History Main / CypherLanguage

* ''ComicBook/TheAvengersJonathanHickman'':

** Builder Machine Code, an "alien" language, is shown to be a substitution cypher language.
* Krakoan, from ''ComicBook/HouseAndPowersOfX'', is a cypher language created by the Mutant Cypher, and [[GeniusLoci Krakoa]] to give Mutants their own defined culture.
* The ''ComicBook/BlueBeetle'' scarab's language was originally represented by a substitution cipher, but eventually transitioned over to English. In a clever move, during the transition, they used an alien-looking font in a style that resembled the substitution cipher, but whose characters could be made out as the Roman alphabet.
* The original ''ComicStrip/BuckRogers'' strip had a modified alphabet and calendar.
* Quite a bit of the Worthies' BlackSpeech in ''ComicBook/FearItself'' is English written with the Elder Futhark runic alphabet as a cypher. Matt Fraction then used the same system in a ''Defenders'' title.
* ''ComicBook/LegionOfSuperHeroes'' uses a substitution-cipher font to represent the future language Interlac; both the comics and [[WesternAnimation/LegionOfSuperHeroes the cartoon series]] use this for in-jokes.
* [[Franchise/MarvelUniverse Marvel]]'s Doopspeak (the language spoken by the character Doop from ''[[ComicBook/XForce X-Statix]]'') was a substitution cipher using the font "Roswell Wreckage".
* The original ''ComicBook/{{Micronauts|MarvelComics}}'' had a lovely-looking alphabet based on Devanagari. Invented by Michael Golden, it had a one-to-one correspondence with most English sounds.

* In ''ComicBook/PaperGirls'', the untranslated alien language is rendered using a simple substitution cypher. [[spoiler: This may be because they're not aliens, but humans from the future.]]
* The Symbion alphabet in [[http://www.misterkitty.org/extras/stupidcovers/stupidcomics117.html Sectaurs]], a MerchandiseDriven comic from TheEighties, is not only a substitution cipher for the English alphabet, but based closely on, of all things, the cipher used by the [[BrotherhoodOfFunnyHats Freemasons]].
* ''ComicBook/SecretInvasion'''s Skrull language, an English substitution cipher with multiple fonts of different sets of characters.
* ''ComicBook/TheShadowStrikes'' issue 1 did this for what was supposed to be Russian.
* ''ComicBook/{{Superman}}'''s home planet Krypton's language has a substitution cipher.
* In ''ComicBook/{{Tintin}}'' the Syldavian language is in fact a dialect of Flemish written in a cyrillic-like script.
* In ''ComicBook/XMen'', one member of the Starjammers' thoughts are expressed in what looks like a cipher, but if viewed carefully, turns out to be very oddly-lettered English.

* ''WesternAnimation/LegionOfSuperHeroes'' uses a substitution-cipher font to represent the future language Interlac.

* In ''Literature/KonoSuba'' Episode 6, "A Conclusion to This Worthless Fight!", Megumin-chan's runes correspond to the letters A, C, H, M, N, R, and U.

See also {{Wingdinglish}} and TheBackwardsR. When writers take it even further and start creating new lexicons, syntax, and grammar, on into a full-blown original language, you get the supertrope ConLang.

*** The Al Bhed language is a cypher of both English and Japanese depending on which version you're playing. Happily, the cypher is designed so that the replaced letters can (usually) be pronounced phonetically and still sound like a real language, both in English and in Japanese. It had to be, since there are some voice-acted parts in Al Bhed.
*** The game also features three written scripts dubbed Spiran, Yevon, and Al Bhed by fans. They're all English/Japanese alphabet cyphers (depending on the version) that can be found in various place of the game such as the inside of Yevon temples or inside the Al Bhed homebase. Unlike the vocal Al Bhed language, there is no in-game cypher for players to find. In order to translate these scripts, players need a guide from supplementary material to figure out which symbol corresponds to which letter in English or which character in Japanese.

** Al Bhed from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX''. Happily, the cypher is designed so that the replaced letters can (usually) be pronounced phonetically and still sound like a real language, both in English and in Japanese. It had to be, since there are some voice-acted parts in Al Bhed.
** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX'' also features three written scripts, dubbed Spiran, Yevon, and Al Bhed by fans. They're all English alphabet ciphers.

Works from non-English-speaking countries may do the same with their own language or alphabet, but not always. Games and movies may feature amusing {{Easter Egg}}s, BackStory details or {{Foreshadowing}} of future plot events written in this language for those who are nerdy enough to memorize the ciphertext rules, as a sort of BilingualBonus. Frequently, people make these fonts available for download to use as actual fonts when typing.

* In ''LightNovel/KonoSuba'' Episode 6, "A Conclusion to This Worthless Fight!", Megumin-chan's runes correspond to the letters A, C, H, M, N, R, and U.
* The Nether Glyps of ''Anime/MadeInAbyss'' are a substitution cipher using kana syllables.

* Starting with ''Best Wishes'', the ''{{Anime/Pokemon}}'' anime started using a cypher language (well, [[http://www.pocketmonsters.net/Anime_Language three]] cypher languages) for background signs and the like. The text generally translates to a mix of romanised japanese and garbled english, though some of it is apparently just gibberish.

* Hickman's ''ComicBook/{{The Avengers|JonathanHickman}}'':

%%* Played entirely straight in Hickman's ''[[Franchise/TheAvengers Avengers]] World'' with Adam's language.

%%* Builder Machine Code, an "alien" language in Hickman's run of ''ComicBook/{{The Avengers|JonathanHickman}}''.