Writing system
   Writing systems of the world today.
      Writing systems
     * List of writing systems
   A writing system is a system of visual symbols recorded on paper or
     * 3 History of writing systems
     * 4 Functional classification of writing systems
          + 4.1 Logographic writing systems
          + 4.2 Syllabic writing systems
          + 4.3 Segmental writing systems: Alphabets
               o 4.3.1 Consonantal writing systems: Abjads
               o 4.3.2 Inherent-vowel writing systems: Abugidas
          + 4.4 Featural writing systems
          + 4.5 Ambiguous writing systems
     * 5 Graphic classification of writing systems
     * 6 Writing systems on computers
   Writing systems are distinguished from other possible symbolic
   communication systems in that a writing system is always associated
   language, but are often used in writing and thus must be considered
   part of writing systems.
   writing systems, and the process by which they have supplanted
   and slow. Once established, writing systems generally change more
   language. One of the great benefits of writing systems is that they can
   All writing systems require:
   In the examination of individual scripts, the study of writing systems
   act of composing and recording a text may be referred to as writing,
   Orthography refers to the method and rules of observed writing
   structure (literal meaning, "correct writing"), and particularly for
   A grapheme is a specific base unit of a writing system. Graphemes are
   writing systems may be constructed, along with rules of correspondence
   study of spoken languages. For example, in the Latin-based writing
   medium used, the writing instrument, the stylistic choice of the
   available for writing, the intended audience, and the largely
   unconscious features of an individual's handwriting.
   writing systems are made up of lines (or strokes) and are therefore
   called linear, but there are glyphs in non-linear writing systems made
   Writing systems are conceptual systems, as are the languages to which
   they refer. Writing systems may be regarded as complete according to
[edit] History of writing systems
   Main article: History of writing
   Writing systems were preceded by proto-writing, systems of ideographic
   The invention of the first writing systems is roughly contemporary with
   hieroglyphs are generally considered the earliest writing systems, both
   generally agreed that Sumerian writing was an independent invention;
   however, it is debated whether Egyptian writing was developed
   The pre-Columbian Mesoamerican writing systems (including among others
   It is thought that the first consonantal alphabetic writing appeared
   descendant, is by far the most common writing system in use.^[3]
[edit] Functional classification of writing systems
   For lists of writing systems by type, see List of writing systems.
   Several approaches have been taken to classify writing systems, the
   three may be found in any given writing system in varying proportions,
   Hill^[5] split writing into three major categories of linguistic
   writing proper:
     * morphemic writing system, e.g. Egyptian, Sumerian, Maya, Chinese
     * phonemic writing system
          + partial phonemic writing system, e.g. Egyptian, Hebrew, Arabic
          + poly-phonemic writing system, e.g. Linear B, Kana, Cherokee
          + mono-phonemic writing system
               o phonemic writing system, e.g. Ancient Greek, Old English
               o morpho-phonemic writing system, e.g. German, Modern
   writing and featural alphabets stresses the phonographic quality of
   writing proper
          + nonwriting
          + writing
   Faber^[8] categorizes phonographic writing by two levels, linearity and
[edit] Logographic writing systems
   Japanese uses Chinese logograms extensively in its writing systems,
   While most languages do not use wholly logographic writing systems many
   logographic writing system is the Chinese one, whose characters are or
   hieroglyphs and the Mayan writing system are also systems with certain
[edit] Syllabic writing systems
   As logographic writing systems use a single symbol for an entire word,
   Another type of writing system with systematic syllabic linear symbols,
[edit] Segmental writing systems: Alphabets
[edit] Consonantal writing systems: Abjads
   is an alphabetic writing system where there is one symbol per
[edit] Inherent-vowel writing systems: Abugidas
   An abugida is an alphabetic writing system whose basic signs denote
   Balinese lontar writing on palm leaf, Southeast Asia. Artifacts can be
[edit] Featural writing systems
   corresponding to phonologic properties. The basic unit of writing in
[edit] Ambiguous writing systems
   Most writing systems are not purely one type. The English writing
[edit] Graphic classification of writing systems
   of linearity. Linear writing systems are those in which the characters
   in bas-relief. The earliest examples of writing are linear: the
   Cuneiform was probably the earliest non-linear writing. Its glyphs were
   raised bumps on the writing substrate, which can be leather (Louis
   angles. However, if "writing" is defined as a potentially permanent
   writing at all, since the symbols disappear as soon as they are used.
   Overview of the writing directions used in the world.
   See also: Right-to-left, Horizontal and vertical writing in East Asian
   scripts, Bi-directional text, and Mirror writing
   writing. Several scripts used in the Philippines and Indonesia, such as
[edit] Writing systems on computers
   In computers and telecommunication systems, writing systems are
   in every language's writing system, is (simplifying slightly) given a
   A keyboard is the device most commonly used for writing via computer.
     * History of writing
     * Asemic writing
     * History of writing numbers
     * List of inventors of writing systems
     * List of writing systems
    1. ^ Coulmas, Florian (1996). The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Writing
    4. ^ David Diringer (1962): Writing. London.
    5. ^ Archibald Hill (1967): The typology of Writing systems. In:
       writing systems. Honolulu
    7. ^ Geoffrey Sampson (1986): Writing Systems. A Linguistic Approach.
       Evidence from the history of alphabetic writing. In: Pamela Downing
     * Coulmas, Florian. 1996. The Blackwell encyclopedia of writing
       Writing Systems. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-507993-0.
     * Nishiyama, Yutaka. 2010. The Mathematics of Direction in Writing.
     * Rogers, Henry. 2005. Writing Systems: A Linguistic Approach.
     * Sampson, Geoffrey. 1985. Writing Systems. Stanford, California:
       writing systems. London: United Bible Society.
     * Writing Systems Research Free first issue of a journal devoted to
       research on writing systems
     * Arch Chinese (Traditional & Simplified) Chinese character writing
     * African writing systems
     * Omniglot A concise guide to the writing systems and languages of
     * Ancient Scripts Introduction to different writing systems
     * Elian script a writing system that combines the linearity of
   Writing systems
     * History of writing
     * Writing systems
     * Languages by writing system / by first written account
     * Undeciphered writing systems
     * Inventors of writing systems
   Types of writing systems
     * History of writing
     * Writing systems
     * Languages by writing system / by first written accounts
     * DanceWriting
     * SignWriting
     * Asemic writing
     * Writing system
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     * Writing
     * Writing systems