Processing of Visible Language

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xvii

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2. Writing systems

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1

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   2. Introduction

      • Merald E. Wrolstad

      Pages 3-6

   3. Principles of writing systems within the frame of visual communication

      • I. J. Gelb

      Pages 7-24

   4. English shorthand systems and abbreviatory conventions: A psychological perspective

      • Philip T. Smith, Helen M. Pattison

      Pages 25-41

   5. Remarks on ancient Egyptian writing with emphasis on its mnemonic aspects

      • Edmund S. Meltzer

      Pages 43-66

   6. The Korean writing system: An alphabet? A syllabary? a logography?

      • Insup Taylor

      Pages 67-82

3. Graphic systems

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 83-83

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   2. Introduction

      • Merald E. Wrolstad

      Pages 85-87

   3. A structure for nontextual communications

      • Jay Doblin

      Pages 89-111

   4. The syntax of pictorial instructions

      • K. P. Szlichcinski

      Pages 113-124

   5. Making newspaper graphs fit to print

      • Howard Wainer

      Pages 125-142

   6. Some problems of illustration

      • Howard E. Paine

      Pages 143-156

   7. Islamic calligraphy: Meaning and symbol

      • Anthony Welch

      Pages 157-176

4. Textual literacy

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 177-177

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   2. Introduction

      • Paul A. Kolers

      Pages 179-181

   3. Usability: The criterion for designing written information

      • Patricia Wright

      Pages 183-205

   4. Wholistic models of feature analysis in word recognition: a critical examination

      • Leslie Henderson

      Pages 207-218

   5. Developmental trends in the perception of textual cohesion

      • L. J. Chapman, Alan Stokes

      Pages 219-226

   6. Structuring an internal representation of text: A basis of literacy

      • Wayne L. Shebilske

      Pages 227-239

The second symposium on processing visible language constituted a different "mix" of participants from the first. Greater emphasis was given to the design of language, both in its historical development and in its current display; and to practical questions associated with machine-implementation oflanguage, in the interactions of person and computer, and in the characteristics of the physical and environmental objects that affect the interaction. Another change was that a special session on theory capped the proceedings. Psychologists remained heavily involved, however, both as contributors to and as discussants of the work pre­ sented. The motivation of the conferences remains one of bringing together graphic designers, engineers, and psychologists concerned with the display and acquisition of visible language. The papers separately tended to emphasize the one of the three disciplines that mark their authors' field of endeavor, but are constructed to be general rather than parochial. Moreover, within the three disciplines, papers emphasized either the textual or the more pictorial aspects. For example, a session on writing systems ranged from principles that seem to characterize all such systems to specific papers on ancient Egyptian writing, modern Korean, and English shorthand. The complementary session on the nontextual media opened with a discussion of general principles of pictorial communication and included papers on communicating instructions, general information, or religious belief through designs and other pictorial forms, as well as a discussion. of misrepresentation.

• Action
• Affect
• English
• communication
• computer
• development
• environment
• information
• interaction
• language
• media
• motivation
• perception

• University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada

  Paul A. Kolers

• Visible Language Journal, Cleveland, USA

  Merald E. Wrolstad

• Institute for Perception Research, Eindhoven, The Netherlands

  Herman Bouma

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