The Idea of Writing: Play and Complexity

The Idea of Writing is an exploration of the versatility of writing systems. From ancient Egyptian, Cuneiform and Merotic writing to Chinese, Maya and Maldivian script, the authors examine the problems and possibilities of polysemy, representing loanwords and the problems of adapting a writing system to another language. The playful and artistic use of writing, including a contribution on writing dance, further illustrates the intricacies of the systems. This collection of articles aims to highlight the complexity of writing systems rather than to provide a first introduction. The different academic traditions in which these writing systems have been studied use linguistic, socio-historical and philological approaches that give complementary insights of the complex phenomena.

The Idea of Writing is an exploration of the versatility of writing systems. From ancient Egyptian, Cuneiform and Meroitic writing to Chinese, Maya and Maldivian script, the authors examine the problems and possibilities of polysemy, representing loanwords and the problems of adapting a writing system to another language. The playful and artistic use of writing, including a contribution on writing dance, further illustrates the intricacies of the systems. This collection of articles aims to highlight the complexity of writing systems rather than to provide a first introduction. The different academic traditions in which these writing systems have been studied use linguistic, socio-historical and philological approaches that give complementary insights into the complex phenomena.

Alex de Voogt, Ph.D. (1995) in Psychology, Leiden University, is an Assistant Curator at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. His studies on writing systems and the dispersal of board games focus on the Indian Ocean region.

Irving Finkel, Ph.D. (1976) in Assyriology, University of Birmingham, is an Assistant Keeper at the British Museum in London. His special subjects are Ancient Mesopotamia, Cuneiform writing, Lexicography, Medicine, Esoterica and the study of Ancient Magic, in addition to contributions on the history of board games.

Contributors are Margarita Winkel, Erik Boot, Joachim Friedich Quack, Henning Klöter, Wilfred H. van Soldt, Azeb Amha, Harry Falk, Claude Rilly, Wolfgang Behr, Joukje Kolff, Alex de Voogt and Irving Finkel.