The Writing Systems of the World (Language Library) [Hardcover]

Florian Coulmas (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 22, 1989 | ISBN-10: 0631165134 | ISBN-13: 978-0631165132

This book is ana account of writing systems from ancient times to the present. It traces the evolution from the iconic precursors of writing through stylized and abstract pictograms to purely arbitrary phonetic symbols. Among the sdubjects covered are Egyptian hieroglyphics and the cuneiform systems of the Near East, the persistence of the apparently cumbersome system of Chinese writing, the semitic languages of Western Asia and the Middle east, early Indian languages and the various alphabets that had their origins in pre-classical Greece. Within these contexts the author considers how scripts are deciphered, the way scripts relate to spoken languages, and the question of orthographic regularity. The author argues that writing is not merely a system of notation, but has a potent influence on the language itself.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

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
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From the Back Cover

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. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Blackwell Publishers (June 22, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0631165134
• ISBN-13: 978-0631165132
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,546,452 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very good. Better edited., October 19, 2001

By 

M. Karapcik "Mike" (Temple Terrace, FL) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Writing Systems of the World (The Language Library) (Paperback)

I enjoyed this book very much. It was fascinating, and unlike "Reading the Past" (also very good), the information on various language families and regions of the world is interconnected.
My only criticism is that the book is in bad need of an editor. While Coulmas presents a great deal of information, he has a rather noteable tendancy of belabouring a point and rambling on and on. (He beats dead horses well past death and decomposition.) The untranslated quotes in French are a bit frustrating, and his penchant for quoting Greek seems a bit overdone. The book could easily be edited to two-thirds its size and not loose a single jewel of information.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent introduction to writing systems, May 4, 2000

By 

Francesca Jourdan (Montreal, Canada) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Writing Systems of the World (The Language Library) (Paperback)

The book details the origins of the world's writing systems and traces their development to the present day. The central relationship is set between the written and the spoken word, and poses hypothetical scenarios of the way in which writing has affected human language. While describing his views on why the Chinese pictogram, a seemingly 3000 year-old cumbersome system, is in fact very useful, the author also ranges over the Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, the Near Eastern cuniforms and Semitic, Classical and Indo-European writing systems. The book offers many black and white drawings and illustrations.This is a highly recommended book for all, but especially those with interest in linguistics and the history, evolution and importance of writing.

4 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Writing Systems of the World", February 25, 2007

By 

Bruce Bain "Romans 9:33/Remember Jackie Robinson" (Englewood, CO United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Writing Systems of the World (The Language Library) (Paperback)

"Writing Systems of the World" by FLORIAN COULMAS

This book elaborates the Writing Systems of the world's languages, including the ancient script of Egypt, Cuneiform, Chinese, Semitic, and the writing of ancient India.

It further examines the alphabets of the ancient languages, including the divine nature attributed to the written word and its power. It examines the first mnemonic devices, and their support of MEMORY. Semitic languages use some of these, I know. It also studies the use of writing in regulation social behavior. Although this book is not profusely illustrated, it is adequately illustrated to be demonstrative.

The book also studies the evolution of language its evolution from single syllables to complete words. It has some very illustrative "Language Trees" that show the continuity of historic dialects.