Ukaliq

The Ukaliq alphabet was created by Henrik Theiling, initially for a new constructed language, but then it became a universal alphabet also meant to be usable for any human language. The idea is to retrofit nice symbols to the shapes representable on a 7-segment display. It is an exercise in restriction to simple, pre-defined patterns, and an exploration of the potential of a script's expressiveness and elegancy within these restrictions.

Notable Features

Type of writing system: alphabetic
Direction of writing: left to right in horizontal lines
Used to write: any human language, natural or constructed
Number of letters: 77 (60 consonants, 17 vowels)
Groups of letters are often marked by feature, e.g. point of articulation
Contains punctuation marks, and digits, even for hexadecimal notation
Representable without restriction on 7-segment displays
Inherently monospaced: 7-segment displays do not grow or shrink
Complete, closed, inextensible: there cannot be more symbols than the 128 symbols

Ukaliq

Ukaliq consonants

Sample text (in Inuktitut)

Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Inuktitut in the Utaliq alphabet

Transliteration

Inuluktaat inuulisaannguqput nangminiirungnasimaqaqɬutik ajjigiingmiglu ilitarijaujjutsiaqaqɬutiglu pijungnautitauqaqɬutik. Isumaksaqsiurungnatsiarnirmik inuutsiarutigijarlu piliqtungauttut, asianngurnullu iliurnirviqatigiittaruksariaqaraluaqput qatanngutigiiqqatigiittut anirniqsaarni.
(Titiqqaqsimajuq 1 Kitutuinnat pijungnautit silarjuarmiuqatigiinnut nalunaiqsiutit)

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)

More information about Ukaliq
http://www.theiling.de/ukaliq/

[top]

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.

You can support this site by Buying Me A Coffee, via PayPal or Patreon, or by contributing in other ways.

If you find all the adverts annoying, there is now an Ad-free version of Omniglot which you can access for a small monthly or annual donation.

This website and its content is copyright of Simon Ager - © Simon Ager 1998-2026. All rights reserved. All images were created by me, unless otherwise indicated. Feel free to use them for personal, educational or non-commercial purposes, and don't forget to mention where they came from. More details about copyright

[top]