Filigramas

Filigraphs is an alternative constructed script for Spanish created by Pablo Marinero. It is an attempt to develop a syllabic script capable of representing the relatively complex syllable structure of Spanish in an elegant and aesthetically pleasing way.

Although neither the aesthetics nor the element shapes are based on any other writing systems in particular, they might show resemblance to Tengwar or the Nekāchti script.

Notable features

Type of writing system: featural syllabary
Direction of writing: left to right in horizontal lines
Used to write: Spanish
Filigramas uses Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3), the same way as the Latin alphabet

Filigramas

Notes

The basic graphemic unit used is called an element. Elements are placed at different heights within a syllable depending on which value they represent. From top to bottom: palatalization or labialization, point of articulation, stress, manner of articulation, vowel (nucleus), and coda or diphthongalized vowel.
Filigramas relies on ligatures to link different elements together within a single syllable character, which results in a characteristically curled calligrahy full of curves, a few dots and a lack of corners.
Ligatures also enable Filigramas to use just one or two strokes for a whole syllable, allowing a curled and flowing handwriting.
Two particular elements – the "a" vowel and the nasal manner of articulation – are inherent and thus unmarked.
The stress element appears in stressed syllables, placed between the point and manner of articulation, which are attached to its tips. If the syllable happens to be unstressed, the stress axis will be absent and the two former elements will get linked together.
Vowels are often connected to the main character by means of ligatures. Depending on which manner of articulation element they are linked to, those ligatures can vary.

Sample text in Filigramas

Transliteration

Todos los seres humanos nacen libres e iguales en dignidad y derechos y, dotados como están de razón y conciencia, deben comportarse fraternalmente los unos con los otros.

Translation

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
(Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)

[top]

Why not share this page:

Talk in Arabic - Learn Egyptian, Iraqi, Levantine, Sundanese, Moroccan, Algerian or Saudi Arabic

If you like this site and find it useful, you can support it by making a donation via PayPal or Patreon, or by contributing in other ways. Omniglot is how I make my living.

Note: all links on this site to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.fr are affiliate links. This means I earn a commission if you click on any of them and buy something. So by clicking on these links you can help to support this site.

Get a 30-day Free Trial of Amazon Prime (UK)

If you're looking for home or car insurance in the UK, why not try Policy Expert?

[top]