Decoding the Circular Script: A Comprehensive Guide to Writing in Gallifreyan

Have you ever gazed at the intricate, circular patterns on the walls of the TARDIS and wondered, “How do they write that?” You’re not alone! Gallifreyan, the fictional language of the Time Lords from the BBC’s Doctor Who, has captivated fans for years with its elegant and enigmatic script. While there isn’t a single, officially standardized Gallifreyan alphabet, numerous fan-created systems have flourished, providing a fantastic way to express your inner Time Lord. This guide will focus on a widely adopted and relatively simple system, often referred to as ‘Sherman’s Gallifreyan’, or ‘Circular Gallifreyan’ which allows you to create beautiful, readable Gallifreyan text.

This comprehensive guide will walk you through the process step-by-step, from understanding the basic structure to constructing complex sentences. By the end of this article, you’ll be well on your way to writing your own Gallifreyan messages.

Understanding the Core Principles

Before we dive into the details, let’s grasp the fundamental concepts that underpin Sherman’s Gallifreyan. It’s a visually captivating script built upon a system of circles and lines, and understanding these core elements is crucial for writing legibly. The most important things to note are as follows:

1. The Sentence Circle

Every Gallifreyan sentence begins and ends with a large circle. This is the most visible element, enclosing the entire phrase within it, and can also have different meanings depending on the user, or context. The sentence circle is essential, it defines the start and end of your phrase and holds the entire Gallifreyan text inside.

2. Word Circles

Within the sentence circle, words are written inside their own individual circles. These word circles are connected to the main sentence circle using lines or dots and can be positioned in any way, but are typically centered for better readability. In most cases the Word circles are smaller than the Sentence Circle.

3. Consonants and Vowels

Gallifreyan distinguishes between consonants and vowels by representing them with different types of symbols, placed within the word circles. Consonants are depicted with lines and dots attached to the word circle’s perimeter while Vowels are represented by shapes placed inside the circle.

4. Reading Direction

Gallifreyan is generally read from the bottom of the word circle, moving counter-clockwise. This means that a word begins at the bottom, goes around the circle and ends just before where it started. Sentence circles are generally read from the bottom and travel counter-clockwise as well.

5. Punctuation and Spacing

Spacing is not crucial in Gallifreyan; words can be very close together, or very far apart from each other without altering their meaning. Common punctuation marks like commas, periods, and question marks can be included as small symbols within the Sentence circle. Most commonly the punctuation is represented by short lines, dots, or triangles.

The Gallifreyan Alphabet: Consonants

Let’s start with the consonant symbols. Each consonant is represented by a line or series of dots or lines attached to the outer rim of the word circle.

Here’s the breakdown of the consonants:

• B: A single line extending outwards from the word circle.
• C: Two lines extending outwards from the word circle.
• D: Three lines extending outwards from the word circle.
• F: Four lines extending outwards from the word circle.
• G: A single dot positioned on the outer rim of the circle.
• H: Two dots positioned on the outer rim of the circle.
• J: Three dots positioned on the outer rim of the circle.
• K: Four dots positioned on the outer rim of the circle.
• L: A single line extending inwards from the word circle.
• M: Two lines extending inwards from the word circle.
• N: Three lines extending inwards from the word circle.
• P: Four lines extending inwards from the word circle.
• Q: A single line that is attached to the edge of the word circle and a dot, that is attached to the line.
• R: Two lines that are attached to the edge of the word circle and a dot, that is attached to the lines.
• S: A line that is attached to the edge of the word circle and two dots, that are attached to the line.
• T: Two lines that are attached to the edge of the word circle and two dots, that are attached to the lines.
• V: A line with a small circle at the end, that extends outwards.
• W: Two lines with a small circles at the end, that extend outwards.
• X: A line with a small circle at the end, that extends inwards.
• Y: Two lines with a small circles at the end, that extend inwards.
• Z: A line with a small triangle at the end, that extends outwards.

Note: Some variations exist with the letters Q-Z in the writing systems, but this is the most common used across the internet.

The Gallifreyan Alphabet: Vowels

Vowels are represented by shapes placed within the word circles. Each vowel has a unique shape, providing further visual distinction from the consonant symbols. These are:

• A: A small circle.
• E: Three small dots positioned together.
• I: A line inside of the circle.
• O: A small crescent moon shape.
• U: A small triangle.

Note: When a word contains two vowels next to each other, they can be represented with their correct symbol next to each other, within the same word circle.

Combining Consonants and Vowels

Now that we know how consonants and vowels are written, we can start combining them to form words. To do this, follow these simple rules:

1. Start with the Word Circle: Draw a circle for the word.
2. Place the Consonants: Starting at the bottom, follow the writing direction (counter-clockwise), drawing the consonant symbols on the outside rim of the circle.
3. Place the Vowels: After consonants, place the corresponding vowel shape inside the circle. Always start from the bottom and travel counter-clockwise.
4. Continue Around the Circle: If there are more consonants or vowels, add them to the circle in the counter-clockwise order, making sure that you always start from the bottom of the word circle, and go counter-clockwise.
5. Complete the Word: Once all letters are added, you should have one complete word inside its own individual circle, inside the sentence circle.

Let’s look at some examples to further clarify this:

Example 1: The Word “Hello”

• Start: Draw a word circle.
• H: Draw 2 dots on the edge of the circle at the bottom of the circle.
• E: Draw three dots in the center of the circle.
• L: Draw a line extending inwards on the edge of the circle at the left of the E.
• L: Draw a second line extending inwards on the edge of the circle at the left of the first L.
• O: Draw a small crescent moon shape inside the circle.
• Complete: You should now have the word hello inside the word circle.

Example 2: The Word “Time”

• Start: Draw a word circle.
• T: Draw Two lines extending outwards on the edge of the circle, and two dots on the line.
• I: Draw a line inside the circle.
• M: Draw two lines extending inwards on the edge of the circle, after the I
• E: Draw three dots inside the circle, after the M.
• Complete: You should now have the word time inside the word circle.

Building Sentences

With an understanding of words, we can build sentences! Follow these steps:

1. Draw the Sentence Circle: Draw a large circle to encompass the entire sentence.
2. Add the Word Circles: Draw smaller circles inside the sentence circle for each word.
3. Write the Words: Follow the process above to write each word within its respective circle, connecting it to the sentence circle by using small lines or dots.
4. Read the Sentence: Read each word circle inside the main circle and from bottom to top in a counter-clockwise direction.

Example: The Sentence “Allons-y!”

Let’s break this down word by word, and build the sentence together

• Draw a Large Sentence Circle. This will hold everything together.
• Draw the Word Circles: Draw two smaller circles inside the larger sentence circle.
• First Word “Allons”: In the first word circle write the following: A small circle(for A), Two Lines pointing out(for L), Two lines pointing out(for L), A crescent moon shape (for O), and 3 lines pointing out(for N), and three dots inside the circle(for S)
• Second Word “y”: In the second word circle write the following: two lines with a small circles at the end, pointing inwards, at the bottom of the circle.
• Complete the sentence: You should now have 2 connected words, within a main circle.

Tips and Tricks

• Practice: Like any new skill, practice is key. Start with simple words and gradually move to more complex ones and sentences.
• Consistency: Try to maintain a consistent style with your lines, dots and shapes for better readability.
• Experiment: Feel free to experiment with variations. The beauty of fan-created Gallifreyan is that you can develop your own style.
• Use Resources: Online Gallifreyan generators can be useful for checking your work and exploring different word structures.
• Make Mistakes: Don’t get discouraged if your first attempts don’t look perfect. Every artist starts somewhere.

Advanced Concepts

Once you’ve mastered the basics, here are a few advanced concepts to explore:

1. Sentence Structure

While most Gallifreyan writing focuses on conveying words, you can use the position of the word circles in the sentence to indicate emphasis or relationships between words. This is very subjective and different people have different approaches.

2. Combining Consonants

When two of the same consonants are next to each other (as seen in the word “Allons” in the example above), they are combined in the same circle, as a double line pointing out or in the same direction. The dots are also doubled. Another common variation is for two of the same letters to be placed next to each other in the same circle.

3. Personalization

Consider adding your own unique flair to the letters and circles, try adding decorative lines, or small variations in the symbols. This makes your text more personal and unique.

4. Punctuation

Adding punctuation to your sentences can increase the readability, and also add more of a personal touch to your text. The punctuation can be placed inside the main sentence circle, to further define the phrase. This can be done by adding single lines, dots, or small triangles, at the beginning or the end of the word, or the phrase itself.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Here are a few common mistakes that beginners often make:

• Reading direction: Always read from the bottom and move counter-clockwise.
• Inconsistent symbol size: Try to maintain a consistent size for letters and symbols for improved legibility.
• Confusion between consonants and vowels: Always differentiate between consonants and vowels by the placement, and the symbols.

Resources for Further Learning

Here are some online resources to help you further explore and learn Gallifreyan:

• Online Gallifreyan Generators: There are many tools online where you can input English text and get a corresponding Gallifreyan translation. You can use these tools to check your work, and generate inspiration.
• Gallifreyan Fonts: There are downloadable fonts, that allow you to type Gallifreyan in your computer. This can help with drawing in certain digital programs.
• Fan Communities: Join fan forums or social media groups dedicated to Doctor Who and Gallifreyan. You can connect with other learners and share your work.

Conclusion

Learning Gallifreyan is a fun and rewarding journey into the creative world of Doctor Who. By following this comprehensive guide, practicing regularly, and exploring different resources, you’ll be well-equipped to craft your own beautiful, circular messages in no time. Remember that this is a fan made translation, and it is open to interpretation and adaptation, allowing you to truly express your inner time lord.

So, grab your pens, pencils or graphic tablets and get writing. Allons-y!