transcription, транскрипция: [ n. ]
The fine art of drawing diagrams using the ASCII character set (mainly |, -, /, \, and +). Also known as `character graphics' or `ASCII graphics'; see also boxology .
Originally, here should be a number of examples.Refer to http://www.tuxedo.org/~esr/jargon/
There is a newsgroup, alt.ascii-art , devoted to this genre; however, see also warlording .