Table of Contents

1. What is writing?; 2. The basic options: meaning and sound; 3. Signs of words; 4. Signs of syllables; 5. Signs of segments; 6. Consonants and vowels; 7. Vowel incorporation; 8. Analysis and interpretation; 9. Mixed systems; 10. History of writing; 11. Psycholinguistics of writing; 12. Sociolinguistics of writing; Appendix: Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 1.

Promotional Information

This textbook introduces the major writing systems of the world - from cuneiform to English spelling.

About the Author

Florian Coulmas is Professor of Japanese Studies at Gerhard Mercator University, Duisburg. He has published several works on writing and written language including The Encyclopedia of Writing Systems (1996) and The Writing Systems of the World (1989).