JAL328H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Grapheme, Boustrophedon, Mnemonic
Document Summary
Graphic marks representing language (what we"re focusing on) Writing isn"t language which is universal and in the mind, while writing is not universal/used by all cultures. Have to learn how to write and memorize the graphemes/symbols and how to combine them. Systemically represents language like how speech represents language. Represents an utterance (particular series of sounds) not a concept/meaning. Picture writing: symbols/pictures conveying meaning (cultural knowledge that"s passed and learned to understand what it means) Language neutral: no systemic correspondence to linguistic structure. Con: can"t easily convey abstract notions, ambiguity, can"t reproduce particular string of words only describing what it means not an utterance. Real writing needs to supplement pictures for clarity. Can be read and reproduced by anyone who knows the language. Internal structure and rules separate from the language. Speech flows along a single dimension of time. Writing flows from graphemes to graphemes on surface.
