Writing in the Language of Reality: Interwar Experiments in Language

Robin Fuller

doi:10.21427/d7gt4b

Writing in the Language of Reality: Interwar Experiments in Language

Robin Fuller

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

This paper examines projects in universal communication from the interwar period, including Charles Kay Ogden’s Basic English, Otto Neurath’s Isotype, and László Moholy-Nagy’s typo-photo. The projects under discussion — experiments in language reform, graphic design and photography — were all born from a dissatisfaction with the imprecise, arbitrary and historically-contingent nature of established languages and semiotic systems. A non-arbitrary mode of communication was sought, one that represented reality directly without translation through a cultural code.

Original language	English
Journal	CALL: Irish Journal for Culture, Arts, Literature and Language
Volume	2
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.21427/d7gt4b
Publication status	Published - 2017
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Charles Kay Ogden; Isotype; László Moholy-Nagy; Otto Neurath; Franz Roh; History of Linguistics; Modernism

Access to Document

10.21427/d7gt4bLicence: CC BY-NC-SA

Cite this

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title = "Writing in the Language of Reality: Interwar Experiments in Language",

abstract = "This paper examines projects in universal communication from the interwar period, including Charles Kay Ogden{\textquoteright}s Basic English, Otto Neurath{\textquoteright}s Isotype, and L{\'a}szl{\'o} Moholy-Nagy{\textquoteright}s typo-photo. The projects under discussion — experiments in language reform, graphic design and photography — were all born from a dissatisfaction with the imprecise, arbitrary and historically-contingent nature of established languages and semiotic systems. A non-arbitrary mode of communication was sought, one that represented reality directly without translation through a cultural code.",

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Writing in the Language of Reality: Interwar Experiments in Language

Abstract

Keywords

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