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Lesson 4b: Hieroglyphic Block Order

Lesson 4b: Hieroglyphic Block Order

In this chapter we focus on the arrangements used to create flow from the beginning to the end of the sentence. No new vocabulary or grammar is introduced, but almost all block order rules are covered.

Block arrangements

In lesson 5, we will start adding modifiers to our nouns and verbs, and the possible glyph block arrangements increase drastically. We won’t be able to cover all the possibilities for each sentence, so it’s probably a good idea that we run through these rules one more time before we go on. A lot of the information below is a review of what you already know, but there are a few more details that cover possibilities to come.

arranging two blocks

block structure
block structure

Hieroglyphic blocks are read from top to bottom, and from left to right.

Two blocks can be arranged either vertically or horizontally.

arranging three blocks

block structure
block structure

There are four possible arrangements for three blocks, two of which we have already seen.

block structure
block structure

All four of them use two small blocks arranged on the side of one large block.

arranging four blocks

block structure

With four blocks of equal size, they are read down the left column first, and then down the right.

containers and infixes

block structure

Some glyph blocks have other glyphs drawn inside of them. The outside glyph is called the container glyph, and the inside glyph the infix. There can be more than one infix in any container, and more that one container in any sentence.

block structure

Container glyphs act as any other glyph block in a sentence. Inside the container, infixed glyphs follow the same block order rules.

columns and rows

block structure
block structure

When glyph blocks are stacked from the top to the bottom of a sentence block, this breaks the sentence into columns. When glyph blocks run from one side of the sentence to the other, this breaks the sentence into rows.

block structure
block structure

Columns and rows are always read all the way through before going to the next column or row.

colums before rows.

What if you can go either down a column or across a row? Just like with the four-block structure, always go down a column first if there is a choice.

block structure
block structure

sub-columns and sub-rows

Any row or column can further divided into sub-rows or sub-columns. Just remember to find the main rows or columns first, and treat them like smaller glyph block arrangements. Then the whole sentence can be pieced together.

block structure