Code 40 : Blissymbolics

 

Origin

Blissymbolics were developed by Charles K. Bliss (1897-1985). Bliss originally called his invention "Semantography" and intended for it to be used as a universal written language which would enable speakers of different languages to communicate with one another.
Since 1971 Blissymbolics have been used mainly as a communication aid for people with communication, language and learning difficulties. Such people have limited or no ability to use ordinary spoken and/or written language but manage to learn Blissymbolics.

Notable features

• Blissymbolics consists of over 2,000 basic symbols which can be combined together to create a huge variety of new symbols.
• The symbols can be formed into sentences and their order is based on English word order
• The symbols are made up of simple shapes designed to be easy to write.
• Blissymbolics are used in over 33 countries.

A selection of Blissymbolics symbols

Links

Information about Blissymbolics
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blissymbols
http://blissym.com/
http://www.symbols.net/blissymbolics/
http://www.blissymbols.co.uk
Blissymbolics Communication International - a charitable organisation which promotes and supports the use of Blissymbolics: http://www.blissymbolics.org