Letters originated from nature

When you pick up your pen and write it down, you are not simply creating abstract drawings, but are sketching trees, mountains and horizons - what your ancestors have observed.

Research conducted by American scientists explored more than 100 writing systems in history. These systems include letters, symbols, common geometry and symbols based on patterns available in nature.

" Our research shows that there are hidden rules that make up the shape of these visual symbols, " the team at the California Institute of Technology said. It is evidence that humans have chosen image symbols corresponding to natural surroundings.

The researchers explain the shapes of the chosen writing to help people recognize it, even if it must be exchanged for effectiveness in writing. In other words, we use letters like now because they are easy to read, although not easy to write. This is in contrast to shorthand writing, when the form chosen for speed purposes is more effective when reading.

Dr. Mia Stephens at the University of South Australia, a language lecturer, said the group shortened writing languages ​​to a set of basic shapes, including T, L and X. " You can find out the similarity. copper in human writing systems, so you can lengthen, distort and disrupt each letter but they still have the same number of lines, basic strokes ".

However, Stephens also believes that the nature of written language will change in the future. " This study only looks at the past and the future of writing will be completely different because we already have the keyboard ."

MT