The Writing Systems of the World

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

This book is an account of the writing systems of the world from earliest times to the present. Its aim is to explore the complex ways in which writing systems relate to the language they depict. Writing, Coulmas contends, is not only the guide or garment of spoken language, but has a deep and lasting effect on the development of language itself.

His study takes in Egyptian hieroglyphics and the cuneiform system of the ancient Near East; he describes Chinese writing, discussing why an apparently cumbersome system has been used continuously for more than 3,000 years; he ranges across the writing systems of western Asia and the Middle East, the Indian families and the various alphabetic traditions which had its origins in the multifarious world of Semitic writing and came to full bloom in pre-Classical Greece.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• reface
• art I Theoretical Perspectives
• What Writing Is All About
• From Icon to Symbol: The General Trend of Evolution
• Units of Speech and Units of Writing
• art II Writing Systems
• Sacred Characters: The Theocratic Script of Egypt
• From Word to Syllable I: Cuneiform Writing
• An Alternative to the Alphabet: The Chinese Writing System
• From Word to Syllable II: Chinese Characters for other Languages
• Semitic Writing: Syllables or Consonants?
• The Alphabet.0
• Writing in India
• art III Practical Problems
• 1 From Letter to Sound: Deciphering Written Languages
• 2 From Sound to Letter: Creating Alphabets
• 3 Writing Reform: Conditions and Implications
• art IV Conclusion
• 4 What Writing Means for Linguistics
• eferences
• ppendix I Ancient Near Eastern Chronology
• ppendix II Far Eastern Chronology
• ndex

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Library Journal Review

Coulmas argues that contrary to the views of some linguists, writing has an important place in the study of language. Though specialists will be most comfortable with the intricacies of this dispute, nonspecialists can still enjoy this book for the fascinating picture it paints of the world's major writing systems: Egyptian hieroglyphics, cuneiform, and Chinese characters; Semitic and Indian writing systems; and our own alphabet. Many illustrations are provided to clarify this material. Other subjects discussed include spelling reform and creating new writing systems. A full panoply of notes and an extensive bibliography are supplied. Recommended for all libraries.-- Catherine V. von Schon, SUNY at Stony Brook (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.