Google doodles: Evidence of how graphemes' colour, shape, size and position can interact to make writing multidimensional

Abstract

Writing systems research has concerned itself mainly with the relationships between spelling and sound rather than with the graphic nature of written symbols. It is argued here that graphic forms can add significantly to the overall meaning of a written text. Based on evidence taken from, inter alia, Google Doodles celebrating New Year's Day between 2000 and 2011, writing's formal dimensions of signification are considered to be shape, size, position and colour. Single letter forms (glyphs) can double up as pictures or be interpreted in multiple ways, hence multidimensional writing. For example, the 2011 Doodle replaces <oogl> with the year <MMXI>, yet the shape and position of the customised glyphs helps us to reconstruct the ‘underlying’ logo. These innovations suggest that a broader view of the nature of writing is called for.

Keywords:

• Google doodles
• Writing systems
• Graphic forms

Many thanks to the Irish Research Council for funding my ongoing work on writing systems and thanks also to Breffni O'Rourke and Robin Fuller for their input.

Many thanks to the Irish Research Council for funding my ongoing work on writing systems and thanks also to Breffni O'Rourke and Robin Fuller for their input.

Notes

¹ Rare exceptions to this include monetary values such as £25, read as twenty-five pounds, or bookmakers' odds such as 4/5, read as ‘five to four on’.

² Neither scholar was yet familiar with Kohrt's work. Herrick (1994a) proposes the ad hoc terms graphemic grapheme (analogical view) and phonological-fit grapheme (referential). Dissatisfied with these, Daniels calls for more euphonious terms. Lockwood (2001) understandably avoids these terms and instead opts for Henderson's (1985) neutral (but unmotivated) terms, Sense 1 and Sense 2.