This page gives the schedule of topics and assigned readings for Linguistics 115: Writing Systems at the University of Pennsylvania. The basic readings are from the Gnanadesikan textbook, The Writing Revoluation, by chapter; online readings are listed with direct links to either html or pdf files. These may be updated during the semester, so check back every week. Other relevant pages are the syllabus, glossary, phonetic symbols, study guide, and course description.
The notes and pictures that are used in lectures are all available on the web for study and review by students in the course; simply click on the links in this schedule. These pages are password-protected because many of the images are copyrighted and fair use restricts them to students in the course. See the announcement on Canvas for the username and password you need to use.
The reading assignments will not change during the semester, but the content of the lecture notes is subject to change until the day before the presentation. Pdf files of homework assignments and their answers will be posted on Canvas according to the schedule of due dates. There is no class on November 25 (the day before Thanksgiving, treated as a Friday but we will not have recitations that day), and no recitation sections on September 25 (due to the papal visit) and October 9 (due to Fall Break).
| Week 1 | What is writing? | ||
| Aug 24 | No classes yet |
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| Aug 26 | Typology |
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| Week 2 | Concepts and early writing | ||
| Aug 31 | Transliteration Greek |
Homework 1 |
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| Sept 2 | Background Structure |
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| Week 3 | Mesopotamian cuneiform | ||
| Sept 7 | Labor Day | Homework 2 |
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| Sept 9 | Structure (cont.) Texts |
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| Week 4 | Egyptian hieroglyphs | ||
| Sept 14 | Background Earliest writing |
Homework 3 |
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| Sept 16 | Structure Texts |
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| Week 5 | Maya hieroglyphs | ||
| Sept 21 | Background Structure |
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Homework 4 No recitation sections Sept 25. |
| Sept 23 | Structure (cont.) Texts (Other systems) |
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| Week 6 | Chinese morphosyllabic writing | ||
| Sept 28 | Language Historical development |
Homework 5 |
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| Sept 30 | Structure Morphemes |
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| Week 7 | Japanese writing: A mixed system | ||
| Oct 5 | Language Kanji |
No homework due next week. Study for the midterm. No recitation sections Oct 9. |
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| Oct 7 | Kana Text |
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| Week 8 | Phonographic writing in East Asia | ||
| Oct 12 | Yi and Vietnamese Korean |
No homework due next week. No recitation sections Oct 16. |
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| Oct 14 | Midterm exam | ||
| Week 9 | Syllabic writing | ||
| Oct 19 | Syllabaries Cherokee and Cree |
Homework 6 |
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| Oct 21 | Linear
B, Cypriot, Linear
A, Texts (Undeciphered) |
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| Week 10 | Alphasyllabic systems | ||
| Oct 26 | Indus Valley Early Indic |
Homework 7 |
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| Oct 28 | Indic descendents Ethiopic Texts |
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| Week 11 | Consonantal writing | ||
| Nov 2 | Early alphabets Further developments |
Homework 8 |
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| Nov 4 | Modern alphabets Texts |
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| Week 12 | The alphabetic principle in Greece | ||
| Nov 9 | Transmission Epichoric alphabets |
Homework 9 |
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| Nov 11 | Classical
writing Descendent alphabets (More inscriptions) |
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| Week 13 | The alphabet in Italy | ||
| Nov 16 | Etruscan |
No homework due next week.
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| Nov 18 | Latin |
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| Week 14 | Early English orthography | ||
| Nov 23 | Runes Old English |
Thanksgiving Break, |
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| Nov 25 | Friday classes today; no recitations |
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| Week 15 | Middle and Modern English | ||
| Nov 30 | Middle English |
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Homework 10 |
| Dec 2 | Modern English The alphabet |
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| Week 16 | Implications of literacy | ||
| Dec 7 | Vai literacy Written language and literacy |
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Study for the final exam. |
| Dec 9 | Reading days | ||
| Final exam | |||
Dec 16 |
12 – 2 | ||