A Logical Semantic Shorthand System
SmallSay is a logical shorthand word-building system designed as a "semantic algebra." Unlike traditional languages that rely on arbitrary sounds and complex memorization, SmallSay uses a finite set of 22 universal symbols to represent "semantic primes"—the most basic concepts of human thought.
It is a visual language where the meaning of a word is not found in its phonetics, but in the logical sum of its parts. By treating symbols like @ (Person), ~ (Motion), and * (Life) as building blocks, the system allows users to construct any word.
The mechanics of the system are rooted in a Subject-Modifier-Direction hierarchy. To create or understand a word, one simply reads the symbols from left to right. For example, the symbol for "Sun" is *^, combining the concepts of "Life/Energy" (*) and "High/Place" (^).
To turn a noun into an action, you add a directional or motion marker: while @ is a person, @> (Person-Outward) represents the act of speaking or communicating. This modularity means that even if a user encounters a word they have never seen before, they can "calculate" its meaning by analyzing the relationship between the symbols.
The primary benefit of SmallSay is its extreme cognitive efficiency and cross-cultural accessibility. Because it bypasses the need for a shared phonetic alphabet or vocabulary, it can theoretically function as a bridge between speakers of different languages. Beyond practical utility, it serves as a mental exercise in "first-principles thinking," focusing the user on the core essence of communication.
| Sym | Category | Meaning |
|---|
1. The Anchor Rule: The first symbol is the "Subject Type." (@ is always a person, ~ is always a movement/liquid).
2. The Modifier Rule: Symbols following the anchor describe it. (# Object + * Life = Tree).
3. The Directional Rule: < and > change the "flow" of a symbol. (@> giving sound = Speak; @< taking sound = Listen).