This article concerns with the evolution of graphic symbols (of system of writing and numerals) from a semeiotic viewpoint. Their main progress trend is seen in the motion from icons to conventional symbols. Pictography is the proto-writing starting with drawings and following the schematic object images («proto-name»), schematic scenes with animals, people and other objects («proto-proposition»), and the sequence of scenes («proto-text»). Hiérogliphic writing is a speech recording where their images act as names of objects. In the syllabic writing system the names of objects is a record of sounding speech that is similar to the alphabetic writing where letters become conventional symbols of sounds. These developmental stages of writing have been embodied in a number of mystical doctrines. Thus, the kabbel method «notaricon» considers angel names in the Torah as abbreviations where each letter is developed into a word. As to the number designation, there was advance from the image in the necessary quantity of subjects by means of which people started counting (e.g. using fingers, stones, etc.) and followed by using special signs. With the appearance of writing systems written symbols were used to represent numbers. With the origin of the alphabetic writing, this connection amplified, especially inthe Attic and Ionic writing systems. The general principles of modern recording system, including the weighted (number) systemas well asthe concept and a special symbol for the digit 0, were generated in Ancient India where signs of syllabic writing «brahmi» were used for recording numbers. During an epoch of the Middle Ages these principles became known to Arabs and so they took advantage of the principles, using the letters of their alphabet for number designation. Then Arabs created special signs for numbers – numerals. At first in the specific symbols the number of angels corresponded to a certain number. Later the tracings of numerals became rounder and looked as round as they are now. As a result, they becamemerely conventional symbols.
semiotics; icon signs; conventional signs; symbols; pictography; hiérogliphe writing; the syllabic writing; the alphabetic writing; numbers; names of numbers; numerals
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