LoCoS

Pictorial language From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

LoCoS (short for Lovers Communication System) is a pictorial language developed by Yukio Ota of Japan in 1964. It was meant as communication for the deaf and mute as well as for the illiterate. It is a universal and simple language, and as Ota put it, "It should emphasize the importance of communication among all the people of all the countries of the world."

Script type
CreatorYukio Ota
Created1964
DirectionLeft-to-right
Quick facts LoCoS, Script type ...
LoCoS
Script type
CreatorYukio Ota
Created1964
DirectionLeft-to-right
LanguagesLoCoS
Close
CreatedbyYukio Ota
Date1964
Purpose
ISO 639-3–
Quick facts Created by, Date ...
LoCoS
Lovers Communication System
Created byYukio Ota
Date1964
Purpose
Language codes
ISO 639-3–
Close

Symbols

There are eight major symbols in LoCoS.

More information Symbol, Description ...
SymbolDescription
Hollow circlesun, day
Hollow circle with a gap at the topman, person
Hollow squarething
Hollow triangle with a gap at the topthought
Hollow heart shape with a gap between the two lobes at the topfeeling
Low straight lineplace, land
Question markquestion
Dotexistence
Close

Words

Words are made by combining different symbols in different ways. For example if you put a dot inside a circle it will represent today, or if you put a fish in an open ring shape it will be a fisherman.

  • today
    today
  • fisherman
    fisherman

There are around 80 words that are official according to Yukio Ota. Words can be created as long as they follow the basic word syntax.

  • emotion
    emotion
  • laugh
    laugh
  • happy
    happy
  • attention
    attention
  • fear
    fear

Sentences

It's very good to meet you.

  • it
    it
  • is
    is
  • very good
    very good
  • to
    to
  • meet
    meet
  • you
    you

It's sad you can't stay any longer.

  • it
    it
  • is
    is
  • sad
    sad
  • you
    you
  • cannot
    cannot
  • stay
    stay
  • long
    long

But this short stay was very interesting.

  • but
    but
  • this
    this
  • short
    short
  • stay
    stay
  • (past)
    (past)
  • very
    very
  • interesting
    interesting

We learnt lots from you.

  • we
    we
  • (past)
    (past)
  • learn
    learn
  • a lot
    a lot
  • from
    from
  • you
    you

Hope you were happy.

  • hope
    hope
  • you
    you
  • (past)
    (past)
  • happy
    happy

We hope you'll succeed.

  • we
    we
  • (present)
    (present)
  • hope
    hope
  • you
    you
  • will
    will
  • succeed
    succeed

Hope to see you.

  • hope
    hope
  • (future)
    (future)
  • see
    see
  • you
    you

Love you lots.

  • lot
    lot
  • love
    love


Bibliography

  • Bliss, C.K. (1965). Semantography (Blissymbolics). Sydney, Australia: Semantography Publications, second edition, 882 pp. The book presents a system for universal writing, or pasigraphy.
  • Ota, Yukio (1973). «LoCoS: An Experimental Pictorial Language.» Icographic, No. 6, pp. 15-19. Published by ICOGRADA, the International Council of Graphic Design Associations, based in London.
  • Ota, Yukio (1987). Pictogram Design, Kashiwashobo, Tokyo, ISBN 4-7601-0300-7, 1987. The author presents a world-wide collection of case studies in visible language signage systems, including LoCoS.

External links

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