Semantography - Rules and Principles
Background
Charles understood that a symbol writing had to be organized according to a set of rules and principles. Without such organization it would be a "Babel" of symbols with no coherent system.
Using his engineering background he devised the following rules and principles that would govern Semantography.
Semantography: Rules and Principles
- Symbols must be simple.
- Meanings must be evident via a picture.
- Symbols are drawn between two lines, as in writing.
- Size of symbol affects meaning.
- Position of symbol, between the two lines, affects meaning.
- Symbols read left to right.
- Indicators, printed above the top line, will change the meaning of the symbol, The meaning will change depending on the indicator used.
- Lines used to draw symbols are to be easy to read. Those that draw pointers are thinner.
- Symbols are drawn in the ratio of 1 to 10. This means that if the thickness of a line is 1 mm then the overall size of the symbol must be 10 mm.
- Symbols must be able to be typed on a modified typewriter.
- Symbols must be composed out of a limited set of elementary signs.
- Symbols can be combined to create greater meanings.
- Creation of a multitude of unique symbols should be avoided.