Meanings
- human sciencesThe idea of using ideograms as phonograms representing the sounds of the words expressed by the original ideograms.
The rebus principle appears in both the Egyptian hieroglyphic and in the Chinese writing systems.
1995, Winfried Nöth, Handbook of Semiotics4 more examples
The principle of phonetic transfer is often called the rebus principle. Although the rebus principle of word-sign substitution in situations where there are like sounds was discovered by many diverse civilizations it was not fully exploited by most.
1985, ed. Tosiyasu L. Kunii, Computer Graphics: Visual Technology and Art: Proceedings of Computer Graphics Tokyo ’85Once the rebus principle is accepted by a language in its written form, it is a natural step for such symbols to come to represent the sounds of syllables.
2002, Anita K. Barry, Linguistic Perspectives on Language and EducationWith the rebus principle, sound could be made visible in a systematic way, and abstract concepts symbolized.
2008, Amy Bryzgel, New Avant-gardes in Eastern Europe and Russia, 1987–1999The rebus principle supplemented the logographic principle and allowed full writing systems to develop.
2015, Bruce M. Rowe, Diane P. Levine, A Concise Introduction to Linguistics, 4th edition
Origin
Cite this entry
rebus principle. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/rebus%20principle
“rebus principle.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/rebus%20principle. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “rebus principle,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/rebus%20principle.
Source: rebus principle on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.