Arithmographic language

Arithmographic language is a term coined by Jörg Rhiemeier for a particular type of philosophical language first envisioned by G. W. Leibniz. In an arithmographic language, words are encoded numerically. Semantic primitives are represented by prime numbers; more complex concepts are represented by numbers obtained by multiplying the numbers of the semantic primitives.

For example, if the idea "life" is assigned the number 2, all living beings receive even numbers and all inanimate things receive odd numbers. The numbers are then converted into pronounceable words using a pronunciation rule which maps integer numbers into strings of phonemes.

Arithmographic languages are more flexible than the more familiar taxonomic-type languages; an advantage of the arithmographic approach is that the vocabulary is open because there is an infinity of prime numbers. Another advantage is that words for related concepts do not sound similar because the numbers assigned to these concepts, while being related by common factors, look different.

This article is part of a series on Types of Conlangs. "Reason" classification system: Artlangs * Funlangs * Engineered language * Philosophical language * Arithmographic language * Logical language * Fictional languages * Exolangs * Diachronic conlangs * Lostlangs * Altlangs * Auxlangs "Origin" classification system: A priori conlangs * A posteriori conlangs "Other" classification system: Sketchlangs * Kitchen Sink Conlangs * Colllangs

This article is part of a series on Engineered languages. Arithmographic languages: Characteristica universalis Logical languages: AllNoun * Ithkuil * Loglan * Lojban * X-1 Philosophical languages: Alwato * An Essay towards a Real Character * Ars signorum * Ro * Toki pona * Ygyde Others: Altllamiac * Briefscript * Pasetok * Speedtalk