#>.<% >?.>%
WRITE LESS, MEAN MORE
Two Talk is a semantic shorthand for notes - minimal, plaintext, and natively searchable. It is based on three simple concepts: 9 core symbols are paired to generate 81 semantic primes, which can then be compounded together with dots to form highly nuanced ideas in a concise form. The result is a highly compact, deterministic language designed to capture meeting context, project milestones, and rapid task updates in a single line.
Why Two Talk? Keeping track of meeting notes, complex projects, and relentless task lists was the biggest bottleneck in my daily workflow. I needed a high-speed note taking system that worked well in a keyboard-first environment to let me to document everything that was going on. Writing full sentences was too slow to type and too dense to scan when searching for critical details. Unable to find an existing solution for my problem I created Two Talk.
Each symbol stands for one basic category of meaning. These 9 categories are the building blocks - pair any two together and you get a predictable, consistent meaning.
The grid shows what every two-symbol combination means. To read it: find the first symbol in the left column, and the second symbol along the top row. Where they meet is the meaning.
Compounding lets you stack symbols together to get more
specific. Use dots (.) to join up to three pairs together:
XX.XX.XX. Each pair modifies the one directly
preceding it.
@#
human + object
@#
human + object
^?
place + idea
#!
object + force
#!
object + force
^?
place + idea
#!
object + force
^?
place + idea
!:
force + time
Order: Write left to right: who → what →
when. Words modify each other from left to right. e.g.
@!.>@ @? :# = I communicated to you right
now, and !: #!.^? = broken software.
Topics: Start a line with
## to set the subject or context. e.g.
## @% [IBM] 2026-05-31
= tracking this organisation.
Sentences: Each line is its own sentence.
Negation: Add .<! after a
pair to negate it. e.g. >!.<! = no action
/ blocked. To negate a longer statement, break it into
spaced words and place <! as a standalone
word - e.g. @! >: <! @% #^ = I will not
contact this group.
Questions: Start with >? to
ask a question. e.g. >?.@% [LG]
>^ :#
= Is the legal team still waiting?
Tense: :< = past,
:> = future, :# = now. For
something ongoing, compound :: - e.g.
>!.:: = process still running. Leave tense
out when it's obvious from context.
Literals: Use plain numbers for amounts
(5), dates as YYYY-MM-DD
(2025-04-14), times in 24hr
(1430), and use initials for names and entities
(JN, [LG]).
Speech: Two Talk is primarily written
however each symbol has a spoken sound -
@ (An), # (Ob),
! (Ve), ? (Mo),
> (Ak), < (Li),
: (Ti), ^ (Sa),
% (Me).
Search the 81 semantic primes and common alternate synonyms by English or Two Talk.
| Symbol | Meaning | Category |
|---|
Tracking an issue and a blocked response.
JN (Literal
name) >@.!: (state + crisis)
:< (past).@%.^? (group +
context/legal) >!.<! (execution +
negation/blocked) :: (ongoing).
Four steps to learn Two Talk. Start with the symbols, then build up to writing full sentences.
Learn the 9 symbols. These are the
building blocks for everything else:
@ # ! ? > < : ^ %
Learn the 81 pairs. Any two symbols
combined make a word with a fixed meaning. e.g.
#! (tool), @# (person).
Compound pairs with a dot. Join up to
three pairs to deeply nest meanings:
XX.XX.XX. Left pairs are modified by right
pairs.
Write sentences. One line per statement: who → what → when. Separate each word with a space.
These are the 25 most useful pairs optimized for notes, tasks, and status.
@@ Self
@# Someone
@% People
># Do / Action
>! Execution
>> Progression
#! Tool
#? Sign / Code
<! Not / Blocked
!! Done / Perfect
!: Crisis / Bad
!? Can / Able
!@ Motive / Intent
?? Wonder / Ask
?# Fact / Datum
?! Knowledge
?^ Context
%^ All / Entire
!> Move / Speed
>@ Speech / Say
>< If
:: Duration
:< Past
:> Future
:# Now