The Shape of Script ─ How and Why Writing Systems Change

Houston (anthropology, Brown U.) unites works by US contributors in classics, anthropology, and Near Eastern languages to shed light on principles and patterns of the birth, maintenance, and death of various writing scripts throughout history and around the world. There is also a chapter on the history of written numerals. Some specific subjects explored are paragraphs and punctuation in ancient Roman script, script and administration in Middle Kingdom Egypt, script change in Bronze Age China, the development of writing in Japan, and alphabetic and pictorial registers in Mixtec texts. The book is illustrated with numerous b&w photos of script examples. Its audience includes anthropologists, philologists, and archaeologists. Material originated at a seminar held by the School for Advanced Research. Annotation Ac2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)