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The symbols used here were originally created by Charles Kaisel Bliss.
Charles Bliss also invented all the combinatorial logic used here to derive complex
meanings from this small set of simple meanings. I claim no
credit for those ideas. What I have done is adapt Bliss's
original language to the need for very easy fast typing. Semantic Alphabet is a pictographic language
that can be typed as easy as ordinary text.
The symbols follow each other in a line like ordinary text removing
the need for complex software or difficult typing techniques. To protect the well-being
and consistency of Bliss's language, Blissymbolics, Semantic Alphabet should be considered a different language
with some different ways of deriving meaning from the combination of basic symbols.
The primary difference is the placing of the indicators (noun, verb, plural, etc) at the
end of each symbol rather than on top. Symbols combine only horizontally, allowing the
use of a small ordinary font which does not require the assistance of special
software.
The Semantic Alphabet Symbols are in blue.
Type the letters in white to get the symbol.
rt
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rt
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An arrow pointing away from a line means to start or to depart. This symbol is easily
typed with the Semant37 font by typing
"rt".
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tr
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tr
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If you reverse those letters, typing
"tr"you get a symbol meaning
to arrive or stop.
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If you choose to pursue learning this language, you will find that typing can become even
faster than typing english because the "words" require about half the keystrokes!
Ofcourse this speed will develop only as you memorize the keys and practice.
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41
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41
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This symbol means literally "open feeling". It is a "feeling"
because the symbol (heart) for feeling is first. The first "symbol part" in a compound
symbol is always the "primary" meaning of the compound symbol. This also means freedom.
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14
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14
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By placing the symbol for opening first, the meaning shifts
a little to emotional opening. The meaning is very close to the idea of freedom
but is flavored by the idea of opportunity.
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z
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z
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This is the action symbol. Visualize this as a little volcano, a basic and ancient action of the earth.
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14z
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14z
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We create verbs by placing the little volcano at the end of a
symbol. This symbol means "to open emotionally"or "to set free".
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,
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,
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This little box is the noun indicator.
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4,
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4,
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So this means "heart", the physical thing.
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1,
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1,
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This is a noun and means "physical opening".
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m
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m
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This symbol is the "plural indicator". Visualize this as "2 sticks together".
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Now let me introduce you to a useful little trick for providing more specific information
in pictographic writing. A simple pointer:
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fo
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fo
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This little pointer means "this".
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of
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of
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And this one means "that". Visualize both of these as the pointer
a teacher uses during a lecture. In Semantic Alphabet we use these in compound symbols when we
need to identify a specific part of a symbol-object, for example:
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S
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S
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This symbol means "room". If we use this symbol with the pointer we can identify specific parts of a room:
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The number of specific symbol-words you can create with this technique is literally astronomical.
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