LINA02H3 Lecture Notes - Northwest Semitic Languages, Isogloss, Cyrillic Script
Document Summary
When systematic differences between groups appear, dialects are formed. Isogloss: a line in a map enclosing an area sharing some feature. Logographic: oldest type of writing using symbols; to represent morphemes or entire words. Pictograms: symbols used to represent objects or concepts. Cuneiform: symbols" resemblance to original pictogram decreased over the years: some cuneiform symbols represented morphemes: morphographic, some cuneiform symbols represented sounds (usually syllables): phonographic. Semitic: abjad - main symbols represent consonants: completely phonographic; symbols represent sounds, similarities with hieroglyphics but west semitic pronounciation. Chinese: oracle bone writing: inscriptions on animal bones: morphographic system: each character represents one morpheme, writing system was expanded through: Phonetic extension: provides info about pronounciation of morpheme; character for one word was extended to write a different (but similar sounding) word. Semantic extension: a character used for one morpheme is extended to another morpheme with a similar meaning. Mayan: phonographic and morphograpic: phonographic components reinforce/complement morphographic.
