Design Principles for Bi-Scriptual Arabic-Latin Typography

This research shows the role of design quality on which bilingual and bi-scriptual layout depends. Negative and positive effects of typographic design are more than aesthetic; they concern cultural identity. If a design implicitly disrespects the text of one culture, or if the written elements of a language are treated with less regard than the juxtaposed language, readers of that language feel marginalised and less valued. Bilingual and bi-scriptual typography have not been treated as a new field of typography, and there remains a lack of analysis of the different typographic and design needs of bilingualism and the specificity of bi-scriptual texts. There is much literature shedding light on the practice of type design to marry two scripts, but research into the principles of how to treat two languages or scripts for the arrangement of text in a layout remains scarce. This research project includes both primary and secondary research on bilingual, bi-scriptual layouts that juxtapose Latin and Arabic. In general, most demonstrate poor quality design, as there is a lack of guidance and training for designers on how to treat Arabic in coexistence with Latin. Arguably, this poor design quality has a negative effect on the cultural identity of the readers of the language, and, as relevant literature shows, it appears that people are becoming accustomed to such poor design qualities. A principle is therefore needed to guide the practice of bilingual, bi-scriptual layouts. This research considers bilingual, bi-scriptual typography as a new field of typography, intending to identify its needs with a specific focus on typographic issues that are distinguished from monolingualism. The aim is to set a principle and identify the role of principles that feed bi-scriptual Latin and Arabic typographic practices. As a result, the conclusion of this research proposes a new set of categorisations for the field of bilingual, bi-scriptual typography. It further proposes a new categorisation of typographic layouts in the juxtaposition of Latin and Arabic; and it provides a detailed critical analysis of the anatomy of letterforms. Finally, principles are proposed to include their role of achieving visual excellence in the juxtaposition of Latin and Arabic.