logography
Writing with symbols
Logography is a writing system where symbols represent whole words or concepts rather than sounds.
Chinese characters are logographic—each character stands for a meaning, not a pronunciation.
The term also applies to older systems like Egyptian hieroglyphs.
In a different sense, logography was a method of printing with whole-word type pieces rather than individual letters.
Symbol using visual likeness
- ideogramSymbol representing concept directly
- glyphVisual form of character
- semioticsStudy of signs, symbols
- signifierMeaning-bearing form
representation · icon · emblem · pictograph · rebus · determinative · semantic · morpheme
Tapering to an edge
- stylusPointed implement for marking
- clay tabletInscribed earthen slab
- SumerianEarliest known civilization
- AkkadianAncient Semitic Mesopotamian language
Babylonian · Assyrian · Mesopotamia · scribal · decipherment · Gilgamesh · proto-writing · syllabary
Symbols representing language
- orthographyStandard writing conventions
- graphemeMinimal written symbol unit
- inscriptionText permanently marked
- typographyArranging letters for display
manuscript · chirography · lettering · scriptorium · epigraphy · engraving · codex · transcription
Of that Asian nation
- charactersPersons in a narrative
- radicalsAdvocates for fundamental change
- strokesGentle touches, swimming styles
- MandarinHigh-ranking government official
Cantonese · simplified · traditional · pinyin · kanji
Abbreviated writing system
- stenographyCompressed symbolic writing system
- GreggA shorthand writing system
- speedwritingFast abbreviated writing method
- stenographerPerson recording spoken words
court reporting · stenotype · phonography · dictation · transcription · notational
Relating to the pharaohs' land
- cartoucheOval framing royal hieroglyphs
- papyrusAncient plant-derived writing material
- Rosetta StoneDecree in three scripts
- demoticOf common folk
hieratic · pharaoh · scribe · determinative · ankh · Book of the Dead · Coptic
pictogram
Symbol using visual likeness
- ideogramSymbol representing concept directly
- glyphVisual form of character
- semioticsStudy of signs, symbols
signifier · representation · icon · emblem · pictograph · rebus · determinative · semantic · morpheme · lexical
wedge-shaped
Tapering to an edge
- stylusPointed implement for marking
- clay tabletInscribed earthen slab
- SumerianEarliest known civilization
Akkadian · Babylonian · Assyrian · Mesopotamia · scribal · decipherment · Gilgamesh · proto-writing · syllabary · Hittite
writing system
Symbols representing language
- orthographyStandard writing conventions
- graphemeMinimal written symbol unit
- inscriptionText permanently marked
typography · manuscript · chirography · lettering · scriptorium · epigraphy · engraving · codex · transcription
Chinese
Of that Asian nation
- charactersPersons in a narrative
- radicalsAdvocates for fundamental change
- strokesGentle touches, swimming styles
Mandarin · Cantonese · simplified · traditional · pinyin · kanji
shorthand
Abbreviated writing system
- stenographyCompressed symbolic writing system
- GreggA shorthand writing system
- speedwritingFast abbreviated writing method
stenographer · court reporting · stenotype · phonography · dictation · transcription · notational
Egyptian
Relating to the pharaohs' land
- cartoucheOval framing royal hieroglyphs
- papyrusAncient plant-derived writing material
- Rosetta StoneDecree in three scripts
demotic · hieratic · pharaoh · scribe · determinative · ankh · Book of the Dead · Coptic
logographyalphabet
Language's letter system
phonography · syllabary · Latin alphabet · Greek alphabet · Cyrillic alphabet