From Pictures to Words to Word-Pictures

The first writings were graphic images that represented something tangible. These images, or symbols, function as an “alphabet of human thought” – a universal means for successful communication. These were normally very simple shapes that spoke to a rather simple vocabulary: man, woman, fire, food, tree, etc. Over time, people realized that they needed more symbols to express more words. So, multiple “tree” symbols were combined to make a “forest,” and the separate symbols for man, woman, and child were consolidated into a single “family” symbol.

As history progressed, the limitations of writing with symbols were plain: it took too many symbols to express a complicated, sophisticated thought. As culture and society became increasingly complex – propelled by the mechanisms of agriculture, religion, and politics – graphic forms of expression were developed to respond to their communication demands.

Who We have to Thank

The Egyptians were most likely first to introduce a new representation for words. First, with “sound pictures”, called phonograms that were strung together to create a word. Eventually Egyptian writing evolved into hieroglyphics.

The Phonecians were next. They were invested in Egypt, and had a need for their own type of alphabet. They were businessmen, and needed a means for good record keeping. Their alphabet was free of frills and easy to read and write.

The Phonecians passed on their alphabet to the Greeks in the west. The Greeks added new characters, including vowels, and contributed to the beauty of our present alphabet by introducing more curves into the characters.

Finally, Roman capital letters developed out of the need for carved signage and manuscripts. These Roman capitals have had the greatest influence on both the design and use of capitals, and have remained the standard of proportion for over 2,000 years.

The transformation of communication started with the symbol and morphed into the letters we have today. Learn more at www.fonts.com.