The way to increase characters
The feature of the overlay system
Why the EL bases have varieties of the sizes/the shapes/the locations
in the frame is all to make this compounding system possible.
Some base like a dot sometimes disappears when it compounded with other bases. Not every base in every case matches to be compounded, but most combinations are available. Most of the bases look too simple, but overlaid with others, they can form various shapes, matching with many fundamental meanings.
* Once I had struggled to build EL with 60 bases, another time with more than 200 bases; and found the current setting was the most comfortable to use. Tight bases is easy to memorize shapes, but difficult to express using them.
Using Hyphen
In case a base overlay with many elements looks too complicate, you also can use a hyphen between fundamental characters to show a complicate concept by all together.
(this hyphen was added instead of former #gf mark on 2006)
When using hyphen, put the main substantial part of the concept first.
(global world) is shown as too.
Joined-characters:
If a meaning can be expressed as separated plural concepts, you can express
as
Joined-characters, arranging fundamental characters next to each
other,
according to the rule: "the left character modifies the right
one"
E.g.
: fruit-nectar (as one character)
: {liquid-fruit}: fruit-nectar
(When using hyphen, the main element of the concept comes first)
: the liquid of fruit (the left character, fruit modifies the right character, liquid)
Get the EL Font
to see how fun EL
Overlay typing is, unintentionally making
interesting shapes and funny combination of meanings.
The EL ASCII is
in the same page.
(NB) Need to be clear for hand-writing
For this system, EL does not allow cursive handwriting. Symbols have to
be shown clearly.
This is the way to communicate beyond any traditional cultures.
It is not necessary to be exact, but be careful for the relation of shapes
in the hand-writing.
# Sometimes you get carried away with your native tongue. But in EL, you need to catch images more clearly to express meanings or pronunciations; and you can't cheat yourself with vocal words. Also the bases are based on nature, so by using EL, you would gradually think more objectively.
# The dictionary function in itself: A single symbol itself tells its meaning like a self-dictionary as long as you've learned the system and fundamental symbols. In the future, researching information of a thing would be easier even if you don't know the name/word. You can approach to it through the meaning elements. A new concept can be created in an understandable way.
# The picture-like symbols help little children understand the local words. For a little child, it is difficult to understand that Mom, Grandpa, a postman, are all humans. Pictures with the hieroglyphic character can help them to have a better idea of symbols and words. So future people on earth could share the same basic knowledge as well as their local experiences at the beginning of their lives.
# When EL is used in some games, children learn their concentration by distinguishing between shapes, recognizing bases in a symbol. This training might help to catch total visions analyzing the details in their future lives.
# The single picture-like symbols have strong impact to send messages, just like icons or traffic signs. Independent ideograms are placed in maps and graphs to attract people's eyes quickly. The impact of visual symbols would open a new fields for advertising and arts.