Ik Onkar Model formulation
Four Categories and the 31 Gurmukhi Akhars: the basic parts and functions
Out of 35 akhars, a total of 31 akhars could be mapped with respect to EF, AF categories / groupings (on x-axis) and SF, CF categories / groupings (on y-axis).
Purpose behind a grouping is to extract similarities and differences. Hence, the categories have been named as bipolar units of FORMS and FEATURES (Figure 17).
- FORMS: involve letter structures as a whole.
- FEATURES: involve parts that make the whole.
Figure 17. Ik Onkar Gurmukhi mapping model
Insightful leads with respect to Type Design
- FORMS: The letterforms that are enclosed within the rhombic boundaries of both Form categories are those that is only within either of these categories. The ones on boundries of the rhombic edges also belong to either of the Features categories.
- For instance, ਕ, ਫ, ਡ akhars become one set for form explorations in display. They share a common feature of the knot/ closed counters in different parts of their letter anatomical constructions.
- However, there are some forms that are purely either expressive (ਲ,ਨ) or aesthetic ones (ੳ, ਬ) and (ਥ, ਖ).
- FEATURES: There are some striking, visually dynamic letterforms that are at the intersections of both features and forms – making them represent duality in form and language, meaningfully (ਅ, ਘ) and (ੲ, ਯ, ਚ)
