The disappearance of writing systems : perspectives on literacy and communication ; [dedicated to the memory of Jeremy Black, 1951-2004

This volume gathers papers from the first conference ever to be held on the disappearance of writing systems, in Oxford in March 2004. While the invention and decipherment of writing systems have long been focuses of research, their eclipse or replacement have been little studied. Because writing is so important in many cultures and civilizations, its disappearance - followed by a period without it or by replacement by a different writing system - is of almost equal significance to invention as a mark of radical change. Probably more writing systems have disappeared than survived in the last five thousand years.Case studies from the Old and New Worlds are presented, ranging over periods from the first millennium BC to the present. In order to address many types of transmission, the broadest possible definition of 'writing' is used, notably including Mexican pictography and the Andean khipu system. One chapter discusses the larger proportion of known human societies that have not possessed complex material codes like writing, offering an alternative perspective on the long-term transmission of socially salient subjects. A concluding essay draws out common themes and offers an initial synthesis of results.The volume offers a new perspective on approaches to writing that will be significant for the understanding of writing systems and their social functions, literacy, memory, and high-cultural communication systems in general. Cover Contents List of Illustrations Notes on Contributors Preface Chapter 1 Introduction: Background and Issues A Brief History of Writing and Administration in the Aegean Linear A in Use: Neopalatial Minoan Administration The Relationship between Linear A and Linear B Knossos and Crete in the Fifteenth Century BC: The Disappearance of Linear A Note References Chapter 2 Terminology Origin and Development under the Hittite Empire The Iron Age Neo-Hittite Centres of Literacy Style and Content of the Neo-Hittite Inscriptions Environment of the Script’s Final Disappearance Conclusion References Chapter 3 Introduction Historical Background Evolution of Elamite Cuneiform Writing Characteristics of Elamite Writing The Neo-Elamite Phase The Achaemenid Period The Growth of Aramaic Language and Writing Discussion Notes References Chapter 4 Postscript Notes References Introduction Timeline Changes in Macro-Economic Structures The Last Texts Translations and rivals Conclusions Notes References Chapter 5 Language and Script in Pre-Roman Italy Cultures of Literacy in Early Italy Script Obsolescence and the Culture of Writing in Early Roman Italy Notes References Chapter 6 The Kharosthī Script The Decline and Disappearance of Kharosthī Script Causes of the Disappearance of Kharosthī Script The Death of Kharosthī and the Principles of Script Disappearance Notes References Chapter 7 Script and Civilization in Roman Egypt: A Review of Previous Research Scholarly Presuppositions, Cultural Context of Sources, and the State of Publication From Simplification to Complexity: The Impact of Religious Compositions on Demotic Conclusions References Chapter 8 Meroitic Language: Presentation and General Issues The Meroitic Script Late Meroitic Texts Old Nubian Script: The Meroitic Legacy Reconstructing a Scenario for the Disappearance of Meroitic Script References Chapter 9 The Two Alphabetic Traditions Written and Unwritten Languages in Ancient Arabia The Reincarnation of a South Semitic Alphabet Arabic and the Reincarnation of a Phoenico-Aramaic Alphabet Notes References Chapter 10 The Script Community The Shape of Script Communities Unravelling Script Communities: The Terminal Classic Maya Conclusions Notes References Chapter 11 Characteristics of Preconquest Mexican Pictography Colonization by European Script A Colonial Vocabulary Mimicry of European Script Isolated Survivals The Process of Extinction Notes References Chapter 12 The Khipu Problem The Spanish Conquest (1532–1535) and Inka Inscription Arenas of Late Khipu Use Pseudo-Khipus Discussion Notes References Chapter 13 Introduction A Few Words on the History of the Manchu Script Retrospect and Prospect: In Lieu of a Conclusion Note References Chapter 14 Revelatory Scripts The Appearance and Disappearance of Revelatory Scripts References Chapter 15 Oral and Genealogical Histories Landscape, Action and Memory Final Thoughts References Chapter 16 Introduction Point of Departure Disappearance of Language, Culture, and Script Persistence, Transformation, and Disappearance References Index Notes Now You See It; Now You Don't! The Disappearance Of The Linear A Script On Crete / John Bennet -- The Disappearance Of Writing Systems : Hieroglyphic Luwian / J. David Hawkins -- The Obsolescence And Demise Of Cuneiform Writing In Elam / Jeremy Black -- Increasingly Redundant : The Growing Obsolescence Of The Cuneiform Script In Babylonia From 539 Bc / David Brown -- Postscript: Redundancy Reconsidered : Reflections On David Brown's Thesis / Jerrold Cooper -- Script Obsolescence In Ancient Italy : From Pre-roman To Roman Writing / Kathryn Lomas -- Whatever Happened To Kharoṣṭhī? The Fate Of A Forgotten Indic Script / Richard Salomon -- On The Demise Of Egyptian Writing : Working With A Problematic Source Basis / Martin Andreas Stadler -- The Last Traces Of Meroitic? A Tentative Scenario For The Disappearance Of The Meroitic Script / Claude Rilly -- The Phoenix Of Phoinikēia : Alphabetic Reincarnation In Arabia / M. C. A. Macdonald -- The Small Deaths Of Maya Writing / Stephen D. Houston -- The Death Of Mexican Pictography / Elizabeth Hill Boone -- Late Khipu Use / Frank Salomon -- Disappearance Of Writing Systems : The Manchu Case / Giovanni Stary -- Revelatory Scripts, 'the Unlettered Genius', And The Appearance And Disappearance Of Writing / John Monaghan -- History Without Text / Chris Gosden -- Writing And Its Multiple Disappearances / John Baines. Edited By John Baines, John Bennet, Stephen Houston. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "This volume gathers papers from the first conference ever to be held on the disappearance of writing systems, in Oxford in March 2004. Case studies from the Old and New Worlds are presented, ranging over periods from the second millennium B.C. to the present. In order to address many types of transmission, the broadest possible definition of 'writing' is used, notably including Mexican pictography and the Andean khipu system. One chapter discusses the larger proportion of known human societies which have not possessed complex material codes like writing, offering an alternative perspective on the long-term transmission of socially salient subjects. A concluding essay draws out common themes and offers an initial synthesis of results."--BOOK JACKET Gathers papers from the conference held on the disappearance of writing systems, in Oxford in March 2004. This work features case studies from the Old and New Worlds, ranging over periods from the first millennium BC. It offers a perspective on approaches to writing that can be helpful for the understanding of writing systems http://neareast.jhu.edu/bin/o/m/Redundancy%20Reconsidered%202008.pdf