Even if we are beyond the age when we used to write to our friends coded notes, we all remember the days when our notebooks were full of abbreviations only we and our close friends could decipher. Those years are clearly gone, but this does not mean that we cannot still show an interest in fictitious alphabets if we really want to. Who would actually not want to be able to include in their CV: I can read and write in Tolkien’s Elvish language?!
In movies, literature or video games we can find a multitude of fictitious alphabets that we can learn and use.
Such an example is the Elvish alphabet (Tengwar) from The lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien. It is used in Valarin, Quenya, Sindarin and Mordor.
The Lord of the Rings offers another fictitious alphabet, that of the Orcs (Uruk), in case we want to master a scary language.
Of course, the Klingon alphabet in Star Trek is worth mentioning, which seems to be more complicated that the ones mentioned before.
Stargate SG1 acquaints us with the Ancient alphabet, considered to be the origin of all current alphabets and the key to interstellar journeys. By deciphering the symbols on the stargate, one could know the destination, as well as the departure point – planet of origin.
Kryptonian is the language spoken on the Clark Kent’s planet of origin, Krypton. Superman uses it in the movie at a certain point.
Alice in Wonderland also proposes a bizarre alphabet that simplifies letters by changing them with square shapes. They say that Lewis Carroll, author of Alice in Wonderland, did not like to light the lamp at night every time he had an idea. So he invented this simplified alphabet to make notes in the dark. In fact, letters do seem to have been shaped in the dark… However, it seems to be the most accessible fictitious alphabet, easy to learn and to use by those looking for a code to protect their thoughts from curious people.
Although fictitious, the six mentioned alphabets can be used because all letters have correspondents in real life alphabets. Moreover, they seem to be an innovative and exciting way of spending free time, to say the least.
