Japanese gothic typeface
Encyclopedia
Sans-serif typefaces are a type style characterised by strokes of even thickness, reduced curves, and lack of decorations, akin to sans serif styles in Western typography
. It is the second most commonly used style in East Asian typography, after Ming.
. It was so named because the type color
of early sans serif typefaces were thought to be similar to that of the blackletter
or “gothic” script.
The term “gothic” is now rare in English, having been largely replaced by "sans-serif", though it is still found in the names of some typefaces such as "Century Gothic
". However, it is still the standard term in Japan for typefaces lacking the equivalent of serifs. These additions, seen in Minchō
typefaces, are called uroko (fish scales) in Japanese.
In Korean, godik ("gothic") was used to describe sans-serif-like typefaces until recently. Following a Ministry of Culture-sponsored standardization of typographic terms in 1993, the Korean word dodum ("mount", "stand out") was introduced to replace godik and is now the more popular term. (Although Windows Vista
now ships with Malgun Gothic font which replaces Dotum and Gulim fonts.)
In Chinese, gothic typefaces are called “hēi” (黑/黒, "black"); this is probably derived from blackletter
in the same way. However, since the adjective "black" in English describes a typeface with heavy font weight, heavy serif typefaces are also called "hēi" in Chinese, which causes confusion. Coincidentally, SimHei has heavier font weight than MS Gothic, Dotum, Gulim; while Microsoft YaHei is heavier than Microsoft JhengHei and Meiryo, which also serve to perpetuate the misconception. In professional use, bold font is called 'thick' typeface .
, the use of sans-serif typefaces is common, with a number of default system fonts being sans-serif. Also, many Korea
n computing environments use Gulim which includes soft curves but is a sans-serif typeface. In contrast, many Chinese computing environments use Song (serif) typefaces by default.
In Chinese versions of Microsoft Windows XP and older, the default interface typefaces are seriffed (MingLiU and SimSun), which is inconsistent with the sans-serif styling use in most other (including East Asian) regions of the product. Starting in Windows Vista
, the default interface typefaces in all regions were changed to sans-serif styles, using Microsoft JhengHei in Traditional Chinese environments and Microsoft YaHei in Simplified Chinese environments.
Typography
Typography is the art and technique of arranging type in order to make language visible. The arrangement of type involves the selection of typefaces, point size, line length, leading , adjusting the spaces between groups of letters and adjusting the space between pairs of letters...
. It is the second most commonly used style in East Asian typography, after Ming.
Characteristics
Similar to Ming and Song typefaces, sans-serif typefaces were designed for printing, but they were also designed for legibility. They are commonly used in headlines, signs, and video applications.Classifications
- Square sans (Japanese: kaku goshikku; ), the classic sans-serif style in which the lines of the characters have squared ends.
- Overlapping square sans - This style is similar to the square sans, but in places where strokes overlap, a margin is inserted between the strokes to distinguish the strokes.
- Square new book - Uses narrow horizontal and thick vertical strokes, similar to typefaces such as OptimaOptimaOptima is a humanist sans-serif typeface designed by Hermann Zapf between 1952 and 1955 for the D. Stempel AG foundry, Frankfurt, Germany.-Characteristics:...
.
- Round sans (Japanese: maru goshikku) has rounded ends and corners to the lines of the characters. In some cases, short protruding stroke ends at intersections are eliminated to make glyphs look rounder. This is the style of typeface used for Japanese road signs.
- Overlapping round sans - This is similar to the round sans, but in places where strokes overlap, a margin is inserted between the strokes to distinguish the strokes.
- Rounded new book - Uses narrow horizontal and thick vertical strokes, along with rounded line ends and corners.
- Mixed art - Curved strokes are replaced by angled strokes with sharp or round corners.
The name “Gothic”
In English, Gothic is an outmoded typographic term for sans-serifSans-serif
In typography, a sans-serif, sans serif or san serif typeface is one that does not have the small projecting features called "serifs" at the end of strokes. The term comes from the French word sans, meaning "without"....
. It was so named because the type color
Type color
In typography, type color refers to the weight or boldness of a typeface and is used by designers and typographers to describe the visual tone of a mass of text on a page. The type color of a particular typeface affects the amount of ink on the page, also known as its blackness...
of early sans serif typefaces were thought to be similar to that of the blackletter
Blackletter
Blackletter, also known as Gothic script, Gothic minuscule, or Textura, was a script used throughout Western Europe from approximately 1150 to well into the 17th century. It continued to be used for the German language until the 20th century. Fraktur is a notable script of this type, and sometimes...
or “gothic” script.
The term “gothic” is now rare in English, having been largely replaced by "sans-serif", though it is still found in the names of some typefaces such as "Century Gothic
Century Gothic
Century Gothic is a geometric sans-serif typeface designed for Monotype Imaging in 1991. It is a digital typeface that has never been made into actual foundry type...
". However, it is still the standard term in Japan for typefaces lacking the equivalent of serifs. These additions, seen in Minchō
Mincho
Ming or Song is a category of typefaces used to display Chinese characters, which are used in the Chinese, Japanese, and Korean languages...
typefaces, are called uroko (fish scales) in Japanese.
In Korean, godik ("gothic") was used to describe sans-serif-like typefaces until recently. Following a Ministry of Culture-sponsored standardization of typographic terms in 1993, the Korean word dodum ("mount", "stand out") was introduced to replace godik and is now the more popular term. (Although Windows Vista
Windows Vista
Windows Vista is an operating system released in several variations developed by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, tablet PCs, and media center PCs...
now ships with Malgun Gothic font which replaces Dotum and Gulim fonts.)
In Chinese, gothic typefaces are called “hēi” (黑/黒, "black"); this is probably derived from blackletter
Blackletter
Blackletter, also known as Gothic script, Gothic minuscule, or Textura, was a script used throughout Western Europe from approximately 1150 to well into the 17th century. It continued to be used for the German language until the 20th century. Fraktur is a notable script of this type, and sometimes...
in the same way. However, since the adjective "black" in English describes a typeface with heavy font weight, heavy serif typefaces are also called "hēi" in Chinese, which causes confusion. Coincidentally, SimHei has heavier font weight than MS Gothic, Dotum, Gulim; while Microsoft YaHei is heavier than Microsoft JhengHei and Meiryo, which also serve to perpetuate the misconception. In professional use, bold font is called 'thick' typeface .
Sans-serif typefaces in computing
In Japanese computingJapanese language and computers
In relation to the Japanese language and computers many adaptation issues arise, some unique to Japanese and others common to languages which have a very large number of characters. The number of characters needed in order to write English is very small, and thus it is possible to use only one byte...
, the use of sans-serif typefaces is common, with a number of default system fonts being sans-serif. Also, many Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
n computing environments use Gulim which includes soft curves but is a sans-serif typeface. In contrast, many Chinese computing environments use Song (serif) typefaces by default.
In Chinese versions of Microsoft Windows XP and older, the default interface typefaces are seriffed (MingLiU and SimSun), which is inconsistent with the sans-serif styling use in most other (including East Asian) regions of the product. Starting in Windows Vista
Windows Vista
Windows Vista is an operating system released in several variations developed by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, tablet PCs, and media center PCs...
, the default interface typefaces in all regions were changed to sans-serif styles, using Microsoft JhengHei in Traditional Chinese environments and Microsoft YaHei in Simplified Chinese environments.