The Gallifreyan alphabet was created by a fan of Dr. Who named Loren Sherman. They created this way of writing so they could transform English words to mimic the artistic representations of the Doctor’s native language, Gallifreyan. It is not used by the show and is not a real language. [3] X Research source
The general guide to writing Gallifreyan has three different charts and a brief explanation of numbers. One chart displays consonants, one vowels, and the third punctuation marks. If a printer is unavailable and you cannot print these resources, you might keep them open in a tab on your computer or open them in the browser on your phone. This way, you’ll be able to compare your practice words to the Gallifreyan symbol references. [5] X Research source
With the four consonant-symbols and five diacritics, there are a total of 24 consonants in Gallifreyan, which is slightly larger than English’s 21 consonant alphabet. The reason Gallifreyan has more consonant-symbols is because Gallifreyan use a graphed alphabet instead of one based on characters/letters. [6] X Research source Because of this, Gallifreyan has special symbols for the letter combinations: TH, SH, CH, NG, and QU. Circular Gallifreyan does not make use of the letter C. If you are trying to write an English word with the letter C, use the consonant the C most sounds like. For example, in the word ‘cake’ in Circular Gallifreyan would be spelled ‘kake. ’ The word ‘office’ would be spelled ‘offise. ’ The four base consonant-symbols, without any diacritic marks, represent B, J, T, and TH. By adding the appropriate Gallifreyan diacritic mark, for example a pair of dots, you will transform these four base consonant-symbols into every other consonant. [7] X Research source
The consonant B is shaped like a full circle with a small gap at the bottom. By adding a diacritic mark to the B-symbol, you can change it into the letters CH, D, F, G, and H. The consonant J is shaped like a full circle placed on the inside of larger sentence circles. By adding a diacritic mark to the J-symbol, you can change it into the letters K, L, M, N, and P. The consonant T is shaped like an open horseshoe oriented with its open side facing the perimeter of its word-circle. By adding a diacritic mark to the T-symbol, you can change it into the letters SH, R, S, V, and W. The consonant TH is shaped like a full circle with a horizontal line through the middle. By adding a diacritic mark to the TH-symbol, you can change it into the letters Y, Z, NG, QU, and X.
The first diacritic is represented by two dots. These can be applied to the base consonant-symbols to make the consonants CH, K, SH, and Y. The second diacritic is represented by three dots. These can be applied to the base consonant-symbols to make the consonants D, L, R, and Z. The third diacritic is represented by three vertical lines. These can be applied to the base consonant-symbols to make the consonants F, M, S, and NG. The fourth diacritic is a single vertical line. This can be applied to the base consonant-symbols to make the consonants G, N, V, and QU. The fifth and last diacritic is represented by two vertical lines. These can be applied to the base consonant-symbols to make the consonants H, P, W, and X.
The vowel A is a small circle that should be placed below, but not touching, the perimeter of the symbol it modifies. The vowel E is a small circle that should be placed in the center of the symbol it is modifying. The vowel I is a small circle that should be placed so that it is in the center of the symbol it modifies. However, the letter I will also need a line coming off some point of its perimeter pointing inward at the center of its word-circle. The vowel O is a small circle that should be placed on the topmost part of the perimeter of the symbol it modifies. The vowel U is a small circle that should be placed at the center of the symbol it is modifying. It should also have a line coming off some point on its perimeter extending outward, away from the middle of its word-circle. [8] X Research source
By connecting vowels to preceding consonants, you gain the benefit of more consistency with your Gallifreyan symbols, which will likely make your writing easier to read. Freestanding vowels may be more confusing to read at first, but can allow for more intricate patterns. Generally, freestanding vowels only occur when a word begins with a vowel. In this case you will orient your vowel with regard to the perimeter of the larger circle that contains all the letters together into one word. The letter A will float just outside the word-circle; E, I, and U will rest on the perimeter of the word-circle; O will float just inside the word-circle. Shorter words will have less vowels. You may be able to make these look more aesthetically pleasing by keeping the vowels freestanding. Freestanding vowels can also make some words easier to read. [9] X Research source
Complicated words might require larger word-circles. Try to arrange your letter-symbols to be evenly spaced throughout your word-circle. This will create better balance in the overall appearance of your word-circles.
A reading order that starts at the bottom and moves counterclockwise. So, in the example of a sentence-circle, your first word will be at the bottom of the sentence-circle, and the next word-circle will be counterclockwise, and so on. In a word-circle containing letter-symbols, the first letter will be the bottom-most symbol, and the next letter will be counterclockwise, and so on. Interlocking letters and words together. By interlocking letters and words together you’ll make your Gallifreyan writing look most authentic. In particular, the symbols used for the consonants R, S, SH, T, V, and W can be extended throughout word-circles and sentence-circles to connect letters of the same word or words of the same sentence. The use of double circles for doubled letters. You can use double circles to indicate double consonants or vowels. For example, the word bookcase would use a doubled circle for the O. You may want to keep your double circles separate for shorter words though, like bee, took, and foot. Writing out both doubled consonants in shorter words will give them a more intricate appearance.
Two circles will make up the perimeter of your sentence-circle. These two circles should be drawn differently. The outer circle should be mostly smooth arcs with maybe one or two inward curving sides. The inner circle should have random inward divots to give your Gallifreyan a more intricate appearance. The inner and outer parts of the sentence-circles are used for the purpose of conveying punctuation and connection. The inner circle is where you’ll add your punctuation marks to a sentence. The outer circle, though mostly circular, should follow the divots created by the inner circle in some places. This will create one or more inward curves in which you can nest other connected sentence-circles. Circular Gallifreyan makes use of standard English punctuation. For example, the periods you put on the divotted, inner sentence-circle will always occur after the last word-circle. Punctuation should always immediately precede or follow word-circles. [13] X Research source
Create a period by drawing an open circle on the inner ring of your sentence-circle. Create a question by drawing two closed floating close to, but not touching, the inside of the inner ring of your sentence-circle. Create an exclamation mark by drawing three dots floating close to, but not touching, the inside of the inner ring of your sentence-circle. Create quotations by drawing a single line oriented away from the center of the sentence-circle. Create apostrophes by drawing two lines oriented away from the center of the sentence-circle. Create a hyphen by drawing three lines oriented away from the center of the sentence-circle. Create a comma by drawing a filled in circle or solid dot on the inner ring of your sentence-circle. Create a semicolon by drawing a single closed dot floating close to, but not touching, the inner ring of your sentence-circle. Create a colon with a double circle (a circle inside of a circle) on the inner ring of your sentence-circle. [15] X Research source
For example, you might want to explore different aspects of a central idea. To do so, you could write that idea in a sentence-circle and branch off from it to the right in different chains. These chains would represent the explored aspects of the idea. [16] X Research source
Your circular objects don’t have to be perfect. You might want to try your own oblong variation of Gallifreyan that uses an oval shape as the base. You could also rotate between several different circular shapes when drawing your word-circles. For example, your first word could be bordered by a circle, the second by a fat oval, and the third by a tall oval.
While writing in Gallifreyan, you may want your computer or cell phone browser open to the alphabet and punctuation pages online. You could also print out the alphabet and punctuation forms, or copy them onto a blank sheet freehand. Sherman’s Planet, being the home of circular Gallifreyan, has many resources you could use. [18] X Research source
On your chart, you may notice that the base symbol for the letter D looks something like a horseshoe with flat lines coming off its tips to the left and right. These flat lines should not be drawn when you write this symbol. The flat lines represent the larger word-circle inside which you’re drawing your letter. [19] X Research source
When thinking about the placement of a vowel, imagine the dotted grid that represents the placement of the vowel as shown in your vowel chart. Then imagine the base symbol for the consonant you will write. Overlay the vowel with the consonant so the circles match. This will show you approximately where on the consonant you should attach your vowel. Your letter-symbols should always move around your word-circle in a counterclockwise fashion. As the outside of your word-circle becomes crowded, spiral inward toward the center of your word-circle.
The dots inside your K can be arranged in any way you please. However, you might find that by orienting your diacritic marks, in this case the solid dots, in the direction of the next letter, you may have an easier time reading your Gallifreyan. [20] X Research source At this point you should have a large circle with a small gap at the bottom. Springing up from both sides of the gap is a loop. On the upper right hand part of the loop is an open circle. Counterclockwise (to the right) to the loop is a circle with two solid dots in it. These symbols represent the letters “doc”.
Make sure the mouth of your T symbol is wide so that it isn’t confused for another letter. The letter B is shaped similarly except it has a narrower gap at its base.
Be careful when drawing the letter R. It can sometimes be confused for a wide mouthed letter B.
