Glyphs

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**Glyphs** refer to all the collective glyphs encountered in the world of *Made in Abyss*. Throughout the series, various glyphs have been referred to as **Nether Glyphs** (奈落文字 (ネザーグリフ) , *****Nether Glyphs*****, Netherworld Characters?), **Pictographs** or **Beyond Glyphs** (悠遠の文字 (ビヨンドグリフ) , *****Beyond Glyphs*****, Distant Characters?).

## Nether Glyphs

**Nether Glyphs** are a set of characters found in ruins throughout The Abyss.

Glyphs used by the people from the city of Orth are only a fraction of the Nether Glyphs, from which only the simpler ones have been taken and given a sound from the common language, these were once used by Delvers as codes. These deciphered, comparatively straightforward ideographs known as simplified characters came into use in Orth approximately 300 years ago.

Occasionally, they appear in the series and directly match the Japanese syllabic kana alphabets, as well as some kanji.

The easiest way to decode them is reading the anime opening and end credits, where the names of the staff are laid over the corresponding Orth glyphs. Since each symbol is a match for a kana sign, they can be decoded with a moderate knowledge of Japanese. As a result, people decoded them independently; the result could be found on the internet. Manga readers faced the problem earlier and thus found the solution first. There are some differences in style but overall it is possible to read both manga and anime texts.

Table of Orth city letters and corresponding Japanese romajiTable of Nether Glyphs used in Orth and Pictograms mentioned by Sherumi and Menae
In the table above, the translation from Orth glyphs to katakana is presented, and below there are some examples of translated text. Written text is mostly used for illustrative purposes to create a mysterious look, though new information pertaining to the Unheard Bell, Uranaguapu, and the Turbinid-Dragon have been written in the anime's title cards.

All glyphs are strictly linked to the Japanese language.

### Examples from the Anime

Example of Glyphs being used in the opening creditsThe first appearance of runes in the animeLyza's letter: "waiting at the bottom"Signature of NanachiRecycled book names: "Ibetsu kaishuu no kihan" or "Norm for Relic Retrieval""Ka e ra zu no mi ya ko na so" or "Capital of the Unreturned""Exploration notes of the Abyss"An example of handwriting from the third movie"Thanks for everything you do – From Prushka"

1. **Kaminoke** (Hair)

2. **Regu de kimami** (Decided on Reg)

3. **Kubi chotto nagai** (Neck is a little long)

4. **Oheso** (belly button), **Chinchin** (childish term for penis)

5. **Chotto kawatta beruto** (Strange belt)

6. **Herumetto** (Helmet), **kawaii** (cute or tiny, in reference to "chinchin" in 4)

7. **Harumetto no Kizu** (Scratch in helmet)

8. **Nande chinchin ga tsuiterun tarou** (Why is there a penis attached? Why does he have a penis?)

9. **oshikko suru?** (does it pee?)

The lamps indicating life signals appear in the manga, anime, and in the second movie when Bondrewd notices Mitty's lamp has gone out. When transcript with English equivalent letters most of these names are: Isuke, Iroso, Pueru, Temuu, Hinika, Sumiko, Toran, Jitowa, Temu, Petora, Maruka, Kinshii, Kebihi, Shiyaroko, Susumu, Toimu, Shipube, Emupo, Iroso, Iitan. Some of these names are repeated multiple times.

### Examples from the Manga

Pictographs in Distant Characters 1Nanachi's portrait of Team Riko (labeled)The simplified character for "netherworld" used in writing in Funeral SlipsLyza's note describing a creature named "Uranaguapu"
## Beyond Glyphs

Beyond Glyphs, or Distant Characters, are glyphs in drawing form with more than one meaning. Glyphs used in Orth are based on them and according to the interaction between Sherumi and Menae, the characters are seemingly unlimited in number and new kinds are still being found. They are considered to be separate from the Nether Glyphs used in Orth and are said to have a different grammar from the official language.

### Examples

Beyond Glyphs in Distant Characters 2Beyond Glyphs on Irumyuui's backBeyond Glyphs taught to Faputa by GaburoonBeyond Glyphs shown by Elder Tribesman in the animeBeyond Glyphs found in Ganja's camp; Irumyuui reads it as "ZOIGYUUSOushi METtsuOKORIjasu"Beyond Glyphs with readings from the language of Iruburu
## Trivia

* Ozen was able to tell Lyza's Letter was written by someone else since the script did not use the simplified character for 'netherworld' and instead is written in syllabic Nether Glyphs only.
* The Abyss Tribe may have tried to apply their own sounds to the ancient alphabet found on the island.

## Footnotes

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Some sentences written in Nether Glyphs in the anime may contain typos in Japanese. To elaborate: ibetsu-ibutsu(relic)1.0 kimami-kimari(decision)1.1 harumetto-herumetto(helmet)1.2

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Made in Abyss Manga: Made in Abyss Chapter 023, Page 5
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Made in Abyss Manga: Made in Abyss Volume 06
3. ↑ Table of Orth City Letters
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Made in Abyss Anime: Made in Abyss Episode 01
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Made in Abyss Anime: Made in Abyss Episode 02
6. ↑ Made in Abyss Anime: Made in Abyss Season 2 Episode 11
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Made in Abyss Anime: Made in Abyss Season 2 Episode 05
8. ↑ Made in Abyss Anime: Made in Abyss Episode 06
9. ↑ Made in Abyss Anime: Made in Abyss Episode 11
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Made in Abyss Anime: Made in Abyss Episode 13
11. ↑ Made in Abyss Movie 3: Dawn of the Deep Soul
12. ↑ Made in Abyss: Together with Papa
13. ↑ Made in Abyss Manga: Made in Abyss Chapter 039, Page 32
14. ↑ Made in Abyss Manga: Made in Abyss Side Story Chapter 003, Page 8
15. ↑ Made in Abyss Manga: Made in Abyss Chapter 058, Page 23
16. ↑ Made in Abyss Manga: Made in Abyss Chapter 061, Page 11
17. ↑ Made in Abyss Manga: Made in Abyss Volume 10
18. ↑ Made in Abyss Manga: Made in Abyss Volume 08
19. ↑ Made in Abyss Anime: Made in Abyss Season 2 Episode 01
20. ↑ Made in Abyss Anime: Made in Abyss Season 2 Episode 07
21. ↑ Made in Abyss Manga: Made in Abyss Chapter 017, Page 10
22. ↑ Tweet