Exploring writing systems and practices in the bronze age aegean / Philippa M. Steele.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Steele, Philippa M., 1983- author.

Series:

Contexts of and Relations Between Early Writing Systems (CREWS) Series

Contexts of and Relations Between Early Writing Systems (CREWS) Series ; v.7

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Bronze age.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (286 pages)

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

Oxford, England : Oxbow Books, [2024]

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Writing does not begin and end with the encoding of an idea into a group of symbols. It is practiced by people who have learnt its principles and acquired the tools and skills for doing it, in a particular context that affects what they do and how they do it. Nor are these practices static, as those involved exploit opportunities to adapt old features and develop new ones. The act of writing then has tangible and visible consequences not only for the writers but also for those encountering what has been produced, whether they can read its content or not - with potential for a wider social visibility that can in turn affect the success and longevity of the writing system itself. With a focus on the syllabic systems of the Bronze Age Aegean, this book attempts to bring together different perspectives to create an innovative interdisciplinary outlook on what is involved in writing: from structuralist views of writing as systems of signs with their linguistic values, to archaeological and anthropological approaches to writing as a socially grounded practice. The main chapters focus on the concepts of script adoption and adaptation; different methods of logographic writing; and the vitality of writing traditions, with repercussions for the modern world. Contexts of and Relations between Early Writing Systems (CREWS) is a project funded by the European Research Council under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program (grant agreement No. 677758), and based in the Faculty of Classics, University of Cambridge.

Contents:

Intro

Front Cover

Half-Title Page

Title Page

Copyright Page

Dedication

Contents

Acknowledgements

List of tables and figures

Introduction

Cretan Hieroglyphic, Linear A and Linear B (and their Cypriot cousins)

Chronology

Theoretical perspectives and terminology

1. Exploring script adoption

How do we know that Linear B adopted Linear A syllabographic sign values with little change?

Can we use Linear B sign values or structural features to reconstruct Minoan phonology or other linguistic features?

How should we understand the nature of the transition from Linear A to Linear B?

2. Exploring logography

Classifying signs in writing systems

Linear B

Linear A

Cretan Hieroglyphic

Understanding logography in the Bronze Age Aegean

3. Exploring vitality

Syllabic writing in Cyprus

Relationships between writing and language vitality

The vitality of writing traditions

Epilogue: writing for the future

Bibliography.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references.

CC BY

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

Description based on print version record.

Other Format:

Print version: Steele, Philippa M. Exploring Writing Systems and Practices in the Bronze Age Aegean

ISBN:

9781789259032

1789259037

9781789259025

1789259029

OCLC:

1405943499