#>.<% >?.>%
WRITE LESS, MEAN MORE
Two Talk is a compact notation system that compresses a large amount of meaning into a small space. Nine core symbols pair into 81 semantic primes, which can be combined into 531,441 compounds - enough range to express very precise ideas in just a few characters. Where a sentence needs a paragraph, Two Talk needs a line.
Because meaning is compressed, Two Talk is good for several use cases. As semantic compression, it's suited to low-bandwidth messaging, prompt compression for AI, and dense note-taking. As a language-independent interlingua, it lets meaning move between natural languages - or between a person and an AI - without translation loss, and provides a stable intermediate form for semantic search and reasoning. As an AAC system, it gives nonverbal communicators a small, composable symbol set that software can render into fluent speech. And as a human-computer interface, its deterministic, unambiguous expressions work well as a command language for APIs, agents, and other software systems.
It's minimal, plaintext, keyboard-first, and grep-friendly: every note is built from the same small vocabulary - 9 core symbols, 81 semantic primes, 531,441 compounds - so it's fast to write and easy to search. It's a good fit for developers, writers, and anyone logging notes, statuses, or ideas who wants them quick to type, simple to search, and clean for AI tools to parse and generate.
Two Talk is plaintext shorthand where 9 symbols combine to express 531K+ concepts, giving compact, consistent and universally-readable notes.
Each symbol stands for one basic category of meaning. These 9 categories are the building blocks of Two Talk - by pairing 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.
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.
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 use <! 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 intented to be written
however to aid learning each symbol has a spoken sound -
@ (An), # (Ob),
! (Ve), ? (Mo),
> (Ak), < (Li),
: (Ti), ^ (Sa),
% (Me).
Compounding lets you stack symbols together to record more
specific meaning. Use dots (.) to join either two XX.XX or three XX.XX.XX pairs
together. By compounding you can express 6,561 double pair meanings and 531,441 triple pair meanings! Each pair modifies the one directly
preceding it.
@#
agent + object
@#
agent + object
^?
place + idea
#!
object + action
#!
object + action
^?
place + idea
#!
object + action
^?
place + idea
!:
action + time
Search the 81 semantic primes and common alternate synonyms, or switch to compunded Doubles or Triples to search every possible compound combination, by English or Two Talk. The 81 semantic primes are canon and do not change. Double and triple compounds meanings can be tailored to different contexts. Enter your own meaning in the notes field on any row - your saved notes are searchable too, so you can find compounds you've defined yourself even deep in the triples space. When you print the page, only the compounds you've added notes to are included.
| Symbol | Meaning | Category |
|---|
Tracking an issue and a blocked response.
JN (Literal
name) >@.!: (state + crisis)
:< (past).@%.^? (group +
context/legal) >!.<! (execution +
negation/blocked) :: (ongoing).
Type English or Two Talk into the first box - the direction is auto-detected and the converted result appears in the second box. Unmatched words or symbols are skipped.
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