ANT 3530Writing Systems and Traditions

Catalog

Prerequisite(s): None Crosslisting: LING 3090 From columns of Classic Mayan glyphs and Chinese characters to strings of Greek letters and Viking runes, the world’s writing systems and scribal traditions are vast and diverse. In exploring this topic, the course examines how sounds, words, social meanings, and other properties of human languages are graphically adapted and culturally transformed into writing systems. Specific areas of focus include the historical development of writing systems, epigraphy and the decipherment of ancient languages, scribal artistry and craft, and the relationship between writing and sociopolitical power. Although surveying several writing systems and associated phenomena, the course also features an in-depth exploration of Classic Mayan writing (or another visually complex system). Note: Credit is only granted for one prefix