Cambridge University Press
   0521782171 - Writing Systems: An Introduction to their Linguistic Analysis
   Florian Coulmas
   Frontmatter
   More information
              Writing Systems
              AnIntroduction to their Linguistic Analysis
              During its long history the problem of reducing language to writing, and con-
              versely that of interpreting written signs as language, has found a variety of
              solutions, which still exist in the form of different writing systems. Written by
              a leading expert, this new textbook provides an accessible introduction to the
              major writing systems of the world, from cuneiform to English spelling. Florian
              Coulmas presents detailed descriptions of the world’s writing systems and ex-
              plains their structural complexities as well as the intricate relationship between
              written and spoken language. The book also provides a clear and engaging ac-
              countofthehistoryofwritinganditsconsequencesforhumanthoughtandliterate
              society.
               This illustrated textbook includes questions for discussion at the end of each
              chapter,andanup-to-dateexplanationoftheoreticalissues.Clearlyorganizedand
              engagingly written, it is the ideal textbook for use in courses on writing systems.
              FLORIAN COULMAS is Professor of Japanese Studies at Gerhard Mercator
              University, Duisburg. He has published several works on writing and written lan-
              guage including The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Writing Systems (1996) and
              The Writing Systems of the World (1989).
   © Cambridge University Press                      www.cambridge.org
         Cambridge University Press
         0521782171 - Writing Systems: An Introduction to their Linguistic Analysis
         Florian Coulmas
         Frontmatter
         More information
                                            CAMBRIDGE TEXTBOOKS IN LINGUISTICS
                                            General editors: P. AUSTIN, J. BRESNAN, B. COMRIE,
                                            W. DRESSLER, C. J. EWEN, R. LASS,
                                            D. LIGHTFOOT, I. ROBERTS, S. ROMAINE,
                                            N. V. SMITH
                                            In this series
                                            P. H. MATTHEWSMorphologySecondedition
                                            B. COMRIEAspect
                                            R. M. KEMPSONSemanticTheory
                                            T. BYNONHistoricalLinguistics
                                                                                                                        ¨
                                            J .   ALLWOOD, L.-G. ANDERSON and O. DAHL LogicinLinguistics
                                            D. B. FRY ThePhysicsofSpeech
                                            R. A. HUDSONSociolinguisticsSecondedition
                                            A. J. ELLIOTT ChildLanguage
                                            P. H. MATTHEWSSyntax
                                            A. RADFORDTransformationalSyntax
                                            L. BAUEREnglishWord-Formation
                                            S. C. LEVINSON Pragmatics
                                            G. BROWN and G. YULE DiscourseAnalysis
                                            R. HUDDLESTONIntroductiontotheGrammarofEnglish
                                            R. LASS Phonology
                                            B. COMRIETense
                                            W. KLEINSecondLanguageAcquisition
                                            A. J. WOODS, P. FLETCHER and A. HUGHES StatisticsinLanguageStudies
                                            D. A. CRUSE LexicalSemantics
                                            A. RADFORDTransformationalGrammar
                                            M. GARMANPsycholinguistics
                                            G. G. CORBETT Gender
                                            H. J. GIEGERICH EnglishPhonology
                                            R. CANNFormalSemantics
                                            P. J. HOPPER and E. C. TRAUGOTT Grammaticalization
                                            J .   LAVERPrinciplesofPhonetics
                                            F. R. PALMER GrammaticalRolesandRelations
                                            M. A. JONES FoundationsofFrenchSyntax
                                            A. RADFORDSyntacticTheoryandtheStructureofEnglish:aMinimalist
                                                 Approach
                                            R. D. VAN VALIN, JR, and R. J. LAPOLLA Syntax:Structure,Meaning
                                                 and Function
                                            A. DURANTILinguisticAnthropology
                                            A. CRUTTENDENIntonationSecondedition
                                            J .   K. CHAMBERS and P. TRUDGILL DialectologySecondedition
                                            C. LYONSDefiniteness
                                            R. KAGEROptimalityTheory
                                            J .   A. HOLMAnIntroductiontoPidginsandCreoles
                                            C. G. CORBETT Number
                                            C. J. EWEN and H. VAN DER HULST ThePhonologicalStructureofWords
                                            F. R. PALMER MoodandModalitySecondedition
                                            B. J. BLAKE CaseSecondedition
                                            E. GUSSMANPhonology
                                            M. YIP Tone
                                            W. CROFTTypologyandUniversalsSecondedition
                                            F. COULMASWritingSystems:anintroductiontotheirlinguistic analysis
         © Cambridge University Press                                                                                                                                        www.cambridge.org
  Cambridge University Press
  0521782171 - Writing Systems: An Introduction to their Linguistic Analysis
  Florian Coulmas
  Frontmatter
  More information
          Writing Systems
          AnIntroduction to their Linguistic Analysis
          FLORIANCOULMAS
  © Cambridge University Press        www.cambridge.org
      Cambridge University Press
      0521782171 - Writing Systems: An Introduction to their Linguistic Analysis
      Florian Coulmas
      Frontmatter
      More information
                                  PUBLISHED BY THE PRESS SYNDICATE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE
                                  ThePitt Building, Trumpington Street, Cambridge, United Kingdom
                                  CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS
                                  TheEdinburgh Building, Cambridge CB2 2RU, UK
                                  40West20thStreet, New York, NY 10011-4211, USA
                                  477 Williamstown Road, Port Melbourne, VIC 3207, Australia
                                  Ruiz de Alarcon´  13, 28014 Madrid, Spain
                                  DockHouse,TheWaterfront, Cape Town 8001, South Africa
                                  http://www.cambridge.org
                                  

                                  C Florian Coulmas 2003
                                  This book is in copyright. Subject to statutory exception
                                  and to the provisions of relevant collective licensing agreements,
                                  noreproduction of any part may take place without
                                  the written permission of Cambridge University Press.
                                  First published 2003
                                  Printed in the United Kingdom at the University Press, Cambridge
                                                                                         A
                                  Typefaces Times 10/13 pt and Formata           System LT X2       [TB]
                                                                                            E    

                                  Acatalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
                                  Library of Congress Cataloguing in Publication data
                                  ISBN0521782171hardback
                                  ISBN0521787378paperback
      © Cambridge University Press                                                                                 www.cambridge.org