Introduction:

Gallifreyan is a fictional language from the British TV series Doctor Who, specifically the written language of the Time Lords. Although it has not been officially decoded, fans have created their own versions based on its appearance and symbolism. In this article, we will explore a popular fan-made variant called “Sherman’s Circular Gallifreyan” to learn how to write in Gallifreyan.

1. Understanding the Basics of Circular Gallifreyan

Circular Gallifreyan is composed of circles and lines that represent letters and words. The sentences are read in a clockwise spiral from the bottom-most circle and from the center going outwards.

2. Constructing Letters

Gallifreyan letters are made by modifying basic circles with additional lines and dots. A letter typically consists of a small circle placed on or inside the word circle, with additional modifications depending on the letter.

– Consonants: Place a small circle either inside or outside the main word circle and add lines or dots based on the specific consonant.

– Vowels: Vowel symbols are smaller circles placed either inside or outside the consonant’s small circle (or directly on the word circle if a word starts with a vowel).

3. Assigning Lines and Dots to Letters

Different combinations of lines and dots determine what letter each symbol represents in Gallifreyan.

– Consonants: Consonants are divided into four groups based on their form: plain circles (B, C, D), circles with one line (F, G, H,), circles with two lines (J, K, L), and circles with three lines (M, N, P).

– Vowels: Vowel placement determines which vowel is represented – A at bottom-left; E at top-left; I at top-right; O at top-center; U at bottom-right.

4. Crafting Words

Once the letters of a word have been created and placed in spiral order, it’s time to connect the word circle. This can be (optionally) done by drawing a single, continuous line through each letter symbol, starting from the bottom and moving clockwise.

5. Forming Sentences

Each sentence circle includes multiple word circles, with more circles added if needed for longer sentences. Separate words within the sentence by creating word dividers – thin lines that don’t touch any letter symbols but extend outside the sentence circle.

6. Adding Punctuation

Punctuation marks are signified by drawing different geometric shapes: dots for commas and periods, triangles for question marks and exclamation points, rectangles for parentheses and quotes.

7. Aesthetic Enhancements

To add some flair to your Gallifreyan writing, decorations like arcs or curves can be added around the symbols or between words without changing the meaning of the text.

Conclusion:

Learning to write in Gallifreyan can be a challenging yet rewarding journey for Doctor Who fans and language enthusiasts alike. With practice and creativity, you can master this unique writing system and impress fellow Whovians with your newfound skills.