A descriptive framework for Chinese–English bilingual typography

Authors

Keith Tam, Hong Kong Design Institute & HK Institute of Vocational Education (Lee Wai Lee), Vocational Training CouncilFollow

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

2012

Abstract

This article introduces and discusses a comparative descriptive framework for Chinese–English bilingual typography. Using representative examples of Chinese–English typography from Hong Kong as case studies, a comparative descriptive framework that systematically describes and compares typographic attributes of the Chinese and English languages has been developed. Drawing from linguistics as well as typography theory, this comparative descriptive framework provides an important theoretical basis for the study of multilingual typography. The framework may be used to describe all possible situations in which the two languages coexist, breaking down each attribute and putting them into meaningful groupings. The framework consists of 76 attribute comparisons organised in two main classes (graphic and spatial) and 11 sub-groupings.

Source Publication

Typographische Monatsblätter

First Page

38

Last Page

46

Recommended Citation

Tam, K. (2012). A descriptive framework for Chinese–English bilingual typography. Typographische Monatsblätter, 38-46. Retrieved from https://repository.vtc.edu.hk/ive-de-sp/84