The idea of writing : : play and complexity / / edited by Alex de Voogt, Irving Finkel.

• TeilnehmendeR: Voogt, Alexander J. de.; Finkel, Irving L.
• Year of Publication: 2010
• Edition: 1st ed.
• Language: English
• Series: The Idea of Writing I.
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (408 p.)
• Notes: Description based upon print version of record.

The Idea of Writing is an exploration of the versatility of writing systems. From ancient Egyptian, Cuneiform and Meroitic writing to Chinese, Maya and Maldivian script, the authors examine the problems and possibilities of polysemy, representing loanwords and the problems of adapting a writing system to another language. The playful and artistic use of writing, including a contribution on writing dance, further illustrates the intricacies of the systems. This collection of articles aims to highlight the complexity of writing systems rather than to provide a first introduction. The different academic traditions in which these writing systems have been studied use linguistic, socio-historical and philological approaches that give complementary insights into the complex phenomena.

Table of Contents

Preliminary Material / De Voogt and I.L. Finkel -- Introducing Writing On Writing / Alex De Voogt -- Strange Byways In Cuneiform Writing / Irving Finkel -- Scripts And Shapes: The Interplay Of Chinese Characters And Japanese Syllabaries In Early Modern Japan / Margarita Winkel -- Substitution, Substitution, Substitution: The Many Faces Of Maya Writing / Erik Boot -- From Group-Writing To Word Association: Representation And Integration Of Foreign Words In Egyptian Script / Joachim Friedrich Quack -- What Is Being Borrowed? Language And Script Contact In Taiwan / Henning Klöter -- The Adaptation Of The Cuneiform Script To Foreign Languages / Wilfred H. Van Soldt -- Loanwords, "Foreign Words," And Foreign Signs In Maya Writing / Erik Boot -- On Loans And Additions To The Fidäl (Ethiopic) Writing System / Azeb Amha -- Languages And Scripts In The Maldive Islands: Coding And Encoding / Alex De Voogt -- Foreign Terms In Sanskrit Pertaining To Writing / Harry Falk -- Reducing Polyvalency In Writing Systems: From Egyptian To Meroitic / Claude Rilly -- Difficult Hieroglyphs And Unreadable Demotic? How The Ancient Egyptians Dealt With The Complexities Of Their Script / Joachim Friedrich Quack -- Maya Writing: Synonyms And Homonyms, Polyvalency And Polysemy / Erik Boot -- In The Interstices Of Representation: Ludic Writing And The Locus Of Polysemy In The Chinese Sign / Wolfgang Behr -- Egyptian Writing For Non-Egyptian Languages And Vice Versa: A Short Overview / Joachim Friedrich Quack -- The Caroline Islands Script: A Linguistic Confrontation / Alex De Voogt -- Writing Dance / Joukje Kolff -- Author Index / De Voogt and I.L. Finkel -- Language (Group) And Script Index / De Voogt and I.L. Finkel -- Subject Index / De Voogt and I.L. Finkel.