(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.
