A microcomputer-based synthesis of Blissymbols from key components to facilitate language acquisition in severely disabled people

Blissymbolics is a semantically-based graphic language which was originally developed as universal channel of communication to promote world peace. Instead, this logical and unambiguous symbol system has been adopted as a communication-enhancement system for pre-reading non-speaking children, and it is now ranked as the most comprehensive and effective graphic system used within augmentative communication. Over the years, a number of multi-functional programmes designed to manipulate microcomputer- based assembly of Blissymbols have been developed. Although some of these applications have become rather popular, none of them is based on a mechanism which provides their users with a cognitive access to the stored symbol vocabulary. The present research was initiated and devised with an underlying goal to gain an insight into some of the most potent characteristics of Blissymbolics, and then, with the backing of the findings, offer a microcomputer-based interface featuring a cognitive technique designed to facilitate retrieval, manipulation, teaching and learning of Blissymbols.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Department of Human Biology

Year dc:date.issued

1991

Author dc:creator

• Shalit, Ami

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Boonzaier, David

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/26322

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/26322