Writing Systems

Japan’s ‘Hentaigana’: The Lost Characters

Before Japanese script was standardized in 1900, writers used a vast and beautiful array of variant cursive characters known as…

3 months ago

Writing Silence: The Quest for a Sign Language Script

How do you write a language that isn't spoken, but seen? This post explores the fascinating quest to create a…

3 months ago

The Alphabet That Follows the Sun: The Cherokee Syllabary

The Cherokee syllabary, invented by the brilliant Sequoyah, is more than one of history's greatest intellectual achievements. Its lesser-known secret…

3 months ago

The Secret Script of Women: The Story of Nüshu

In the patriarchal world of rural China, women were denied a voice—so they invented their own. Uncover the story of…

3 months ago

The Beginner’s Guide to Learning Russian

Think learning Russian is impossible? This story-driven guide breaks down your first 30 days, from deciphering the Cyrillic alphabet to…

3 months ago

Why Korean is Easier Than You Think

Intimidated by the angular characters and unfamiliar sounds of Korean? You shouldn't be. Contrary to its complex appearance, the Korean…

3 months ago

A, B, C: The Hidden Logic of Alphabetical Order

We learn the alphabet as children, but have you ever wondered why the letters are in that specific order? The…

3 months ago

Are You a Robot? The Grammar of CAPTCHA

From warped text to "select all images with traffic lights", how does a CAPTCHA test for humanity? These web security…

3 months ago

LTR vs. RTL: The Direction of Writing Compared

Ever wondered why English is written left-to-right while Arabic is written right-to-left? This post explores the fascinating history behind the…

3 months ago

The QWERTY Problem: Typing in a Non-Latin World

How do you type a language with thousands of characters on a keyboard with only a few dozen keys? The…

3 months ago

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