15-PROSEM206-2BA-11
This course will survey some of the most important writing systems of the ancient and modern world; follow the exciting intellectual journey of decipherment of long-forgotten scripts, including Egyptian hieroglyphics, cuneiform, and Linear B; and trace the evolution of writing across Europe, Asia, and the rest of the globe from ancient to modern times. We will examine the linguistic principles that have guided the development of writing systems, with special emphasis on the role of phonetics, phonology, word formation, and semantics and the revolutionary invention(s) of the alphabet. Finally, we will discuss the role of conquest, trade, religion, and political ideology in the spread of rival writing systems, and the practical and symbolic value of scripts in the era of globalization.
- Teacher: Ronald Kim