EP1687144A1

EP1687144A1 - A new method for arabic typography

Info

Publication number: EP1687144A1
Application number: EP04762962A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Sabry Mohamed Soliman Hegazy
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-09-01
Filing date: 2004-08-24
Publication date: 2006-08-09
Anticipated expiration: 2024-08-24
Also published as: EP1687144B1; WO2005021263A2; EG24214A

Description

8 A new method for Arabic typography

Technical field Since the passage from the age of writing by hand to that of printing, the system of written communication has developed without difficulty on all social levels, establishing the principle of mass production of printed texts and increasing of democratisation of instruction in society. This has brought a change in the methods of teaching and learning, contributed to an important reduction of illiteracy. More over the structure of writing has undergone a particular modification on the level of technical necessities, thus obtaining a more functional visual communication. With the appearance of printed communication at the beginning of the nineteenth century in the Arab world, the calligraphic character (NASKH) was chosen since it is the best (adapted) to the clearly reading in all Arabic calligraphic characters and for its corresponds with the reading habits. In this system of writing the letters are linked to compose the words (which correspond with the manual writing), and this necessitates a variation in the form of the letter sign according to its position in the word (initial, median, final & independent), of the 28 letters of the alphabet, there are 6 letters which assume only 2 forms (independent & median) because they do not come to be linked to the succeeding letter, more over there are only 3 semi-vowels which are not sufficient for the vowelization of written words , so there are other signs which are placed above or below the letters to indicate correct vowelization of the words ,in addition there are other signs for the orthographic changes , and the signs of punctuation and figures . The linkage in the writing and the variation of the forms of the letter sign according to his position in the word, is one of the calligraphic characteristics of the actual system in Arabic written print communications, constitute the principle obstacle for the writing and learning processes making teaching methods more complicated & requiring more sustained effort for comprehension and assimilation, more generally for perception. Moreover, in order to accomplish a correct reading, it is necessary to recognize the vowelization signs all that have the affect of augmenting the complexity of structural relations of the alphabet. The principal difficulty is found at the level of linkage which doesn't have any correlative function with the language, but serves only to isolate the words in order to make them correspond to manual usage & to reading habits. Therefore, the variation of the signs constitutes the cause of the problem in the present system given its non-functionality when there is a question of combating illiteracy. Only one character is used thus there is no visual difference between the various contents, moreover there is an absence of typographic families, and italics... in addition, the character always needs greater leading particularly when the text is vowelized. The poor visual content and organization of the printed materials in printed communication in the field of publishing, newspapers, magazines, And in the field of publicity, also in the field of information in electronic media.

Background Art In the beginning of this century, the need of writing reform became evident on the level of print shop in order to obtain a means of written communication equal to the extent of the social needs, which would function better in relation to modem techniques. In 1938 studies were undertaken for the reform of Arabic writing by means of conferences held at the academy of the Arab language at Cairo, at which the participants were intellectuals, sociologists and linguistic specialists from Egypt, Arab countries & other Muslim countries, thanks to these meetings an important point emerged the necessity of a reform which would not cut itself off from the essential values of the tradition as the basis of future work. This reform founded on two important points:

■ The writing must permit a precise reading & provide an easy indication for correct pronunciation in the general framework of a simplification leading to a more rapid & easier comprehension and assimilation.

■ A simplification of the technical work of print and production. Many projects were presented, as well as numerous propositions and it is to say 10

that some improvements have been achieved on the level of standardization of the dimensions of the forms of the letters and the diminution of the number of signs, making the work of composition thus relatively easier. Great variations have been accomplished in the framework of the various title and display characters, with the method of reproduction of printed texts, due to the techniques of photocomposition, the calligraphic characteristics of the writing no longer constitute technical difficulties. Although these improvements, there is no any considerable progress considering the main problems of printed Arabic communication in order to obtain a necessary simplification in the structural relations of writing for more facilitation of comprehension, reading, assimilation and to obtain a more visual organized printed communication. Disclosure of the invention In the actual system of writing the letters are linked to compose the words (which correspond with the manual writing), and this necessitates a variation in the form of the letter sign according to its position in the word (initial, median, final & independent), of the 28 letters of the alphabet, there are 6 letters which assume only 2 forms (independent & median) because they do not come to be linked to the succeeding letter (fig. 1 A, IB) (fig. 2 A) The formation of words with linked letters in Arabic writing contains in itself the principle of word formation with non-linked letters because of the six letters Aleph, Dal, Zal, Raa, Zae and Waw which are not linked to the succeeding letters, so that many words composed with this letters (independent sign of the letter) are without linkage (fig. 2A). Often words formed with linkage & others formed with detached letters are found on the same line & reading takes place normally. In this method, I propose the use of a new system which employs a method with detached letters for composing words using the independent form of the letter (fig. 2B) (fig. 3A) in the present alphabet & this method come to be integrated with the method of linked letters in composing words (with two signs for letter) (fig. 4A, 4B), the two methods come to be integrated in a unique system of print writing communication, (fig. 5 A, 5B, 5C, 5D) 11

The method emphasizes these following points: 95 ■ The necessary modifications in the dimensions of the letters upon geometrical concept to liberate the form of its calligraphic characteristics, obtaining functional form which responds to modern typographic needs, (fig. 2C, 2D) ■ The designing of the whole set is correlated to the application of the vowelization signs. 100 ■ The examination of reading and legibility of the total form through texts (composed by computer) and confrontations with printed texts in use today. The examination of the functionality of this system in the framework of education in the field of the writing learning processes and in various graphic communications.

105 Brief description of the drawings Figure 1 A: The entire set of letters and its various forms in the actual use of characters. Figure 1 B: Indication of the independent form of the letter which will be the base of the new method.

110 Figure 1 C: Indication of the six letters Alef, Dal , Zal, Raa, Zae and Waw, which have only 2 signs for letter and are not linked to the succeeding letter Figure 2 A: words composed without linkage between letters in the actual system of printed writing. Figure 2 B: Variation in the dimensions of the height and width of the letters 115 (independent form) in the traditional character. Figure 2 C: Construction of the letter with the modification in the dimensions which have its typographic nature in the new method. Figure 2 D: The forms of the letters in the unified dimensions. Figure 3 A: The whole basic set in the new method of the independent letters 120 which include 37 sign and 10 signs of vowelization. Figure 3 B: Italic version of the set and a sample of text composed with the new 12

method. Figure 4 A: A basic set of the linked letters (2 forms only for the letter) which will be integrated with the method of independent detached letters.

125 Figure 4 B: Italic version of the set of the linked letters. Figure 5 A: The integration of the two methods (writing with linked letters and with independent letters in the same line). Figure 5 B: Four lines with method of linked letters which is included in the same text.

130 Figure 5 C: Two lines with the method of detached letters in the same text. Figure 5 D: Typographical structure for the unified system in the same line setting. Best mode for carrying out the invention Design of the basic type set correlated to the means of composing text in 135 computer through the design of characters' families and fonts which are applicable in various fields of visual graphic communication. Industrial applicability Type composing of texts and headlines is the basis of visual written communication in the following fields:

140 ^■ Printed publishing like Books, Newspapers and Magazines, in the fields of education, culture, economy, etc... ■ Advertising, Packaging, Brochures, Posters and Signage. ■ TV advertising, Video, Multimedia. ■ Educational media.

145 ■ Informational texts in electronic media for visual communication, written information for sign systems, Architectural lettering, Electronic systems as Liquid-Crystal Display (LCDs), light-reflecting Display (LRDs), Slip-Flap Messages, Television systems (CRTs), etc...

Claims

13 Claims

1. The use of a new system which employs a method with detached letters for composing words using the independent form of the letter in the present alphabet (fig. 5A, 5C) (after the necessary modifications in the dimensions of the letters upon geometrical concept to liberate the form of its calligraphic characteristics obtaining a functional form which responds to modern typographic needs) Characterized in that the letter has one form in any position it takes in a word. This as an independent system for the composition of texts and headlines in any field of visual and printed communication.

2. This method comes to be integrated with the method of linked letters in composing words (with only two signs for letters). Characterized by the two methods combine to become a unified system (fig. 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D) for printed writing communication.