Autopatrolled, Editors
8,721
edits
Difference between revisions of "Glyphs"
m
image template
m (→Art and Religion: added artist. all of the other images on the page also are missing their artists) |
m (image template) |
||
|
== 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 honorblades and the the Knights Radiant orders.{{book ref|twok|8}}. These specific glyphs also appear on some [[Shardblade]]s, like [[Sunraiser]].{{book ref|twok|13}} Upon speaking new oaths or taking certain actions, similar glyphs may naturally appear around a Knight Radiant, formed out of frost or mist. When [[Shardplate]] was worn by Radiants before the [[Recreance]], it had glowing glyphs etched into the Plate that trailed vapor with color corresponding to the Radiant's order.{{book ref|twok|19}} These have since vanished for unknown reasons.{{book ref|twok|26}} Some of these glyphs were known in the Era of Solitude, and others were not.{{cite}}
=== 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}}
=== 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 "bridge four" glyphpair to be added.{{book ref|wor|2}} Even the [[Parshendi]] have been known to occasionally carve strange, unfamiliar glyphs into their daggers.{{book ref|twok|27}}{{book ref|twok|59}}
== Appearance and Design ==
{{image|Alethi Glyphs Page 1.jpg|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.▼
▲
The component phonemes are not always readily discernible. Glyphs are often drawn in complicated ways that make it difficult to identify what they are unless a person knows what they are looking for.{{book ref|twok|27}} Lines are often added, removed, or contorted. In order to draw glyphs, one must have a deep understanding of how the glyph may be expressed without overly obscuring the meaning.{{wob ref|6461}} Additionally, glyphs are often drawn as pictographs--visually depicting the word it represents. This is done so those who cannot read glyphs may still understand what they mean.{{book ref|twok|3}}
== 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.
|}
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.
| |||