The profession of calligraphy

During the Middle Ages calligraphy was a highly specialized technique practiced by monks and professional scribes. Medieval calligraphers developed a complicated Gothic, or black letter, script. This heavy, angular writing, although it was imprecise and difficult to read, became the accepted book hand throughout Europe and was copied by the first printers. There are outstanding examples of Gothic script in medieval illuminated 

The profession of calligraphy reached its peak in Renaissance Italy. Renaissance scholars, however, found the intricacies of Gothic script inappropriate for the transcription of classical texts. They devised a less complicated style based on the earlier Caroline script developed during Charlemagne's reign. The Renaissance script, known as neo-Caroline, or humanistic, was the forerunner of modern handwriting.

Uncial capitals - Italic Calligraphy

In Europe during the 4th and 5th centuries books were written in square capitals ('majuscules') derived from classical Roman inscriptions (Trajan's Column in Rome is the outstanding example). The rustic capitals of the same period were written more freely, the pen being held at a severe angle so that the scribe was less frequently inclined to change the angle for special flourishes. Uncial capitals, more rounded, were used from the 4th to the 8th centuries. During this period the cursive hand was also developing, and the interplay of this with the formal hands, coupled with the need for speedier writing, led to the small letter forms ('minuscules').

During the 7th century the half-uncial was developed with ascending and descending strokes and was adopted by all countries under Roman rule. The cursive forms developed differently in different countries. In Italy the italic script was evolved and became the model for italic typefaces. Printing and the typewriter reduced the need for calligraphy in the West.

English Font Style - Old English Style

It is quite possible that English fonts are the most elegant of all the font styles that are made available to us today.  Of course, by "English font" we mean fonts of the English alphabet whose styles are evidently influenced by English culture from the past to the present rather than any font that uses the English alphabet as a base.  That being said, English fonts – whether they happen to be old English fonts or modern English fonts – tend to have a certain charm and respectability about them that very few other fonts could manage.  Perhaps this is because, collectively, there is a certain sense of history and authority that is associated with English fonts (old and modern alike). 

One cannot help but feel either awe or respect for English fonts, perhaps because England is famously associated with the development of great secular literature; it is the home of Chaucer, William Shakespeare, G.K. Chesterton, and P.G. Wodehouse.  They are writers of a certain wit and imagination, such that they have brought the English language greatness – and English fonts a quiet sort of wit that easily translates to lighthearted dignity. 

A Trip To The History Of English-Old English Font

Old English, also known as Anglo-Saxon, in a very early type of English language which was never static as its usage had covered a time span of near about 700 years. In between the mid of 5th & 12th centuries this was the language which was used for written & speaking purposes by the Anglo-Saxon & their descendants, who used to live in the parts that are now known as the England and eastern & southern parts of Scotland. This language started appearing in writing during the beginning of the 8th century, and most of the text was found written in West Saxon, one of the four main dialects. The other three were Mercian, Northumbrian, & Kentish.

Another major cause of loanwords to the Old English language was the time when the Scandinavian words were being introduced in them during the invasion of the Vikings in 9th or 10th century. This mainly consists of names of many places alongwith the items of basic vocabulary, & words that are particular in terms of administrative aspects of the Danelaw. This is followed by another Anglo-Saxon preference that took small number of Celtic loanwords for the language.

Learning Chinese in China - Chinese Alphabet Symbol

Before you start learning Chinese, be sure that you know which part of China you will be visiting so that you can learn that particular dialect. For example, if you are planning on visiting Hong Kong, you will want to learn Cantonese, as this is the dialect that is spoken in this part of China the most

After you have learned a few words in Chinese and have picked up the alphabet, you will be able to start to communicate in Chinese to others. Although your language will be rusty at first, you will soon get the hang of it. Chinese is not a difficult language to master, once you select a dialect and learn the alphabet. As soon as you pick up the concept of the language, you will then be able to pick up an increasing number of words. The more you force yourself to speak Chinese, the better off you will be. You will find that it becomes easier to communicate in this language the more you use it.

Lowercase Calligraphy

Written in calligraphy, words appear to waltz across a page. But don't let the rythmic flourishes and old-world elegance of such lettering fool you. Calligraphy is easy to learn. All you need to do it are a few special tools and a bit of patient practice. Before long, you'll find making letters this way as comfortable as using your best penmanship.

There are numerous styles and methods of calligraphy. We selected copperplate script because of its sophisticated appearance and simple form. Begin with a pen, a nib, ink or gouache, a guide sheet, and paper. Dip the pen into the ink until the hole of the nib is nearly covered; tap the nib on the rim of the pot, then make a few strokes on scrap paper to eliminate any excess ink, which might cause blotches or drips. The goal is to use enough ink to make solid lines, but not so much that the lines bleed. When the nib begins to scratch the paper, it's time to redip your pen.

calligraphy samples art

There are several kinds of calligraphy pens to choose from when you're starting out. Most calligraphers recommend working with a dip pen for best results. But calligraphy for beginners is much easier to start with if you use a felt-pen or a fountain-pen that has a calligraphy nib. If you prefer, fasten two pencils together to practise ‘double-line' calligraphy so you start to understand the way the letterforms work. Most books on the subject will contain a few pages of calligraphy instructions about different types of pen and other tools.

Creating A Gothic Alphabet

Historically, the ‘Gothic' alphabet refers to a series of scripts used to write texts in Europe between the 12th and 15th centuries, roughly speaking. These scripts varied in quality, shape and style but they also shared definite characteristics which we still look for in Gothic alphabets today.

Free Old English Letters

The above facts and information about the Old English Letters used during Elizabethan times help to clarify the confusion surrounding the translation of old English documents! The facts explain why the old English letters in Elizabethan manuscripts look different to the way they are written in modern English! They also explain why English words were spelt differently in the Elizabethan language and why old English letters were written differently in the Elizabethan era! The above explanations about old English letters provide valuable information for those wishing to try the translation of an Elizabethan document!

This information about the old English Elizabethan Language and the Elizabethan Online Dictionary for an easy to follow Elizabethan language guide! The translation and definition of the Elizabethan words and meanings used in the Elizabethan language make the literature of the era, including the works of William Shakespeare much easier to understand!