text that reads to different words depending on direction
October 17, 2014 10:24 AM Subscribe
What is it called when a word (or short phrase) is written in such a way that when reading it one way it says one thing, but then when you flip it upside down it reads something else (or even maybe the same thing)? The "reads different upside" is based upon how it is written (ie. how the letters are formed, creative scripting and connecting of letters, etc), not the letters (ie. the letter "O" reads the same upside down as right side up). I would love to have a ton of examples of this type of thing.
For the record, I am NOT talking about palindromes or words that read different when in a mirror.
For the record, I am NOT talking about palindromes or words that read different when in a mirror.
That would be an ambigram. Featured prominently in Dan Brown's Angels and Demons.
posted by The Almighty Mommy Goddess at 10:26 AM on October 17, 2014
posted by The Almighty Mommy Goddess at 10:26 AM on October 17, 2014
like this doormat?
Or the cover of the Princess Bride DVD
I have no idea what it's called, but I'd like to know too.
Darn it! should have previewed!
posted by patheral at 10:28 AM on October 17, 2014
Or the cover of the Princess Bride DVD
I have no idea what it's called, but I'd like to know too.
Darn it! should have previewed!
posted by patheral at 10:28 AM on October 17, 2014
Here's another source for the Princess Bride cover (20th anniversary edition)
posted by filthy light thief at 10:35 AM on October 17, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by filthy light thief at 10:35 AM on October 17, 2014 [1 favorite]
I think the original question was not for an ambigram (which is the same word either way up) but for explicitly different words. The only example so far is the doormat that reads both "come in" and "go away". There's very very probably a word for this that isn't ambigram but I don't know what it is.
posted by aimedwander at 10:41 AM on October 17, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by aimedwander at 10:41 AM on October 17, 2014 [1 favorite]
I would love to have a ton of examples of this type of thing
There's the tattoo trend, where the words are often opposites of each other (saint/sinner; love/hate) or else two people's names.
posted by juliplease at 10:48 AM on October 17, 2014
There's the tattoo trend, where the words are often opposites of each other (saint/sinner; love/hate) or else two people's names.
posted by juliplease at 10:48 AM on October 17, 2014
OP asked for both.
On further research, symbiotogram seems to be the word for when the image words are different upside down and rightside up.
posted by mochapickle at 10:49 AM on October 17, 2014 [1 favorite]
On further research, symbiotogram seems to be the word for when the image words are different upside down and rightside up.
posted by mochapickle at 10:49 AM on October 17, 2014 [1 favorite]
It's still called an ambigram when it's read as something different after rotation (like the come in/go away mats), though that page also has a variety of more specific types of ambigram, like symbiotogram.
posted by brainmouse at 10:51 AM on October 17, 2014
posted by brainmouse at 10:51 AM on October 17, 2014
This looks like a pretty definitive history. It says they're the invention of Douglas Hofstadter, who has a book published in Italian about them: Ambigrammi.
posted by ambrosen at 10:51 AM on October 17, 2014
posted by ambrosen at 10:51 AM on October 17, 2014
Just clarifying - you're talking about things like how when you type "5318008" in an old calculator and then turn it upside down it looks like it says "BOOBIES", right?
If so, then...uh, that's one example.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:56 AM on October 17, 2014 [1 favorite]
If so, then...uh, that's one example.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:56 AM on October 17, 2014 [1 favorite]
I would love to have a ton of examples of this type of thing
Wordplay: The Philosophy, Art, and Science of Ambigrams by Scott Kim.
Inversions by Scott Kim.
Inversions gallery at scottkim.com.
I had the pleasure of working a little bit with Scott in the 1990's. He can pretty much do these things freehand on demand. It's a great party trick: ask someone their name and then write it down so that it reads the same upside down and rightside up.
posted by alms at 11:04 AM on October 17, 2014 [2 favorites]
Wordplay: The Philosophy, Art, and Science of Ambigrams by Scott Kim.
Inversions by Scott Kim.
Inversions gallery at scottkim.com.
I had the pleasure of working a little bit with Scott in the 1990's. He can pretty much do these things freehand on demand. It's a great party trick: ask someone their name and then write it down so that it reads the same upside down and rightside up.
posted by alms at 11:04 AM on October 17, 2014 [2 favorites]
An example, since you mentioned saying the same was ok - the brand xpedx is the same either way. Urban legend among my marketing friends say that it was done on purpose so it didn't matter if their boxes were right side up or not, the brand would be right either way.
posted by librarianamy at 11:09 AM on October 17, 2014
posted by librarianamy at 11:09 AM on October 17, 2014
John Langdon did the art for Dan Brown, and inspired Robert Langdon's name.
http://www.johnlangdon.net/
posted by themanwho at 11:09 AM on October 17, 2014
http://www.johnlangdon.net/
posted by themanwho at 11:09 AM on October 17, 2014
Check out LeVar Burton's relevant tattoo: it reads LEVAR one way and KUNTA the other :)
posted by Madamina at 2:23 PM on October 17, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Madamina at 2:23 PM on October 17, 2014 [1 favorite]
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posted by mochapickle at 10:25 AM on October 17, 2014 [4 favorites]