark words end with an [a] sound, most light words end with [u]. This helps to eliminate ambiguity when reading.
When pronunciation is ambiguous, a special symbol is used to indicate that light vowels are used. Writing the indicator is optional; it can be included at either the beginning or end of a word. Placement is a matter of style but conventions exist. The glyph for the word 'umu', for example, is always written with the indicator in front.
Gara dina gbona hbaža i dgiža nu mrađa inu jetu. Hue henes i nuvuk nai huslužu uđuji nu ileđ jel.
Gara dina göbona höbaža i dögiža nu mörađa inu jetu. Hue henesö i nuvukö nai husölužu uđuji nu ileđö jelö.
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with
reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
(Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)
Learn Pseudoglyphs
http://pseudoglyphs.wordpress.com/welcome/
If you have any questions about Pseudoglyphs, you can contact Andrew at:
andrewtmendes[at]gmail[dot]com>
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