Innovative Writing Systems: From Siye to Personal Dialect Notations

Have you ever created your own writing system? For some linguists and enthusiasts, developing a writing system for a constructed language or even a personal dialect can be a fascinating journey. In my case, I have devised a writing system for my constructed language, **Siye**, based on the language of the Simayamka of Mars. Another personal experiment involved creating a phonetic system for my English dialect at a young age. These writing systems showcase the intricate interplay between phonetics, orthography, and semantics.

The Siye Writing System

**My Keno Siye** is a writing system tailored for my constructed language, Siye. Siye is an agglutinative language, meaning that words are built by adding suffixes to stems, often resulting in long, complex words. The Siye writing system is a syllabary, with each character representing a syllable. Notably, the **Great Vowel Contraction** reduced many disyllables to monosyllables. The choice of surviving vowels was phonetically driven by a hierarchy, but the orthographic distinction was based on a leftward collapse. This process created homophones, which were then distinguished by new characters derived from the leftward simple character and the reduced rightward simple character.

However, homophones only work on a disyllabic basis. A three or four syllable word cannot be simplified in the same way. Despite this, the verbal roots with an initial vowel were preserved orthographically to distinguish them from the subject prefix. Scribes also created semantic ligatures of disyllabic suffixes that were partly phonetically merged with the preceding suffix and others that were not, to save space. This system not only orthographically distinguishes semantic verbal and nominal components but also creates a clear delineation between the skills of reading and writing.

Personal Dialect Notation

At the age of 17, in 1960, I embarked on a similar but more personal project. I wanted a system akin to the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) for my English dialect. This project was motivated by a desire to capture the unique phonetic features of my speech, but I soon realized that designing a system from scratch was far more challenging than envisaged.

Without much knowledge of existing phonetic systems, I created symbols independently, intending to write my dialect in cursive. However, this experimentation was short-lived, and I quickly moved on to other interests. The only lasting relic of this project is a brief notation I wrote inside a book cover, which remains almost indecipherable after almost 60 years.

These writing systems, whether for a constructed language or a personal dialect, highlight the challenges and rewards of developing orthography. They demonstrate the intricate balance between phonetic, orthographic, and semantic considerations. Creating a writing system can be a solitary and time-consuming task, but it also allows for a deeper understanding of the language and its unique characteristics.

Conclusion

From the language of the Simayamka of Mars to my personal dialect, the creation of a writing system is a remarkable endeavor. These systems not only aid in the documentation and preservation of language but also provide insight into the complex interplay between phonetics, orthography, and semantics. Whether for Siye or a personal dialect, these writing systems are testaments to the creativity and ingenuity of those who seek to explore the boundaries of language.