Logogram: meaning, definitions and examples
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logogram
[ ˈlɒɡəˌɡræm ]
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
Translations of the word "logogram" in other languages:
🇵🇹 logograma
🇮🇳 लोगोग्राम
🇩🇪 Logogramm
🇮🇩 logogram
🇺🇦 логограма
🇵🇱 logogram
🇯🇵 ロググラム
🇫🇷 logogramme
🇪🇸 logograma
🇹🇷 logogram
🇰🇷 로고그램
🇸🇦 لوجوغرام
🇨🇿 logogram
🇸🇰 logogram
🇨🇳 表意文字
🇸🇮 logogram
🇮🇸 logógraf
🇰🇿 логограмма
🇬🇪 ლოგოგრამა
🇦🇿 logogram
🇲🇽 logograma
Etymology
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.