Þlaéhl

Þlaéhl [θlaˈe:hl] was devised by Anthony Hilton to write his invented language Чlalmwae [ʈlalˈmwa:e] with a series of knots in cords. It was inspired by the quipu or khipu, an ancient record-keeping system based on knotted chords that was used by Andean peoples such as the Inca in South America from the 3rd millennium BC until about the 17th century AD. It is part of a larger world construction project that Anthony has been working on since 2011.

In Þlaéhl vowels are primary and consonants are secondary, unlike writing systems such as abjads and abugidas, which make consonants primary.

Þlaéhl Characteristics

Vowels

A knot is a vowel: the center of a syllable.

Þlaéhl vowels

Knot drawings from The Ashley Book Of Knots by Clifford W Ashley

There are five different knots. Readers see and feel the differences between them.
There are four vowels in this language: one vowel per main knot. The fifth knot is a null vowel for use with a closed set of syllabic consonants.
The knots are listed below. The author recommends animatedknots.com, which is straightforward, and Ashley’s Book of Knots, which is charming.

An example of Þlaéhl

Vowel knots are normally tied to the cord moves leftward, “S-orientation.”

A writer can tie any knot so that the cord enters the knot heading left or right.
When the cord enters the knot heading left, it's called S-orientation. Heading right, it's Z-orientation. The direction is the same as in the forms of those letters.
Writing Чlalmwae uses the Z-orientation of the same knots like Spanish uses its accent: to lengthen and stress the vowels.

Pictured, a word ‘itemoya,' selected because it features the four vowels in “alphabetical” order. (Trivially, it means ‘to inhere.') The noose, not pictured here, is very easy to spot. See it as the top-left most knot in the Article 1 picture.

One reads each line of knots downward.

It may actually be easier to feel than to see the differences in the knots, though the visual learning curve doesn't take long.

Consonants

Colored piles (short strands of yarn), tied into the vowels, indicate consonants.

Þlaéhl consonant patterns

There are three colors of piles. The exact colors don't matter, but normally one should be light, one dark, one other: white, black, red, say.
Each consonant is represented either by one pile or by an ordered pair of piles gripped by the knot.
Using 3 colors, there are 12 different singles and pairs. These match twelve of the thirteen consonants.
The thirteenth consonant is indicated by a loop, its ends gripped by the knot.
To disambiguate (say) white-red from red-white, white comes more from the top of the knot and red more from the bottom.
Whether they're tied into the knot to the left or to the right of the cord says whether they are initial or final consonants, respectively.

An example of Þlaéhl

The picture above shows the word ‘concwel,' ‘to thank, to attempt to deserve.' With the two left consonants (both II: c), the red is higher than the black. In the top right consonant, (II: n) the black is higher. In the lower left consonant (still c), the two piles are tied together, spelling cw-. See below.

Knots in piles indicate the only three consonant blends.

Most consonants can't be adjacent within a syllable. Three consonants can follow another: y, l, w. They can't blend with each other: ‘cwa,' but neither ‘wca' nor ‘wla.'
Knots in the piles indicate those three consonants: knot in one strand (l), knot in each strand (y), tied together (w).

Texts often wrap around a frame; knots don't go in books or scrolls. One usually reads with one's hands and eyes both, especially to hold cords straight.

One reads from top to bottom, then returns to the top.
Boustrephedon text may seem like a good idea for the reader, but challenging for the writer, who'd have to keep switching orientation while wrapping.

Each line tends to the same total of spaces and syllables.

One wraps to a new line when the total of knots and between-word-spaces comes to 9 (or another given number, often indicated by the first line).
An extra space indicates the end of a sentence clearly.
One can also break to the next line to keep a word altogether, context to aid the reader.

Sample text

Sample text in Þlaéhl

Transliteration

Translation

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
(Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)

If you have any questions about this script, or other scripts invented by Anthony Hilton, you can contact him at: 831ACH[at]gmail[dot]com

Constructed scripts by Anthony Hilton

Greku, Þlaéhl, Yomoal

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