The Lozark Runes

The Lozark Runes are a select set of Elder Futhark, Anglo-Saxon, Younger Futhark, and Medieval runes tailored to represent the English language phonetically and orthographically.

Orthographic Use

Lozark Runes can be used as a simple substitute for the Latin alphabet.  With this method, words are written using traditional spelling, with a vew variations as noted below.

A
A, a, E
B
b
C
c
CH
C
D
d
E
e
F
f
G
g
H
h
I
I, i, Y
J
j
K
k
L
l
M
m
N
n
NG
N
O
O
P
p
Q
q
R
r
S
s
SH
S
T
t
TH
H, T
U
U, o, u
V
v
W
w
X
x
Y
y
Z
z
ZH
Z

Where letter combinations CH, NG, SH, TH, and ZH occur, the symbols C, N, S, H or T, and Z may be used respectively.

There are four cases in which more than one rune may be used for a given letter or letter combination (A, I, TH, & U).  Choose one of the following methods:

  1. Simple Orthographic Mapping:  Use A for A, I for I, H for TH, and U for U.
  2. Phonetic Hybrid Approach:
    • A: Use a when the a is short, as in "at", "and", "after", "act".  Use E when a is pronounced as in "late", "favor", or "same".  Otherwise, use A.
    • I: Use i when the i is short, as in "if", "it", or "into", and with "ng", as in "sing".  Use Y when i is pronounced as in "ice", "item", or "thrive". Otherwise, use I.
    • TH: Use H when the th is unvoiced, as in "think", "thin", "three". Use T when the th is voiced, as in "the", "there", "thus".
    • U: Use o when u is pronounced as in "cut", "under", or "such".  Use u when u is prounounced as in "put" or "should".  Otherwise, use U.

Phonetic Use

With this method, words are written according to how they sound, rather than how they are traditionally spelled.

Using this method, the runes are pronounced as follows:

Rune(s)
IPA
Examples
A
ɑ, ɔ
almond, autumn, often
a
æ
apple, after, and
E
e, eɪ
acorn, aim, eight, say
b
b
bear, beaver
c
k
cat, cause
C
church, cherry
d
d
deer, dog, dragon
e
ɛ
elk, echo, end
f
f
fox, falcon, phoenix
g
g
gift, goat, gryphon
h
h
harp, hearth
I
i
even, eagle, eel, pizza
i
ɪ
image, if, in
Y
aisle, eye, ice, try
j
just, gentle
k
k
key, kind
l
l
life, love
m
m
man, month
n
n
night, nest
N
ŋ
ingot, song
O
o, oʊ
open, oath, own
p
p
pearl, pure
q
kw
quail, quiet
r
r
rain, rest
s
s
sun, ceiling
S
ʃ
shade, share
t
t
time, tree
H
θ
thorn, thunder
T
ð
this, there, then
U
u
to, moon, lute
o
ə, ʌ
other, up, the
u
ʊ
hook, put, should
v
v
valley, vine
w
w
water, wind
x
ks
axe, books
y
j
year, yes
z
z
zoo, zephyr
Z
ʒ
azure, treasure, vision
AU
owl, out
OI
ɔɪ
oil, joy
Ar
ɑr
are, arch
ar
ær
arrow, character
er
ɛr
air, errand, spare
Ir
ɪər
ear, here, iridescent
ir
ɜr
earth, fir, urgent
Or
ɔr
or, soar, war
Ur
ʊr
moor, lure, tour

Note that the symbols c and k both represent the sound /k/c may be used in place of k in words traditionally spelled with a c.  Where "ck" appear together, use k, as in "clock": clAk, or "quick": qik.

Lozark Runes Font

You may download the font used on this page by clicking here.

This font lets you type Lozark Runes using your regular keyboard.  It also supports the unicode symbols used in the Lozark rune set.  Special key mappings are noted below:

A
A
a
a
E
E
c
c
C
C
e
e
I
I
i
i
Y
Y
n
n
N
N
O
O
s
s
S
S
t
t
H
H
T
T
U
U
o
o
u
u
z
z
Z
Z

Lozark runes may be used with either Arabic or Roman numerals.  To facilitate the use of Roman numerals, the following symbols are included in this font:

M
M
D
D
c
c
L
L
X
X
V
V
I
I

Sources and Unicode Values

All of the symbols in the Lozark Runes may be found in the Runic Unicode block.  The unicode value for each symbol is shown below, along with the source of the rune.

Rune
Unicode
Source
A
16A8
EF
a
16AA
AS
E
16AD
YF
b
16D2
EF
c
16B2
EF
C
16B3
AS
d
16DE
EF
e
16D6
EF
f
16A0
EF
g
16B7
EF
h
16BA
EF
I
16C1
EF
i
16C7
EF
Y
16C6
YF
j
16C3
EF
k
16B4
YF
l
16DA
EF
m
16D7
EF
n
16BE
EF
N
16DD
AS
O
16DF
EF
p
16C8
EF
q
16E9
MED
r
16B1
EF
s
16CB
AS
S
16CA
EF
t
16CF
EF
H
16A6
EF
T
16A7
MED
U
16A2
EF
o
16A4
MED
u
16A5
MED
v
16A1
MED
w
16B9
EF
x
16EA
MED
y
16C4
AS
z
16C9
EF
Z
16E3
AS

EF
Elder Futhark
23
runes
AS
Anglo-Saxon
6
runes
YF
Younger Futhark
3
runes
MED
Medieval
6
runes
 
Total
38
runes


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Comments

I've added 3 new runes to this set. E takes the place of eI; C takes the place of tS, and Y takes the place of AI.
Posted by Carolyn on Saturday, October 28, 2023
The pronunciation guide is given above under the section titled "Phonetic Use". The pronunciation is given in both the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), as well as sample English words. When using this system orthographically, you don't need to worry about pronunciation because you are just following the original spelling of the language you are using. Personally, I prefer using the runes phonetically.
Posted by Carolyn on Wednesday, April 12, 2023
It's interesting to see the development of writing systems and the adaptations made to fit specific languages. The use of runes as a substitute for the Latin alphabet is a unique approach. It would be helpful to have a guide on the pronunciation of each of these Lozark Runes to ensure accuracy in written communication.
Posted by george on Wednesday, April 12, 2023
Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth.
The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.
— Isaiah 65:17