Abstract
Pictogram languages that are based on a non-phonetic idea were the earliest symbols such as Cuneiform and Chinese in oracle-bone (Rogers, 20005). In the other words, pictogram languages have existed ever since the Egyptian hieroglyphs around 3000BC and Chinese Oracle-bone scripts from about 1400 to 1200 BC (Robinson, 1995). The two writing systems are composed of pictograms, and most parts of them are also based on non-phonetics. Users of hieroglyphs and Chinese Oracle-bone scripts had to learn the symbols which resembled the meanings and natural object they represented. This article suggests that non-phonetic pictogram languages are learnable with examples, like: Blissymbolics, Picture Communication Symbols, the Elephant’s Memory, and ASCII. The article also discusses how they could be analyzed and compared. My research has shown that Blissymbolics and Picture Communication Symbols are more popular with disabled patients, partially because they use a linear structure. I would like to compare these two with the Elephant’s Memory, which employs a non-linear structure that can result in several meanings. ASCII pictograms are far more flexible and can offer the more user feedback ideas.
Keywords
pictogram languages, Blissymbolics, Picture Communication Symblos (PCS), the Elephant’s Memory, ASCII
Citation
Lin, T., and Biggs, M. (2006) A preliminary study of learnable pictogram languages, in Friedman, K., Love, T., Côrte-Real, E. and Rust, C. (eds.), Wonderground - DRS International Conference 2006, 1-4 November, Lisbon, Portugal. https://dl.designresearchsociety.org/drs-conference-papers/drs2006/researchpapers/44
A preliminary study of learnable pictogram languages
Pictogram languages that are based on a non-phonetic idea were the earliest symbols such as Cuneiform and Chinese in oracle-bone (Rogers, 20005). In the other words, pictogram languages have existed ever since the Egyptian hieroglyphs around 3000BC and Chinese Oracle-bone scripts from about 1400 to 1200 BC (Robinson, 1995). The two writing systems are composed of pictograms, and most parts of them are also based on non-phonetics. Users of hieroglyphs and Chinese Oracle-bone scripts had to learn the symbols which resembled the meanings and natural object they represented. This article suggests that non-phonetic pictogram languages are learnable with examples, like: Blissymbolics, Picture Communication Symbols, the Elephant’s Memory, and ASCII. The article also discusses how they could be analyzed and compared. My research has shown that Blissymbolics and Picture Communication Symbols are more popular with disabled patients, partially because they use a linear structure. I would like to compare these two with the Elephant’s Memory, which employs a non-linear structure that can result in several meanings. ASCII pictograms are far more flexible and can offer the more user feedback ideas.