Charles Bliss - Biography

This is an attempt to present a complete biography of Charles Bliss. I am starting with his life in Shanghai and his subsequent development of his symbol writing which was originally called "World Writing", then "Semantography" and finally "Blissymbolics."

This biography is based on biographical passages in Charles' Semantography Series and his large publication "Semantography (Blissymbolics)". References are as follows:

• Semantography Series: are referenced with SS, followed by the series number and then the page number of that series. For example SS 203-1 refers to page one of Semantography Series 203.
• Semantography (Blissymbolics): are referenced with SB followed by the page number. For example SB 70 refers to page number 70 in the book. The page number references the pages in the third edition of Semantography (Blissymbolics). The page number is printed in bold in the original text.

Life in Shanghai

This is a summary of the important events that were occurring during Charles’ time in Shanghai. It is an attempt to show what was happening to him and Claire while Charles started to learn about Chinese writing, to think of the possibility of an universal symbol writing and then actually create it. It is the background in which Semantography was created. A background of struggle to get Claire to Shanghai, to create a business to earn enough money to survive, to cope with being herded into a ghetto, and finally to leave Shanghai for Australia as once again the political situation forced Charles and Claire to move.

1. Charles arrives in Shanghai.
2. Charles settles in Shanghai and works to get Claire across the USSR.
3. Reunited: Charles' greatest achievement
4. Marriage and name change from Blitz to Bliss
5. June 22nd, 1941
6. December 7th, 1941
7. Hongkew Ghetto
8. The end of the war
9. Farewell to Shanghai and on to Australia

Semantography (World Writing)

In retrospect it is easy to draw a straight line from Charles' early life experiences to his idea to create an international symbolic/idographic language. Being born in a community with a mulitude of races and the accompanying interracial hatred, working with language in patents and the law courts, and being the victim of violence inspired by propaganda, could all be considered as stepping stones to his idea.

But the idea never occured to him until he lived in Shanghai. Shanghai was the insperation and the crucible in which the first iteration of Semantography was created. To understand Semantography's origins we need to understand Shanghai.

Shanghai, China: Inspiration and creation

• The inspiration for Semantography

• Charles starts working on his World Writing (Semantography/Blissymbolics)

• The original audience for Semantography.

• First public lecture on the World Writing (Semantography).

• Continued development of World Writing (Semantography); Basic English

• Lectures, interviews and articles.

Special Note: The Influence of Chinese Script

There has been a lot of talk about Charles limited understanding of Chinese script and that Semantography was based on a misunderstanding. The influence of Chinese script attempts to shed some light on this subject.

Sydney, Australia: Further refinements, the creation of three books, rejection and disappointment.

1. Charles arrives in Sydney.
2. Charles sets to work writing his three large books.
3. Financial problems require changes
4. Disappointment