Font feature
A writing feature is a defined , scientifically observable and measurable property of a handwriting . Font characteristics are assessed in graphology , font psychology and forensic font comparison .
Historical bases
A handwriting sample is given to the senses; it can be perceived like any other object in the physical world. In order to adequately describe handwriting for a specific purpose, various systems of script description with varying script characteristics have been developed. There are different system of categories with the help of which the basically infinite number of font characteristics can be grouped.
Jean Hippolyte Michon wanted to grasp the anatomy of writing by focusing his attention on points, lines, letters, words, lines, paragraphs, and the like. a. steered. He started with the simplest graphic structures and then moved on to more complex units. Points z. B. can be viewed in terms of their shape, their position, their accumulation or absence. Letters can be examined for their position - at the beginning of the word, in the body of the word, at the end of the word -, their shape - school-like, extravagant -, their width, height, position, their spaces and ways of binding.
In contrast to Michon, Ludwig Klages did not focus his attention on details or individual features, but on an entire sample of the handwriting. He asked to first describe the impression of a font with a few words so that it gains more impressionable characters. Then he defines general font characteristics that relate to an entire font sample such as B. Size, width, angle of inclination, type of bond, bond.
Basic properties or general font features, individual features or special font features as well as impression characters are still three different types of features according to which a font description is made.
Font characteristics in graphology
In graphology , those properties of handwriting are considered important that have a possible psychological meaning. Numerous basic properties have been defined by different authors. There are also further developments in the technology of feature detection and the grouping of basic properties. In particular, one can refer to Robert Heiß , who assigned basic properties to a movement image, a form image and a spatial image.
Characteristics of writing in writing psychology
In writing psychology, attention is not only paid to the fact that writing features have a possible psychological meaning. At the same time, there is an orientation towards the methods of modern empirical psychology . Clear definitions, objectivity , reliability, and validity of font characteristics are important.
In his system of handwriting variables, Teut Wallner differentiated between basic variables and optional variables. The basic variables include basic properties that can be measured on the metric or ordinal level . Elective variables are impression characters and individual features, which can be measured with the development of suitable measuring instruments.
Angelika Seibt has defined 7-point ordinal scales for numerous basic properties and has pointed out possible psychological meanings with the help of value squares .
Font characteristics in forensic font comparison
In the forensic comparison of fonts, font features are relevant that can be used to prove or exclude the identity of the author of the compared fonts. In addition to general font features, special font features are particularly important here.
Forensic handwriting examinations are conducted based on Michel 's system of basic components . The systematic analysis is characterized by the fact that within each basic graphic component a hierarchically structured analysis process progresses from the general to the particular.
Angelika Seibt differentiates between the basic graphic dimensions between general font features, for which there are ordinal scales, and special font features, which must be determined in a specific font comparison through indicative definitions.
Individual evidence
- ↑ A description of the development from the graphological writing capture to the empirical measurement of quantitative and qualitative writing variables can be found in Angelika Seibt: Schriftpsychologie. Theories, research results, theoretical principles. Profil, Munich 1994, ISBN 3-89019-354-4 .
- ^ JH Michon: System der Graphpologie (Ed. Rudolf Pophal). Kindler, Munich 1964.
- ↑ Ludwig Klages: Handwriting and character. Common outline of graphological technology. 28th edition. Bonn 1982, ISBN 3-416-00312-8 .
- ^ Robert hot: The interpretation of the manuscript. Hamburg 1966.
- ^ Wallner, Teut: The system of handwriting variables . In: Zeitschrift für Menschenkunde, Volume 23., 1959, pp. 173–189.
- ↑ Angelika Seibt: Language of handwriting. Introduction to writing psychology. CreateSpace Independent Publishing 2017, ISBN 978-1-5427-4428-7 .
- ↑ Lothar Michel: Judicial comparison of writings - an introduction to basics, methods and practice. Walter de Gruyter, Berlin 1982, ISBN 3-11-002188-9 .
- ↑ Angelika Seibt: Signatures and wills. Practice of forensic writing examination. CH Beck, Munich 2008, ISBN 978-3-406-58113-7 .
- ↑ Angelika Seibt: Measurements of general and special writing characteristics. Lecture at the 8th international congress of the Society for Forensic Written Examination (GFS) in Dresden 2010. In: Quality features of forensic written reports. Lectures and essays. Kindle e-book 2016.