The Emergence of Writing

Oral Transmission

• Passed down over time• Change in retelling• Memories better?

What is writing?

What is writing?

• Visual Representation of Idea

What is writing?

• Visual Representation of Idea• Need not be written with a pen/pencil• Need not express Spoken Language

Advantages of Written Language?

Advantages of Written Language?

• Transitory Nature of Speech• Across Space• Across Time• Less potential for distortion• Advantages of Oral Language?

Effects of Writing

• Conscious Act• Slows Linguistic Change• Divorced from Context• Loss of Non-Verbal Communication

Writing and Society

• Evolution of Writing Reflects Social Change• Performed in Different Contexts• Who writes?• Product of social processes

Early Steps toward Writing

Tally Stick: Ishango Bone

Left Column

Middle Column

Right Column

Messenger Sticks--Bounji

Quippus

Wampum

The Huron Wampum Belt commemorates the 1683 agreement between the Hurons and Jesuit missionaries for the construction of the first wooden church on Huron Lands. Adapted from The Native Americans. Edited by B. & I. Ballantine. 1993

Words for writing

• Old High German: malon/malen• German: schreiben• Greek: graphein

A True Script

• Graphic Activity• Purpose of Communication

Dog bites man

Man bites dog

Idea Writing• Conveys ideas, not spoken

language

Dog bites man

Man bites dog

Idea Writing• Conveys ideas, not spoken

language

Idea Writing: A Trade Offer

Specifics on the trade offer!

Idea Writing• Conveys ideas, not spoken

language• Examples

Dakota Chronology

Idea Writing

• Conveys ideas, not spoken language• Examples• Advantages? Disadvantages?• Chinese

“Evolution” to Phonetic Writing

• Yoruba Symbology• Developments– Technical skill– The sound becomes important– Symbols get Styilized– Abstract Concepts

• From Idea to Sound…

Hebrew “Beit”

Rebus

“Evolution” to Phonetic Writing

• Yoruba Symbology• Developments– Technical skill– The sound becomes important– Symbols get Styilized– Abstract Concepts

• From Idea to Sound…• Alphabetic Scripts• Advantages?

Writing and Power

• Numerous Oral Traditions• Where’s the power?

Writing and Power

• Numerous Oral Traditions• Where’s the power?– Not universal literacy– Privileges– Spread over distance/time– Codifying “your” version– Shape W

• Effect on the illiterate?