| MARKED GLYPH? With 'marked glyph' I mean a glyph which is showing some type of sign which is noticeable only by comparing the glyph with the ordinary glyphs of this type (which are without this sign). One obvious mark is when the orientation of the glyph is different from the ordinary. Another mark is when the glyph is smaller or larger, or thinner or thicker, than the ordinary (non-marked) glyphs. There are all sorts of marks. And what constitutes a mark is sometimes dependent on which text we are studying (see for example about the eye in the bird). Also compounds and mixed glyphs might have marks. When classifying glyphs (in my system) we can identify these fundamental types:
These fundamental types may then be combined in various ways. E.g. may mixed glyphs be combined with compounds. An example of a complicated glyph is Pb5-28:
The three raised hands are signs which I may identify as marks. Alternatively I can regard these three persons as compounds, because there is an ordinary glyph showing an isolated arm:
All types of glyphs are signs. Moreover, even the ordinary (unmarked) glyphs do contain lots of signs. First of all the absence of any kind of mark is a sign. But also the picture which constitutes the unmarked glyph is sending a lot of information to the viewer. Take for instance the bird
We can see that the upward slant of the beak is that of a proud bird. The straight neck shows power, resolution and stamina. The form of the beak is that of an adult bird. The wings are beautifully placed and the feet too. It is the picture of a great bird without fault. The best in kind. All these details are signs giving the viewer harmonious cues. It is just to read their meaning! |
