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{{culture
|image=
|world=Roshar
|universe=[[Cosmere]]
|books=[[The Stormlight Archive]]
}}
{{for|Glyphs/Index|an index of all known glyphs}}
== History ==
The usage of glyphs may predate even the [[Heraldic Epochs]], as they can be found inscribed, along with other patterns, on the [[Honorblade]]s themselves.{{book ref|twok|part=prelude}} They came into common usage among humans during the [[Era of Solitude]]; and are said to have been given to the Rosharans by the [[Dawnsingers]].{{book ref|twok|33}} Glyphs seem to have a common origin with [[Thaylen script]], due to the presence of many similar graphemes. Though [[women's script]] became the primary writing system used in [[Vorin]] nations, glyphs are still used in many contexts.
Glyphs are inexplicably tied to the Heralds and [[Knights Radiant]]. The "ten fundamental glyphs" are derived from or related to the "swordglyphs" of the
== Usage ==
=== Practical and Economic Uses ===
Shops often use glyphs and glyphpairs to indicate which type of goods are available for sale. For example, bookstores may display the glyphpair for "book", stylized into the shape of a book so that even illiterate servants will recognize it as a bookstore.{{book ref|twok|8}} Signs may also be used to indicate specific items for sale as well as associated prices.{{book ref|wor|43}} Books, folios, and scrolls intended for men may use glyphs and glyphpairs, along with images. Textbooks use glyphpairs to designate body parts in anatomical diagrams{{book ref|twok|31}} while a guide on [[Shardblade]] stances may use glyphs to indicate specific movements.{{file ref|Scroll_of_Stances.jpeg|Ironstance Scroll}} These will often be accompanied with women's script for further clarification. While official documents may make use of glyphs, they are typically written with women's script.{{book ref|twok|25}}
Highborn lighteyed families often have a distinct glyph and a glyphpair. For example, the Kholin family uses the "khokh linil" glyphpair; stylized as a tower and a crown, this crest appears on the armor, clothing, and banners of Dalinar's army and servants.{{book ref|twok|18}} Maps of the [[Shattered Plains]] use these glyphs and glyphpairs to indicate ownership of camps and plateaus.{{book ref|twok|24}} Slaves are branded on the forehead with a glyphpair of the district in which they were enslaved, to signify their new caste. The addition of a "shash" glyph brand, marking a dangerous slave, can make it difficult to get a good price for the slave.{{book ref|twok|4}} Upon earning their freedom, slaves may opt to cover these brands with a tattoo, including glyphs that reference the record of their release.{{book ref|wor|2}}
=== Art and Religion ===
Glyphs are also pervasive in decorations and religious practices, where they tend to be portrayed in a very stylized manner. Greater value is placed on beauty and aesthetics than on making the symbol easily recognizable. Glyphs are occasionally used on clothing for decorative purposes. For example, [[Alethi]] women sometimes wear dresses patterned with glyphs.{{book ref|twok|43}} The doors into the [[Palanaeum]] are adorned with a beautiful carving of intricate glyphs.{{book ref|twok|7}} When the freed members of [[Bridge Four]] chose tattoos to cover their slave brands, they opted for a purely decorative "
Sometimes these decorative glyphs
=== Stormwarden Script ===
== Appearance and Design ==
{{image|Alethi Glyphs Page 1.jpg|The first half of a letter and in-depth discussion of Alethi glyphs.|side=right|width=150px}}
[[File: Alethi Glyphs Page 1.jpg|A letter and in-depth discussion of Alethi glyphs.|thumb|right|150px]]Glyphs can be seen written in three different ways: a standard, block form that highly resembles Thaylen script; a calligraphic form, in which the glyph may be altered significantly for heightened aesthetics; or a radial form, where the glyph is drawn repeatedly with radial symmetry about some point.{{17s ref|post|105525|Stormlight Archive Translation Guide|date=2014-3-6}} They typically have bilateral symmetry{{book ref|twok|8}}, matching the symmetrical pronunciation of the sounds they represent. In some cases, glyphs appear to be composed of distinct phonemes representing consonants.{{17s ref|post|105525|Stormlight Archive Translation Guide|date=2014-3-6}}. There are two styles of phonemes: standard and calligraphic. The standard set of phonemes are illustrated in a letter from [[Nazh]] concerning his investigation of the [[Calligraphers Guild]].{{file ref|Alethi Glyphs Page 1.jpg|Page of Alethi glyphs}} While these phonemes are used in the design of new glyphs, many liberties may be taken in how they are utilized. As glyphs evolve in usage over time, these phonemes are often distorted, combined, or lost such that they are no longer identifiable. The phonemes often bear resemblance to the characters of Thaylen Script. When phonemes are apparent, they appear to be pronounced outward and down from the center and top of the glyph.▼
{{image|Alethi Glyphs Page 2.jpg|The second page of a letter discussing Alethi Glyphs.|side=right|width=150px}}
▲
The component
=== Evolution ===
A glyph's appearance and design can change over time. Because glyphs are typically memorized rather than read, a particular glyph's original
<gallery>
It is slightly more common to find pairs of glyphs being displayed together than individual ones.{{file ref|Alethi Glyphs Page 1.jpg|Page of Alethi glyphs}} Such "glyphpairs" can symbolize a variety of entities and concepts.
*''khokh linil'' - [[House Kholin]]'s glyphpair, in the shape of a tower and crown for most of House Kholin,{{book ref|
*''merem khakh'' - [[Amaram]]'s glyphpair, drawn in the shape of a [[whitespine]]{{book ref|
*''sas morom'' - Slave brand, glyphpair of a highlord's district{{book ref|
*''sas nahn'' - Slave brand, possible glyphpair for Amaram's district{{book ref|
*''sebes laial'' - Highprince [[Sebarial]]'s glyphpair, in the shape of a deep gold [[skyeel]] on a black field.{{book ref|sa2|40}}
*''shesh lerel'' - [[Sheler]]'s glyphpair{{book ref|
*Tower & Hammer - Highprince [[Torol Sadeas]]'s glyphpair{{book ref|
== Numbers ==
{{for|Glyphs/Index#Numerals|a table of known numeral glyphs}}
Glyphs may also be used to represent numbers. A base ten number system with a semblance of positional notation is used.{{17s ref|topic|6487|Thaylen and Alethi Glyph Translation|date=2014-3-6}} Numerals are written with bilateral symmetry and may be stylized for artistic or aesthetic purposes. It is unclear whether these glyphs are used only in Vorin nations or throughout Roshar.
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Place value is read from top to bottom. Different glyphs are sometimes used to represent numbers depending on place value. For example, the symbol "2" in the number "20" is not the same symbol used in the number "2". In the example to the right using "1173", the light blue represents "3", the green represents "70", the red represents "100", and the dark blue represents "1000". Note that the blue "3" and red "1" differ from their basic configuration.
== Trivia ==
* Glyphs were inspired by Arabic word art.{{wob ref|6607}}
== Notes ==
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