Elektrum

Elektrum was invented by Ian James in October 2011, as part of a series of regularly-formed alphabets founded on phonetic principles. The name comes from the ancient alloy made of silver and gold, and hints at a mix of pre-classical epigraphy and modern phonology.

Notable features

Type of writing system: alphabet, with simple syllabification rules.
Direction of writing: left to right, but could be boustrephedon.
Accomodates a wide range of phonemes, each regularly formed.
Vowels have structures derived from spectrogram images of their spoken sound.
Consonants and vowels differ visually, in that the latter do not have frames, suggesting their relative openness.
The overall effect is epigraphic, since the letters are not cursive but stand geometrically in a formal manner.
Versatile syllabics – final or closing consonants are simply given a no-vowel marker.

Consonants

The consonants are all made with enclosed shapes, their frames matched to regions of articulation. Within the frames are various points, or rivets, or bumps, which identify the manner of articulation. Plosives are given forms which are reminiscent of plates being bolted hard to a surface. Devoicing is shown with a middle horizontal. The velar series ranges from /k/ to /q/ position, depending on adjacent vowels (front or back). The glottal region includes some "most rear" phonemes.

Elektrum consonants

The fricatives are given simpler internals, since their sounds are freer, softer and continuous. Note the way the extra sibilants are used in the affricate situation. Semivowels have symbols related to their vowel form.

Elektrum fricatives and semivowels

Vowels

The vowels use point motifs similar to those found within consonants, but they have no enclosing frame (their sound is free of constriction). The tone suffixes may be used together to show rise and fall.

Elektrum vowels

The shapes for the vowels are based on structures revealed in spectrograms of the spoken sounds – the grouping of their formant frequencies. For example, here are spectrogram patterns for the vowels [i], [æ] and [o], where the vertical axis shows frequency in Hz and the horizontal axis is time:

Electrum vowel spectograms

Extensions

Mattias Persson has suggested various extensions to the system described above. They are realized without much fuss, using the basic elements already given: devoiced nasals, implosives, fricative ejectives and another semivowel. The "voiceless throat nasal" can represent a more definite caesura than the "voiced" equivalent. A nasalizer (coming after vowels) is made from the nasal internals.

Elektrum extensions

Sample text

This is the first line of Shakespeare's sonnet 18, phonetically spelt out using Elektrum. (Ian commonly uses Shakespeare's poetry because of its relatively rich mix of phonemes.)

Sample text in Elektrum

Transliteration

Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?

Alphabets by Ian James

Akkhara Muni, Amethyst, Bostani, Elektrum, Fontok, Klaekson-Zaen, Maui, New Akha, New Maori, New Mong, Pranish, SIGIL, Sigil Panel Script, Slinseng-Fi, Tengwar for Scottish Gaelic, Xylphika

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