Yomoal

Yomoal [joˈmo:al] is a script based on rivers that was devised by Anthony Hilton to write his invented language Чlalmwae [ʈlalˈmwa:e], with suggestions and help from Gordon Lewis. Yomoal is part of a larger world construction project that Anthony has been working on since 2011. The name Yomoal means "symbol river".

Notable features

Type of writing system: alphabet
Direction of writing: variable
Used to write: Чlalmwae

Yomoal Vowels

Yomoal vowels

The river curves with vowels.

"Left" and "right" take a "looking upriver" perspective. So, when written top-to-bottom as in these examples, left is the reader’s left. When written left-to-right, as in the nameplate, "right" is above the river.
The river curves about an invisible midline. The river is usually continuous within utterances, like a river.
Three, two-way features distinguish curves into different vowels: direction, sharpness, and islands.

Curve direction and sharpness distinguish the four vowels.

Curving left/right is the first feature. Smoothly curving left of the midline makes E; and right, A.
Combining with direction, next is sharpness. A sharp curve "doubles back." Sharp-left makes I; sharp-right, O. Placing the sharp turn at the beginning or end of the curve is purely stylistic.
The river runs straight to make a space or to make a null vowel. A null vowel lets (four) consonants stand alone, as in English "Mmm!"

Yomoal Consonants

One sees consonants on the way down river.

Yomoal Symbol: Transcription [IPA, if different]: Чlalmwae name: English translation:

Yomoal consonants

Consonants sit along the river’s curves, adding to the vowels’ syllables

Syllable-initial consonants sit left of the river; codas sit right.
Consonant blends sit consonants together beside the river. How they are positioned on the same side of the river does not matter because in Чlalmwae, no two consonants can make two different blends.
In arranging the consonants together or with the river, the scribe may express himself. E.g., flowers may always angle toward a sun, fish may have exaggerated whiskers, or fish may swim upriver.

Sample text

Sample text in Yomoal (in English)

Transliteration

M.lol þohiláml mwalci twiayo mwaeónl tli woanámlmwae tli þocyál. M.lol itemoya ya ionlcyo ya mwaláml. M.ðalol mlalioчiáml mopwe.

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 details of Yomoal (PDF)

Images created by Gordon Lewis. If you have any questions about this script, or other scripts invented by Anthony Hilton, you can contact him at: 831ACH[at]gmail[dot]com . If you are interested in the artwork, contact Gordon Lewis at glewis[at]berkeley[dot]edu

Constructed scripts by Anthony Hilton

Greku, Þlaéhl, Yomoal

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