Re: Conlang Flag Design

On Mon, 30 Aug 2004, Adrian Morgan (aka Flesh-eating Dragon) wrote:

> Right, it's time to take this seriously.
>
> I've drawn a (very) rough sketch of a flag, based on the following
> ideas and considerations:
>
> [Here's the sketch:
> <http://www.netyp.com/member/dragon/temp/conlangflagidea.png>]
>
> Anyway, this is a very rough sketch of an idea, which is provided so
> that it can be discussed, developed and improved through collective
> input. What do you think?
I think it looks somewhat too busy.

I also dislike the golden faces. People in flags are generally not a good
idea. When I look at your faces, I get the impression of some sightless
idols from an ancient, long-forgotten temple that are spewing out some
kind of indeterminate tape. I don't get any immediate impression of
language.

The choice of colours is too reminiscent of the anarchist flag[1]. (Some
people might regard this similarity as advantageous.)

Criticism aside, what WOULD be good design elements in a flag? As I see
it, we don't have a lot of pre-existing symbolic material to choose from.

Colours:
Green, from Esperanto, and the green ribbon of conlang. Some people might
object to it, because of Esperanto's auxlang taint.

Symbols:
A glyph from a constructed script might be appropriate. But which one?
Well-known scripts such as tengwar or pIqaD might just create associations
towards Tolkien and Klingon, respectively.

How about a pen or other writing implement? Or a mouth, or an ear? Could
these be combined in a clever way?

The Bliss symbol for "language" is pretty simple, and yet iconic[2].

Another suggestion might be to use a symbol for creation, or newness. A
sunrise, or rays of light could be used for this; see the flag of the
Seychelles[3].

---
[1] http://www.fotw.net/flags/qt-a_dia.html
[2] http://www.symbols.net/blissymbolics/dictionary/
[3] http://www.fotw.net/flags/sc.html

--
Arnt Richard Johansen                                http://arj.nvg.org/
<JohnCowan> Can someone poke Shawn?
<JayKominek> next meeting, electroshock devices go under everyone's chairs.
<MarkShoulson> Just send an EOU to their terminal (end of user.  Makes
terminal explode)

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