rebus principle

English

Etymology

From rebus +‎ principle.

Proper noun

rebus principle

1. (linguistics) The idea of using ideograms as phonograms representing the sounds of the words expressed by the original ideograms.
   • 1985, ed. Tosiyasu L. Kunii, Computer Graphics: Visual Technology and Art: Proceedings of Computer Graphics Tokyo ’85:

     The principle of phonetic transfer is often called the rebus principle. Although the rebus principle of word-sign substitution in situations where there are like sounds was discovered by many diverse civilizations it was not fully exploited by most.

   • 1995, Winfried Nöth, Handbook of Semiotics:

     The rebus principle appears in both the Egyptian hieroglyphic and in the Chinese writing systems.

   • 2002, Anita K. Barry, Linguistic Perspectives on Language and Education:

     Once the rebus principle is accepted by a language in its written form, it is a natural step for such symbols to come to represent the sounds of syllables.

   • 2008, Amy Bryzgel, New Avant-gardes in Eastern Europe and Russia, 1987–1999:

     With the rebus principle, sound could be made visible in a systematic way, and abstract concepts symbolized.

   • 2015, Bruce M. Rowe, Diane P. Levine, A Concise Introduction to Linguistics, 4th edition:

     The rebus principle supplemented the logographic principle and allowed full writing systems to develop.