From: Peter Constable (petercon@microsoft.com)
Date: Thu May 13 2004 - 10:16:01 CDT
> In addition, traditional Chinese zither notation (qin pu) is also laid
out in
> ideographic-like square blocks. However, as this is a notational
system rather
> than a script, the constituent elements of each block represent
string, finger
> and plucking technique rather than phonetic values.
I was already after the first paragraph going to mention another writing
system, and I'm even more strongly reminded of it by this second
paragraph: Sign Writing, a writing system used for writing signed
languages, first developed for transcription, though a number of
language communities have started using it orthographically. In sign
writing, the representation for a typical sign (I think I've heard that
syllable might be applicable here) consists of an iconic representation
of the head with various satellite symbols mostly representing the hands
and hand movement, the whole being organized into a square space. It's
even written vertically (at least by some user communities).
Because there's an iconic relationship between the shape of the atomic
symbols (the jamos) and the articulators, I find the shared
characteristics with Hangul to be striking. But obviously, the zither
notation you mention would be another very interesting comparison.
(I'm sure the developer of Sign Writing (Valerie Sutton) knew nothing of
Chinese zither notation when she started, and I'd guess probably wasn't
particularly influenced by Hangul either.)
> Perhaps a term could be devised that encompasses block layout (rather
than
> linear layout) scripts such as Hangul and small Khitan (and even
Chinese zither
> notation ?).
And I assume you mean, not the Han ideographs, yes? Would probably be
useful.
Peter
Peter Constable
Globalization Infrastructure and Font Technologies
Microsoft Windows Division
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.5 : Thu May 13 2004 - 10:17:21 CDT