You could (a) make /a/ more asymmetrical/cursive, (b) draw the stem or add a small serif at the top of /a/, and/or (c) flatten the left side of /e/s bowl so that /e/ appears to join /a/ and not the other (current) way around.
Never mind. I thought you had added that flat part on the right of the /e/ in response to Alexis's suggestion to "flatten the left side of /e/'s bowl," but I see that that was already there in the first place. Disregard.
There is never dissonance between /a and /æ, because they are always a saccadic jump apart. They are never read concurrently—when one is viewed sharply in the fovea, the other is indistinguishable, elsewhere.
Under which circumstances would æ and œ need to be differentiated? They are not both used in the same language, or are they? Used in the same word, if archaic English orthography is allowed! But posted mostly in jest: the more important question is, are there languages in which there are two words that differ only in that character. I don't know of any.
They are not both used in the same language, or are they?
They can be used together in Latin, although ae/oe is now preferred to æ/œ by classicists. Not sure about mediaevalists. Roman Catholic liturgical publishers still seem to favour æ/œ.
Since not restricted to the one story a, I tried flipping the e for the ae
I do that in italics all the time, but the /schwa shape for the /a really throws me in romans. Still, it's probably the best choice in the context of your font (although I think I prefer the glyph with the vertical bar in the middle). Anyway, it's easy to add and use alternates.
Comments
Well I added the stem and flattened the e's bowl, looks like it does the work
Thanks Alexis!
Is it ok to use the two-story 'a' only to the 'æ' while the 'a' stays one-story?
Your humble what? what? what? opinion sounds convincing Frode, thanks!
Used in the same word, if archaic English orthography is allowed!
But posted mostly in jest: the more important question is, are there languages in which there are two words that differ only in that character. I don't know of any.
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I recently decided to construct Æ as per Futura—so that I can include it in the same kern class as A!
Since not restricted to the one story a, I tried flipping the e for the ae