Two Talk

01 Introduction

Two Talk is a concise semantic shorthand notation system designed for succinct notetaking. It captures meaning instead of transcribing precisely what was said. It is a structured shorthand that is fast to write and can be interpreted by anyone.

Every word is exactly two characters: the first symbol represents a Topic (the noun or domain), and the second symbol represents a Trait (the state, quality, or action). By combining these, you can "calculate" meanings — for example, * (Task) + ! (Urgent) = Duty.

Uses

• Meetings: Capture attendees, decisions, and action items in real-time.
• Logs: Track issues, features, and code roots with minimal typing.
• Tasks: Quickly list requirements and deadlines (:$).
• Journals: Use as a personal bullet journal to track health (~=) and emotional states (&?).

02 Rules

• Symbols: Every word is exactly two characters. 1st symbol = Topic (What); 2nd symbol = Trait (How).
• Stacking: Combine pairs with a dot (.) to narrow meaning (General + Specific). e.g., #~.!* (Food + Fast = Fast Food).
• State\Flow: Use (/) for positive/negative states and </> for past/future timing.
• Headers: Start notes with ## followed by the project or category name for immediate context.
• Literals: Use raw numbers for amounts/dates and capital initials for names. Use : after a symbol to label a specific entity.
• Essence: Capture meaning, not words. Use the Standard Structure (WHO + DOING + DETAIL) to translate intent.
• Breaks: An empty line signals a new topic or shift in the thought block.

05 Stacking

Combine two pairs with a . dot to build a refined meaning. The first pair sets the broad domain, the second pair narrows it. Read as: General → Specific.

06 Dictionary