From: Doug Ewell (dewell@adelphia.net)
Date: Wed Nov 12 2003 - 11:10:49 EST
Peter Kirk <peterkirk at qaya dot org> wrote:
> But is this a cipher ("it was intended as a form of secret writing"),
> or is it not ("because it was phonetic, I also found it useful for
> showing the pronunciation of words and names with weird English
> spellings")? Just to think about, no need for a renewed long
> discussion!
Well, at least you found a way to make it on-topic!
I don't think the "secrecy" criterion is sufficient to qualify a writing
system as a cipher (whether it is necessary is another question). Nüshü
(sp?) was developed primarily for secrecy, if I'm not mistaken, and I
doubt anyone would regard it as a cipher.
-Doug Ewell
Fullerton, California
http://users.adelphia.net/~dewell/
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