2.5 Bliss

Blissymbolics was developed by Charles K. Bliss (1897-1985) and intended for removing the language barriers among people [Bli65]. However it was first applied to the communication of children with physical disabilities in Ontario in 1971. Today Bliss is one of the most comprehensive visual languages for communication and is used primarily by paraplegically disabled. The Blissymbolics Communication International [BCI] controls the development of Bliss.

The system of Blissymbolics is composed of over 2000 symbols which can be combined to create new symbols. The language has a grammar which allows for sentences not only in the present tense, but past and future tense as well. Furthermore it contains markers for questions, commands, plurality, and possession. Figure 2.8 shows some key symbols.

**Figure 2.8:** Some key Bliss symbols
$\includegraphics[]{images/bliss0}$

New words (symbols) are either derived from other key elements as shown in Figure 2.9, or are created as compound symbols as shown in Figure 2.10.

**Figure 2.9:** Derived Bliss symbols
$\includegraphics[]{images/bliss0_2}$

**Figure 2.10:** Compound symbols for `friend' and `pet'
$\includegraphics[]{images/bliss1}$

Elements can be used as indicators to change the meaning of symbols. Indicators give Bliss users the power to communicate verbs, adjectives, adverbs, plural, tenses beginning with basic concepts found in nouns. This capability gives a lot of power to knowing a small number of symbols. Figures 2.11, 2.12, 2.13 show some examples. Additional variations can be produced by adding ``strategic symbols'' like `not', `opposite of', `part of', `similar', `without'.

**Figure 2.11:** Bliss indicators: I, you, he, she
$\includegraphics[]{images/bliss2_1}$

**Figure 2.12:** Bliss indicators: verbs by using `action' indicator
$\includegraphics[]{images/bliss2_2}$

**Figure 2.13:** Bliss indicators: action (verb), adjective, thing, plural
$\includegraphics[]{images/bliss2_3}$

People communicate by using symbol plates or computers. The Bliss user constructs sentences by pointing to the symbols either with his hand, using his eyes (possibly using eye-movement-tracking devices), or by means of other electronic interfaces. In recent years computers have become more common among Bliss users and BCI and other organizations started exploring the possibilities of Bliss on the Internet.

Bliss' sentence structure is closely related to English. Bliss mimics its grammar, articles, word order, and structure closely. Some example sentences can be found at [Geo99]. Bliss' overall design clearly shows its origin in the first half of the 20th century. Nonetheless it is well suited for its niche in communication for disabled people.

Next: 2.6 Elephant's Memory Up: 2. Visual Languages Previous: 2.4 Minspeak Contents

Arno Hollosi 2001-01-09