Writing

Theory and History of the Technology of Civilization

Barry B Powell author

Format:Hardback

Publisher:John Wiley and Sons Ltd

Published:27th Mar '09

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

This hardback is available in another edition too:

Writing cover

Writing: Theory and History of the Technology of Civilization traces the origins of writing tied to speech from ancient Sumer through the Greek alphabet and beyond.

  • Examines the earliest evidence for writing in Mesopotamia in the fourth millennium BC, the origins of purely phonographic systems, and the mystery of alphabetic writing
  • Includes discussions of Ancient Egyptian,Chinese, and Mayan writing
  • Shows how the structures of writing served and do serve social needs and in turn create patterns of social behavior
  • Clarifies the argument with many illustrations
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"For anyone interested in language, writing, and their fascinating history across many cultures and centuries of development, this engagingly written, well-illustrated book will provide a very readable mine of information." (CHOICE, December 2009)

"Powell's concentration on precise names for terms used in discourse clears up some of the confusion common to histories of work on ancient scripts." (About.com, May 2009)

"A feature … is the use of the ancient scripts in the text with numerous illustrations to familiarize the reader with the different writing systems. The result is a readable and enlightening study of a complex topic." (Bryn Mawr Classical Review, April 2010)

"Writing is stimulating and impressive." (Science, April 2009)

ISBN: 9781405162562

Dimensions: 236mm x 160mm x 22mm

Weight: 553g

296 pages