graphology (n.)

A term used by some LINGUISTS to refer to the writing SYSTEM of a LANGUAGE – on analogy with PHONOLOGY. A graphological analysis would be concerned to establish the minimal CONTRASTIVE UNITS of visual language – defined as GRAPHEMES, graphemic FEATURES, or without using EMIC terms – using similar techniques to those used in phonological analysis. Graphology in this sense has nothing to do with the analysis of handwriting to determine the psychological characteristics of the writer – an activity for which the same term is often popularly used.