Dr. Harriet J. Ottenheimer Chapter 7 Writing and Literacy

Writing Systems Writing and symbolism… –Universal symbols? Arbitrary symbols? What is writing?… How does writing work?… Developing/having writing… Literacy and representation… Writing & Power….

What is Writing? Graphic representation of language Generally considered secondary to speech Complete vs partial writing systems –Complete: any and all thoughts and words –Partial: limited in what they can convey.

How Does Writing Work? Using marks to represent sounds, ideas/meanings –Phonetic sign: mark that represents one or more sounds,, etc. –Semantic sign: mark that represents specific idea/meaning in English, French, German, KiSwahili, etc. –Combining phonetic and semantic signs: (English) (French).

What is wrong with this picture? 1.The van is going the wrong direction 2.Center-kita is not a cool store name 3.You cannot have a first anniversary 4.First is abbreviated wrong.

Kinds of Writing Systems Contemporary classifications –Recognize that all systems use combinations Pictographic… Rebus… Logographic… Alphabetic….

Pictographic “Writing” Pictures/images represent things –drawing of a sun = the sun Pictographs alone are not complete writing systems –Meanings can be extended Drawing of a sun can = warmth Extensions require cultural context:.

Rebus Writing Picture represents words that sound the same: –Drawing of the sun represents (in English): Sun and Son A major breakthrough in writing –Allows for sentences like Eye sea ewe, Eye c u, Got 2 go Independently discovered in: –Sumeria 3,000 BCE –China 1,500 BCE –Mayan America 0 BCE.

Logographic Writing Signs stand for words (or ideas) Also called Ideographic –One sign = one word sign for sun = the spoken word “sun” [s  sign = “at” (in English), “herring” (in Czech) May have evolved from pictographs –Becoming more abstract over time. Chinese sign for [ma] horse; Sumerian sign for [an] star

Alphabetic Writing Signs stand for individual sounds –e. g., consonants & vowels English sign = the sound [s] Arabic sign = the sound [s] Arabic sign = the sound [a] –Goal not always achieved: English sign = [ks].

Beginnings of Alphabetic Writing 17 th century BCE –Akkadians/Phoenecians adapt Sumerian system 9 th century BCE –Greeks adapt Phoenecian system More vowels, fewer consonants »Alpha-bet. The Rosetta Stone The Rosetta Stone 200 BCE Hieroglyphic, Demotic, Greek

Developing/Having Writing Developing a writing system –Linguistic issues How are words put together? CV, CCC, etc –Political issues What does it mean to “have” writing? –Association with “civilization” –Cultural issues How might the culture change? (orality/literacy)… –Issues of identity Spelling /  / in the Comoros –French? Arabic? African? Phonemic?.

Writing and Literacy Measuring literacy –In the Comoros In French In Comorian –using what orthographic system???? Promoting literacy –So what is there to read? Material must be interesting.

Writing & Representation Questions of representation –Rapid speech –Dialectical speech couahfee; warsh, crick gonna - goin’ - gon’ - gwine –Power and politics in representation Writing “Cousin Joe.”

Literacy and/vs Orality Writing vs listening –Writing & listening at the same time? Written records vs oral traditions –Proficiency in translations See signs & poster

Creating a Language (optional) create an orthography for your language.

Chapter 7 Writing and Literacy Compare & analyze similarities and differences in writing systems between you and your conversation partner. –Obtain a text in the language of your conversation partner and try to read it and identify similarities in grammar and words (lexicon). –Read it out loud to your partner and address the rules of grammar and pronunciation. –In your journal describe these aspect and your reaction to this activity.

Next: How and When is Language Possible? –Read: Textbook Chapter 8 Workbook/Reader: –Ottenheimer & Ottenheimer (pp ) –Prepare to do: Writing/Discussion Exercises (W/R p. 109) Language Creating (W/R p. 113) Conversation partnering (W/R p. 113).