Intro to Ancient Writing Systems - · PDF file• India Sanskrit 1500 BC Intro to Ancient Writing Systems . Pictographs Ideographs Are signs or characters that represent an idea or

Intro to Ancient Writing Systems


Cave painting from Lascaux, c. 15,000 ‑ 10,000 B.C.

Random placement and shifting scale signify prehistoric people’s lack of structure and sequence in recording their experiences.


Beautifully drawn but not intended for aesthetic purposes, these cave paintings are intended to record and communicate information, just as graphic designers do with contemporary images.


Early Sumerian pictographic tablet, c. 3100 B.C.

This archaic pictographic script contained the seeds for the development of writing. Information is structured into grid zones by horizontal and vertical division.


This clay tablet demonstrates how the Sumerian symbols for “star” (which also meant “heaven” or “god”), “head,” and “water” evolved from early pictographs (3100 B.C.).

The latter were turned on their side by 2800 B.C. and evolved into the early cuneiform writing by 2500 B.C.

Oral communications

“Oral languages must always precede written languages - The written words are merely the symbolic representations of the spoken words.” Kate Clair


Mnemonics (na • mon • iks)

Memory aids were passed from generation to generation to allow societies to remember their myths, histories, legends and folklore.

The fault with oral tradition is the lack of accuracy of information being passed from generation to generation.

'30 days hath September'


Image-Making

Pictorial images need to be simplified in order to communicate ideas effectively.

The process of simplifying images into standardized symbols is the basis for an alphabet or codified system.


Pictographs

Simplified symbols used to represent the object or word depicted, often representing nouns or things.

The earlier known writing societies were the Sumerians (Middle East), Egypt (Africa), China and India (Near East).

• Sumerians Cuneiform 3000 BC • Egyptians Hieroglyphics 2800 BC • Chinese Kanji 1800 BC • India Sanskrit 1500 BC


Pictographs Ideographs Are signs or characters that represent an idea or concept. They usually combine two or more pictographs.

vs. Ideographs


Communication with symbol language

Using the English alphabet, write down a single sentence that describes a highlight from your summer or winter break.

On a separate sheet of paper, translate that information using only symbols to represent the words/ideas on your paper.


Pictographs

vs. Ideographs vs. Rebus

Rebus The use of pictographs to represent the syllables of objects.


These Egyptian hieroglyphs illustrate the rebus principle.

Words and syllables are represented by pictures of objects and by symbols whose names are similar to the word or syllable to be communicated.

These hieroglyphs mean bee, leaf, sea, and sun. As rebuses (using the English language) they could also mean belief and season.


Cuneiform

Cuneiform The Sumerian style of wedge-shaped characters that are pressed into damp clay with a stylus. Writing surfaces and tools

The marks used to represent various objects and ideas are greatly influenced by the tools and materials available to write on.


Cuneiform


Picto Chart

From pictograph to Script

Writing surfaces • Clay tablets • Papyrus • Scrolls • Parchment • Stone • Papermaking


• Pictographs • Phoenician alphabet • Greek alphabet • Roman alphabet


Cartouches The names of pharaohs, believed to be descendants of the gods, were placed within the ankh symbol (Representing in!nity).

Their names were written as Phonograms, combining the !rst uttered sound of the symbol to sound out the proper name.


Hieroglyphics

Writing system developed in Egypt that used pictographs to represent words and sounds.

Eventually hieroglyphic pictographs were put together in in a rebus-like manner.

Here we’re beginning to approach a truly phonetic alphabet.


Rosetta Stone Key to unlocking hieroglyphics. It contained the same message in three different alphabets:

Ancient Greek, Hieroglyphics and Demotic script.


Review Questions

1. What was a possible use of writing when it was first developed?

2. How is an ideograph different from a pictograph?

3. Name several materials used as writing surfaces.

4. What made the Phoenician alphabet unique?

5. When and where was cuneiform developed?

Review Questions

6. Name three locations where early writing systems developed?

7. What is a rebus?

8. What do the forms of an alphabet tell us about the culture of the people?

Documents

Intro to Ancient Writing Systems - · PDF file• India Sanskrit 1500 BC Intro to Ancient Writing Systems . Pictographs Ideographs Are signs or characters that represent an idea or