Logogram Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations
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logogram
[ˈlɒɡəˌɡræm ]
Definition
writing system
A logogram is a written character that represents a word or phrase. It is used in various writing systems, notably in Chinese and ancient Egyptian scripts. Logograms can often convey complex meanings with a single symbol.
Synonyms
ideogram, pictogram, syllabary.
Examples of usage
- The Chinese character '山' is a logogram for 'mountain'.
- In ancient Egyptian writing, the symbol of an eye was a logogram for the word 'to see'.
- Logograms are efficient in allowing readers to understand meaning quickly.
- The use of logograms can reduce the number of characters needed in written communication.
Translations
To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.
Interesting Facts
History of Writing
- The earliest known logograms can be traced back to ancient Sumerian cuneiform script, where symbols represented sounds or entire words.
- Chinese characters are a prime example of logograms, where each character can represent a word or a concept, illustrating a complex language system.
- Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs also utilized logograms, combining symbols for both sounds and whole phrases to convey meanings.
Pop Culture
- Many modern logos, such as the Nike swoosh, serve as logograms since they evoke the brand's identity without using any text.
- In social media, emojis act like logograms where a small picture conveys emotions or ideas, like using a thumbs-up for agreement.
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Origin of 'logogram'
Main points about word origin
- The word 'logogram' comes from the Greek words 'logos' meaning 'word' and 'gramma' meaning 'that which is written'.
- It first appeared in the English language in the 19th century, demonstrating a significant evolution in written communication.
- Related terms include 'pictogram' and 'ideogram', both referring to forms of visual representation in writing.
The term 'logogram' originates from the Greek words 'logos', meaning 'word', and 'gramma', meaning 'something written'. The use of logograms can be traced back to ancient civilizations where visual symbols were used to convey meaning. In the development of writing systems, logograms evolved as a way to represent entire words or concepts with a single character, simplifying communication. Chinese script remains the most prominent example of logographic writing, where thousands of characters represent words or ideas, allowing a rich language to be conveyed through a limited set of symbols. This method of writing contrasts with alphabetic systems where individual letters represent sounds, demonstrating the diversity of human communication methods throughout history.