Every glyph in this system represents a physical journey, both on the page and in the mouth. Just as the phonemic inventory shifts systematically from front-of-mouth labial sounds to deep, back-of-throat velar articulations, the spatial orientation of the script descends in tandem. As a foundational rule: the deeper a glyph settles toward the bottom-right of the matrix, the more velar its corresponding sound.
At the heart of this spatial mapping is the primary stem—a direct, non-diagonal traversal bridging two corners. From this core structure, the stem evolves into one of four essential deviations: the jut, the closed curve, the open curve, or the wave. Together, the stem and its deviation define the precise identity and orientation of the final composition.
To plot this phonetic progression, the stems cycle through eight distinct vectors, weaving generally from top to bottom and left to right:
Stem Traversal Sequence (Vectors 1–8)
01top-right → top-left
02top-left → top-right
03bottom-left → top-left
04top-left → bottom-left
05bottom-right → top-right
06top-right → bottom-right
07bottom-right → bottom-left
08bottom-left → bottom-right
While theoretical diagrams plot these vectors on rigid binary grids with sharp right angles for structural clarity, these vertices are intended to soften into fluid curves during cursive writing. To help visualize the kinetic and auditory differences between these major glyph categories, the entire system is grouped into four metaphoric themes: fire, earth, water, and air.
Fire
The plosives angles. This class ignites a sharp, sudden burst of sound. Their corresponding glyphs strike the page with a quick, jutting intensity, forming highly angular and aggressive shapes.
1,1
/p/
voice description:
Begin by pressing your top and bottom lips firmly together to create a complete seal, temporarily blocking the airflow from your lungs. As a small amount of pressure builds up directly behind your lips, keep your vocal cords completely relaxed and still so that absolutely no vibration occurs in your throat. Once the pressure is set, release it by suddenly popping your lips apart, allowing the trapped air to escape outward in a sharp, crisp burst.
1,2
/b/
voice description:
Begin by pressing your top and bottom lips firmly together to create a complete seal, temporarily blocking the airflow from your lungs. As air pressure builds up directly behind your lips, engage your vocal cords so they vibrate continuously, creating a low hum in your throat before the sound is released. Once the pressure is set, release it by suddenly popping your lips apart, allowing the trapped, resonant air to escape outward in a distinct, voiced burst.
1,3
/t/
voice description:
Begin by pressing the tip or blade of your tongue firmly against the alveolar ridge—the bony ridge directly behind your upper front teeth—to create a complete seal, temporarily blocking the airflow from your lungs. As a small amount of pressure builds up behind this barrier, keep your vocal cords completely relaxed and still so that absolutely no vibration occurs in your throat. Once the pressure is set, release it by suddenly dropping your tongue away from the ridge, allowing the trapped air to escape forward in a sharp, crisp burst.
1,4
/d/
voice description:
Begin by pressing the tip or blade of your tongue firmly against the alveolar ridge—the bony ridge directly behind your upper front teeth—to create a complete seal, temporarily blocking the airflow from your lungs. As air pressure builds up behind this barrier, engage your vocal cords so they vibrate continuously, creating a low hum in your throat before the sound is released. Once the pressure is set, release it by suddenly dropping your tongue away from the ridge, allowing the trapped, resonant air to escape forward in a distinct, voiced burst.
1,5
/t͡ʃ/
voice description:
Begin by pressing the tip and blade of your tongue firmly against the post-alveolar area—the region just behind the bony ridge of your upper front teeth—to create a complete seal, temporarily blocking the airflow from your lungs. As a small amount of pressure builds up behind this barrier, keep your vocal cords completely relaxed and still so that absolutely no vibration occurs in your throat. Instead of dropping your tongue fully away, release the seal by lowering it just slightly to form a narrow channel, forcing the trapped air to escape forward in a sharp, turbulent, rushing burst of friction.
1,6
/d͡ʒ/
voice description:
Begin by pressing the tip and blade of your tongue firmly against the post-alveolar area—the region just behind the bony ridge of your upper front teeth—to create a complete seal, temporarily blocking the airflow from your lungs. As air pressure builds up behind this barrier, engage your vocal cords so they vibrate continuously, creating a low hum in your throat before the sound is released. Instead of dropping your tongue fully away, release the seal by lowering it just slightly to form a narrow channel, forcing the trapped, resonant air to escape forward in a turbulent, rushing, voiced burst of friction.
1,7
/k/
voice description:
Begin by pressing the back of your tongue firmly against your velum—the soft palate at the back of the roof of your mouth—to create a complete seal, temporarily blocking the airflow from your lungs. As a small amount of pressure builds up behind this barrier, keep your vocal cords completely relaxed and still so that absolutely no vibration occurs in your throat. Once the pressure is set, release it by suddenly lowering the back of your tongue away from the soft palate, allowing the trapped air to escape outward in a sharp, crisp burst.
1,8
/ɡ/
voice description:
Begin by pressing the back of your tongue firmly against your velum—the soft palate at the back of the roof of your mouth—to create a complete seal, temporarily blocking the airflow from your lungs. As air pressure builds up behind this barrier, engage your vocal cords so they vibrate continuously, creating a low hum in your throat before the sound is released. Once the pressure is set, release it by suddenly lowering the back of your tongue away from the soft palate, allowing the trapped, resonant air to escape outward in a distinct, voiced burst.
Earth
The resonant enclosure. Grounded and heavy, these sounds echo from a closed chamber, emanating strictly through the nose. Their glyphs reflect this containment, structurally closing in onto themselves.
2,1
/m/
voice description:
Begin by pressing your top and bottom lips firmly together to create a complete seal, blocking the airflow from escaping through your mouth. Simultaneously, lower your velum—the soft palate at the back of the roof of your mouth—to open the passageway to your nasal cavity. Engage your vocal cords so they vibrate continuously, creating a low hum in your throat. Because the oral pathway is sealed, direct the continuous stream of voiced air upward and outward entirely through your nose, allowing the sound to resonate freely through your nasal passages.
2,2
/v/
voice description:
Begin by bringing your lower lip up into light but firm contact with the edges of your upper front teeth, creating a narrow constriction without forming a complete seal. Engage your vocal cords so they vibrate continuously, creating a low hum in your throat. Force the continuous stream of voiced air forward through this tight gap, allowing it to escape in a steady, buzzing murmur of friction between your lip and teeth.
2,3
/ð/
voice description:
Begin by placing the tip of your tongue lightly against the back of your upper front teeth—or extending it just slightly between your upper and lower teeth—to create a narrow constriction without forming a complete seal. Engage your vocal cords so they vibrate continuously, creating a low hum in your throat. Force the continuous stream of voiced air forward through this tight gap, allowing it to escape in a steady, buzzing murmur of friction across the edges of your teeth.
2,4
/n/
voice description:
Begin by pressing the tip or blade of your tongue firmly against the alveolar ridge—the bony ridge directly behind your upper front teeth—to create a complete seal, blocking the airflow from escaping through your mouth. Simultaneously, lower your velum—the soft palate at the back of the roof of your mouth—to open the passageway to your nasal cavity. Engage your vocal cords so they vibrate continuously, creating a low hum in your throat. Because the oral pathway is sealed, direct the continuous stream of voiced air upward and outward entirely through your nose, allowing the sound to resonate freely through your nasal passages.
2,5
/z/
voice description:
Begin by bringing the tip or blade of your tongue very close to the alveolar ridge—the bony ridge directly behind your upper front teeth—creating a narrow constriction along the centerline without forming a complete seal. Engage your vocal cords so they vibrate continuously, creating a low hum in your throat. Force the continuous stream of voiced air forward through this tight gap, allowing it to escape in a steady, buzzing murmur of high-pitched friction against your teeth.
2,6
/j/
voice description:
Begin by raising the front and body of your tongue up close to your hard palate—the high, arched roof of your mouth—creating a narrow constriction without forming a complete seal. Engage your vocal cords so they vibrate continuously, creating a low hum in your throat. Guide the continuous stream of voiced air smoothly forward through this central gap, allowing it to escape out of your mouth in a clean, glidelike flow completely free of turbulent friction.
2,7
/l/
voice description:
Begin by pressing the tip or blade of your tongue firmly against the centerline of the alveolar ridge—the bony ridge directly behind your upper front teeth—blocking the airflow down the middle of your mouth while leaving the sides of your tongue lowered and open. Engage your vocal cords so they vibrate continuously, creating a low hum in your throat. Guide the continuous stream of voiced air forward, allowing it to escape smoothly over the lowered sides of your tongue and out of your mouth completely free of turbulent friction.
2,8
/ŋ/
voice description:
Begin by pressing the back of your tongue firmly against your velum—the soft palate at the back of the roof of your mouth—to create a complete seal, blocking the airflow from escaping through your mouth. Simultaneously, keep your velum lowered away from the back of your throat to ensure the passageway to your nasal cavity remains open. Engage your vocal cords so they vibrate continuously, creating a low hum in your throat. Because the oral pathway is sealed, direct the continuous stream of voiced air upward and outward entirely through your nose, allowing the sound to resonate freely through your nasal passages.
Water
The gliding vowels. Seamless and fluid, these phonemes wash into one another without friction. The script for this class embodies that ease, utilizing a simple, unbroken curve of continuous flow.
3,1
/uː/
voice description:
Begin by raising the back of your tongue up close to your velum—the soft palate at the back of the roof of your mouth—creating a narrow space without making contact or forming a seal. Simultaneously, purse and protrude your lips forward into a tight, distinct circle. Engage your vocal cords so they vibrate continuously, creating a low hum in your throat. Guide the continuous stream of voiced air smoothly through this high, backed channel and out through your rounded lips, holding the sound to maintain its long duration completely free of turbulent friction.
3,2
/ə/
voice description:
Begin by positioning your tongue in a completely neutral, relaxed state in the center of your mouth, ensuring it is neither raised toward the roof nor lowered to the floor, and neither pushed forward nor pulled back. Simultaneously, keep your lips completely relaxed and unrounded, letting them rest in a natural, neutral opening. Engage your vocal cords so they vibrate continuously, creating a low hum in your throat. Guide the continuous stream of voiced air smoothly through this centrally balanced oral cavity and out of your mouth, letting the sound escape cleanly and effortlessly completely free of turbulent friction.
3,3
/o/
voice description:
Begin by raising the back of your tongue toward your velum—the soft palate at the back of the roof of your mouth—positioning it at a mid-high height without making contact or forming a seal. Simultaneously, shape your lips into a moderate, distinct circle. Engage your vocal cords so they vibrate continuously, creating a low hum in your throat. Guide the continuous stream of voiced air smoothly through this mid-backed channel and out through your rounded lips, allowing the sound to escape cleanly completely free of turbulent friction.
3,4
/ʊ/
voice description:
Begin by raising the back of your tongue toward your velum—the soft palate at the back of the roof of your mouth—positioning it slightly lower and more centralized than a fully high position, without making contact or forming a seal. Simultaneously, shape your lips into a loose, moderate circle. Engage your vocal cords so they vibrate continuously, creating a low hum in your throat. Guide the continuous stream of voiced air smoothly through this near-high, near-backed channel and out through your rounded lips, keeping the sound short and relaxed completely free of turbulent friction.
3,5
/a/
voice description:
Begin by lowering the body of your tongue down to the floor of your mouth and advancing it forward toward your lower front teeth, creating a wide, open space at the front of your oral cavity. Simultaneously, open your jaw comfortably while keeping your lips completely unrounded and relaxed. Engage your vocal cords so they vibrate continuously, creating a low hum in your throat. Guide the continuous stream of voiced air smoothly through this expansive, forward channel and out of your mouth, letting the sound escape cleanly completely free of turbulent friction.
3,6
/r̩/
voice description:
Begin by raising the tip of your tongue close to your alveolar ridge—the bony ridge directly behind your upper front teeth—holding it loosely enough to remain flexible. Engage your vocal cords so they vibrate continuously, creating a low hum in your throat. Force the continuous stream of voiced air forward over the tongue tip, setting it into a rapid, repeated vibrating motion as it taps dynamically against the ridge. Maintain this resonant, trilling action to sustain the sound as a syllable nucleus, allowing it to flow continuously out of your mouth.
3,7
/e/
voice description:
Begin by raising the front and body of your tongue toward your hard palate—the high, arched roof of your mouth—positioning it at a mid-high height without making contact or forming a seal. Simultaneously, keep your lips completely unrounded, letting them rest in a neutral or slightly spread position. Engage your vocal cords so they vibrate continuously, creating a low hum in your throat. Guide the continuous stream of voiced air smoothly through this mid-high, forward channel and out of your mouth, letting the sound escape cleanly completely free of turbulent friction.
3,8
/iː/
voice description:
Begin by raising the front and body of your tongue very high toward your hard palate—the high, arched roof of your mouth—positioning it at a maximum height without making contact or forming a seal. Simultaneously, keep your lips completely unrounded, spreading them outward horizontally into a slight, distinct smile. Engage your vocal cords so they vibrate continuously, creating a low hum in your throat. Guide the continuous stream of voiced air smoothly through this high, forward channel and out of your mouth, holding the sound to maintain its long duration completely free of turbulent friction.
Air
The voiceless fricatives. Free and unanchored, they release an uninterrupted stream of pure breath. The characters wave across the medium, drifting with the constant, ethereal swerve of a cloud.
4,1
/p͡f/
voice description:
Begin by pressing your lower lip firmly against the edges of your upper front teeth to create a complete seal, blocking the airflow from escaping through your mouth. Simultaneously, raise your velum—the soft palate at the back of the roof of your mouth—to close the passageway to your nasal cavity, allowing air pressure to build up behind the closure. Keep your vocal cords completely relaxed so they do not vibrate. Abruptly release the seal just enough to form a narrow constriction, forcing the compressed stream of unvoiced air forward through the tight gap so it escapes in a sharp burst that immediately transitions into a steady, hissing murmur of friction between your lip and teeth.
4,2
/f/
voice description:
Begin by bringing your lower lip up into light but firm contact with the edges of your upper front teeth, creating a narrow constriction without forming a complete seal. Keep your vocal cords completely relaxed so they do not vibrate. Force the continuous stream of unvoiced air forward through this tight gap, allowing it to escape in a steady, hissing murmur of friction between your lip and teeth.
4,3
/θ/
voice description:
Begin by placing the tip of your tongue lightly against the back of your upper front teeth—or extending it just slightly between your upper and lower teeth—to create a narrow constriction without forming a complete seal. Keep your vocal cords completely relaxed so they do not vibrate. Force the continuous stream of unvoiced air forward through this tight gap, allowing it to escape in a steady, hissing murmur of friction across the edges of your teeth.
4,4
/s/
voice description:
Begin by bringing the tip or blade of your tongue very close to the alveolar ridge—the bony ridge directly behind your upper front teeth—creating a narrow constriction along the centerline without forming a complete seal. Keep your vocal cords completely relaxed so they do not vibrate. Force the continuous stream of unvoiced air forward through this tight gap, allowing it to escape in a steady, hissing murmur of high-pitched friction against your teeth.
4,5
/ʃ/
voice description:
Begin by raising the blade of your tongue close to the postalveolar region—the area just behind the bony ridge of your upper front teeth—forming a slightly broader, more domed constriction along the centerline without forming a complete seal. Keep your vocal cords completely relaxed so they do not vibrate. Force the continuous stream of unvoiced air forward through this shaped channel and across the edges of your teeth, allowing it to escape in a steady, rushing murmur of lower-pitched, turbulent friction.
4,6
/x/
voice description:
Begin by raising the back of your tongue close to your velum—the soft palate at the back of the roof of your mouth—creating a narrow constriction without forming a complete seal. Keep your vocal cords completely relaxed so they do not vibrate. Force the continuous stream of unvoiced air forward through this tight, backed gap, allowing it to escape in a steady, scraping murmur of turbulent friction against the soft palate.
4,7
/k͡x/
voice description:
Begin by pressing the back of your tongue firmly against your velum—the soft palate at the back of the roof of your mouth—to create a complete seal, blocking the airflow from escaping through your mouth. Simultaneously, ensure the passageway to your nasal cavity is closed, allowing air pressure to build up behind the closure. Keep your vocal cords completely relaxed so they do not vibrate. Abruptly release the seal just enough to form a narrow constriction, forcing the compressed stream of unvoiced air forward through the tight gap so it escapes in a sharp burst that immediately transitions into a steady, scraping murmur of turbulent friction against the soft palate.
4,8
/h/
voice description:
Begin by narrowing the space between your vocal cords deep within your larynx—the voice box—creating a thin constriction at the glottis without forming a complete seal. Keep your vocal cords relaxed enough that they do not vibrate. Force the continuous stream of unvoiced air upward through this tight gap and smoothly forward through your relaxed, open oral cavity, allowing it to escape in a steady, breathy murmur of gentle, turbulent friction.
