Symbolilla

Symbolilla is a fictional symbolic notation system intended to encode a wide range of symbolic expressions with a compact, extensible alphabet. It is designed to sit between formal logic and graphical notation, enabling concise representation of relationships, predicates, and modal nuances.

Conceptualized by linguist and designer Mira Alavi in the early 2010s as a thought experiment for cross-disciplinary notation. A reference implementation appeared in 2016 as part of an open-source project to explore lightweight symbolic systems. The name combines symbol with the diminutive prefix -illa, implying a small set of primitives.

The core theory uses a small set of base glyphs representing objects, predicates, and operators; modifiers attach to glyphs to indicate scope, negation, or quantification. Grouping is achieved with bracket-like marks; a separate layer encodes uncertainty or probability. Unicode-compatible glyphs are proposed for digital rendering. The system emphasizes readability and rapid parsing by both humans and machines.

In fiction and puzzle contexts, Symbolilla has been used to illustrate cross-disciplinary notation or as a teaching tool for formal reasoning. In discussions of notation design, it is cited as an example of minimalism and modularity. No single governing body oversees Symbolilla, and different communities have created alternative extensions or dialects.