When writing in the calligraphic script (sorry idk it’s official name), how do you know when to start a new column? When do you start a new row?
Na’Shaya! Thanks for the ask!
You start a new column simply when you run out of space (much like a new line in a horizontal language like English). Calligraphers will try to not split words in half, except on some occassions with compound words. Depending on the piece and the text some calligraphers may choose to try and fit a sentence on each column or to split it in a specific place, but this is not necessary, specially if you’re writing a longer text.
If you start a new column but you’re continuing the sentence from the previous one, you will need to connect the column to the row line with a mark called a kik (”hook”). You may also choose to place a kliton (arrow) at the end of the previous sentence to let the reader know that the sentence is not finished, but the kliton is usually skipped in more formal texts.
If you start a new column that is also the start of a new sentence, the column will connect with a different mark, called a fo (”shell”), and the last character of the previous sentence will end in a longer stroke called a wu-harr (”long tail”).
By “a new row” I’m guessing you mean a brand new horizontal line with its own kharat-ulidar, if that’s the case then it would just be when you’re starting a new page or a whole new calligraphy piece. Sometimes though, calligraphers will start a new row to mark an ongoing sentence, and attach it to the column where it starts.
This all sounds really confusing to explain but check out the example below to see how the rows and columns connect and the different symbols used, I hope that is easier to understand! (the text is the About section from the Korsaya website).
By the way, the alphabet’s name in Vulcan is Vanu-tanaf-kitaun (”traditional calligraphy”), but everyone will know what you mean if you say calligraphic script :)