Blissymbols
Meaning-based visual language
Blissymbols is a writing system that uses pictographic and ideographic symbols to represent concepts rather than sounds or words from any particular spoken language.
Developed in the mid-20th century by Charles Bliss, the system was intended as a universal written communication method but found its primary application in augmentative and alternative communication for people with speech or language disabilities.
Each symbol represents a meaning directly, allowing users who cannot speak to communicate across language barriers.
Symbol using visual likeness
- ideogramSymbol representing concept directly
- logogramSymbol representing entire word
- glyphVisual form of character
- hieroglyphicsSymbolic picture-based writing
icon · graphic · diagram · illustration · sign · figure · depiction · representation
Study of signs, symbols
- abstractionDistilling to essential qualities
- signifierMeaning-bearing form
- representationDepiction or likeness
- connotationImplied sense, not dictionary
denotation · encoding · decoding · referent · interpretation · meaning · convention
Covering all members
- disabilityImpairment affecting life activities
- accessibilityEase of approach
- barrier-freeWithout physical obstructions
- adaptiveAble to change accordingly
empowerment · independence · participation · equity · integration · cross-linguistic
Mid-twentieth century year
Sign revealing status
- morphologyStudy of structural forms
- syntaxRules for arranging words
- grammarLanguage's structural rules
- semanticsStudy of linguistic meaning
pictogram
Symbol using visual likeness
- ideogramSymbol representing concept directly
- logogramSymbol representing entire word
- glyphVisual form of character
hieroglyphics · icon · graphic · diagram · illustration · sign · figure · depiction · representation · image
semiotics
Study of signs, symbols
- abstractionDistilling to essential qualities
- signifierMeaning-bearing form
- representationDepiction or likeness
connotation · denotation · encoding · decoding · referent · interpretation · meaning · convention
inclusive
Covering all members
- disabilityImpairment affecting life activities
- accessibilityEase of approach
- barrier-freeWithout physical obstructions
adaptive · empowerment · independence · participation · equity · integration · cross-linguistic
nonspeaking
Not using oral language
- aphasiaNeurological language impairment
1949
Mid-twentieth century year
indicator
Sign revealing status
- morphologyStudy of structural forms
- syntaxRules for arranging words
- grammarLanguage's structural rules
- communication systemsalphabet, sign language, Braille, Morse code, hieroglyphics
- communication aidsAAC, talker, talkers, voice output, text to speech
- Constructed Languagesconlang, Esperanto, artificial language, auxiliary language, language creation
- Constructed ScriptsKlingon, conscript
- Logogramslogograms, logogram, logograph, logographs, ideograph
- note-takingnotes, jot, notation, write down, note down
Blissymbolsphonetic alphabet
Letter-to-word correspondence system
Latin alphabet · IPA · Roman letters · Greek alphabet · Hangul
Blissymbolsspoken language
Audible verbal communication system
speech · oral communication · verbal communication · vocalization · sign language