Difference between revisions of "Logogram" - New World Encyclopedia
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| − | A '''logogram''', or '''logograph''', is a | + | A '''logogram''', or '''logograph''', is a written or pictorial symbol that is used to represent an entire [[word (linguistics)|word]], unlike [[phonogram (linguistics)|phonograms]], which represent phonetic sounds. Logograms are commonly known as “ideograms” or “[[hieroglyphs]].” Technically, an [[ideogram]] represents and idea rather than a specific word. Often, a writing system will make use of a combination of phonetic and logographic symbols, including ideograms. One of the advantages of using logographic symbols is that they can be easily understood no matter what language is spoken; writing systems like [[alphabet]]s or [[syllabary|syllabaries]] are unable to do this. |
| − | + | ==The History of Logographic Systems== | |
| + | Logographic systems, or logographies, include the earliest true writing systems; the first historical civilizations of the Near East, China, and Central America used some form of logographic writing. As a purely logographical script would be impractical for most languages, writing systems that incorporate logograms also make use of phonetic elements. | ||
| − | + | ===Sumerian Cuneiform=== | |
| + | [[Cuneiform script|Cuneiform]] writing was developed by the [[Sumerian]] people of [[Mesopotamia]] around 3300 B.C.E., and had a strong influence on the development of a number of other writing systems, including the Akkadian and Babylonian scripts. Cuneiform evolved from the use of clay tokens to count agricultural and manufactured goods. Multiple clay tokens were sealed into jars, and a stylus was used to imprint an image of each clay token contained inside. Eventually, symbols were developed for representing multiple numbers, and the symbols began to replace the clay tokens altogether. | ||
| − | + | Sumerian writing also began as more pictographic, linear images. The image for “bird” was clearly a bird, for example. After 3000 B.C.E.., however, these images began to evolve into the familiar groupings of wedge shapes that are recognized as cuneiform writing. Around this time, the writing system also began to evolve into a more phonetic-based system.<ref>Lo, Lawrence. [http://www.ancientscripts.com/sumerian.html “Sumerian”] Ancientscripts.com. (2007) Retrieved February 18, 2009.</ref> | |
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| − | + | ===Egyptian Hieroglyphs=== | |
| + | [[Image:Papyrus Ani curs hiero.jpg|thumb|Egyptian hieroglyphs, many of which function as logograms.]] | ||
| + | Ancient [[Egyptian hieroglyphs]] were used from about 3200 B.C.E. up until almost 400 C.E.. While hieroglyphic writing is generally done phonetically, nearly all the phonetic glyphs can also serve as logograms. A silent vertical stroke accompanying a glyph indicates that it should be read as a logogram. Egyptian hieroglyphs are often clearly recognizable as the objects they represent; pictographic representations of humans, animals, and tools require little guesswork as to the word they represent. | ||
| − | + | Many of the phonetic values of Egyptian glyphs are also influenced by the meaning of the glyph when used as a logogram. In English, this would be similar to an image of a book being assigned the phonetic value “B,” because “B” is associated with “b”ook. | |
| − | === | + | ===Additional Hieroglyphic Writing Systems=== |
| − | + | While Egyptian hieroglyphs may be the most well-known, a number of other hieroglyphic scripts employ the use of logograms. These include: [[Anatolian hieroglyph]]s (used to write Luwian), Mayan hieroglyphs, Olmec hieroglyphs, Mi’kmaq hieroglyphs, and Dongba script. With the exception of the Dongba script, which is still used by the Naxi priests in [[China]] and [[Tibet]], hieroglyphic writing systems are no longer used. | |
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| − | === | + | ===Asian Languages=== |
| − | + | A number of Asian languages (most notably Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese) employ heavy use of logographic characters. Chinese and its derivative, Japanese kanji, are perhaps the most widely cited examples of predominantly logographic scripts still in use today. | |
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| − | + | When discussing Asian languages, the term “character” often replaces the term “logogram.” In the Chinese language, there are over 50,000 characters, 2,000 of which are considered necessary for basic literacy. In Japanese, knowledge of 1850 characters is required. While not all of these characters are technically logograms, most have logographic elements. For example, a character may represent only a part of a word as well as the word itself. | |
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[[Image:chineseprimer3.png|right|180px|thumb|Excerpt from a 1436 primer on Chinese characters]] | [[Image:chineseprimer3.png|right|180px|thumb|Excerpt from a 1436 primer on Chinese characters]] | ||
| − | + | Chinese characters are traditionally divided into six types, of which only a very small number are true logograms, representing a single word. Some of the oldest Chinese characters are stylized pictographs, like “tree” and “mouth.” There are also a number of ideographs (representing abstract ideas,) such as “middle” and “above.” The majority of Chinese characters, however, are compound characters called “semantic-phonetic compounds.” These characters, which represent approximately ninety percent of existing characters, are made up of a “radical” that hints at the meaning of a character, as well as a phonetic component that helps clarify the pronunciation of the character.<ref>Ager, Simon. [http://www.omniglot.com/writing/chinese_types.htm#types “Types of Chinese Characters”] Omniglot. (2009) Retrieved February 18, 2009.</ref> | |
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| − | + | ==Numbers and Symbols== | |
| + | There are a number of logograms in use today that are understood world-wide. The vast majority of these are related to [[mathematics]], such as numerals (“1, 2, 3, etc.”) and mathematical symbols like “+” (plus,) “<” (less than,) and “p” ([[pi]].) Symbols for currency like “$, €, £” are universally recognized to mean “dollar, euro, and pound.” While the spoken representation of these symbols may change according to the language, the symbols themselves transcend language barriers. This is the reason many have referred to mathematics as “the universal language.” | ||
| − | == | + | ==Phonetic and Logographic Elements== |
| − | + | All logographic scripts, both ancient and modern, include a phonetic system that works in tandem with logographic elements of the script. In some cases, like Akkadian or Egyptian hieroglyphs, most glyphs are used for their phonetic values and not their logographic meaning. Many logographic systems also employ an [[ideogram|ideographic]] component (“determinatives” in Egyptian hieroglyphs or “radicals” in Chinese) that serves to clarify the meaning of a particular logogram. Scripts can also use phonetic complements to give clues as to the intended interpretation of a logogram. | |
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| − | + | ==Advantages of Logographic Systems== | |
| + | One of the clearest advantages to the use of logographic symbols or characters is their universality. This can be seen in mathematics, where mathematical formulas and problems can be easily understood by mathematicians from any country. This advantage is also evident in China, where hundreds of spoken dialects all use the same written language. Chinese who speak different dialects may not understand each other through speech, but can communicate effectively through writing. | ||
| − | == | + | ==Disadvantages of Logographic Systems== |
| − | + | Logographic writing systems have clear disadvantages as well, one of the most obvious being that they are more time consuming to learn. Instead of a phonetic alphabet, logographic writing systems require the memorization of a large group of logograms. While most logographic languages have phonetic components, the pronunciation of a word is generally dependent on the reader knowing the meaning of a particular logographic symbol. Words in many alphabetic writing systems such as [[Italian]] or [[Finnish]] can be sounded out if they are not known to the reader; this cannot be done in more logographic languages like Korean or Chinese. | |
| − | + | Logographic characters can also create difficulty with electronic devices. Instead of the reasonably small set of potential characters that make up most alphabetic systems of writing, logographic scripts like Chinese are much more cumbersome to type. Various methods exist for typing logograms: Chinese can be typed on a computer either by breaking a character up into its constituent parts, or by entering a phonetic pronunciation and selecting the correct character from a list. Additionally, because of this, more computer memory is generally needed to store text in Chinese than English. | |
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==Notes== | ==Notes== | ||
Revision as of 18:06, 18 February 2009
 Writing systems |
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| History |
| Types |
| Alphabet |
| Abjad |
| Abugida |
| Syllabary |
| Logogram |
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| Pictogram |
| Ideogram |
A logogram, or logograph, is a written or pictorial symbol that is used to represent an entire word, unlike phonograms, which represent phonetic sounds. Logograms are commonly known as “ideograms” or “hieroglyphs.” Technically, an ideogram represents and idea rather than a specific word. Often, a writing system will make use of a combination of phonetic and logographic symbols, including ideograms. One of the advantages of using logographic symbols is that they can be easily understood no matter what language is spoken; writing systems like alphabets or syllabaries are unable to do this.
The History of Logographic Systems
Logographic systems, or logographies, include the earliest true writing systems; the first historical civilizations of the Near East, China, and Central America used some form of logographic writing. As a purely logographical script would be impractical for most languages, writing systems that incorporate logograms also make use of phonetic elements.
Sumerian Cuneiform
Cuneiform writing was developed by the Sumerian people of Mesopotamia around 3300 B.C.E., and had a strong influence on the development of a number of other writing systems, including the Akkadian and Babylonian scripts. Cuneiform evolved from the use of clay tokens to count agricultural and manufactured goods. Multiple clay tokens were sealed into jars, and a stylus was used to imprint an image of each clay token contained inside. Eventually, symbols were developed for representing multiple numbers, and the symbols began to replace the clay tokens altogether.
Sumerian writing also began as more pictographic, linear images. The image for “bird” was clearly a bird, for example. After 3000 B.C.E., however, these images began to evolve into the familiar groupings of wedge shapes that are recognized as cuneiform writing. Around this time, the writing system also began to evolve into a more phonetic-based system.[1]
Egyptian Hieroglyphs
Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs were used from about 3200 B.C.E. up until almost 400 C.E. While hieroglyphic writing is generally done phonetically, nearly all the phonetic glyphs can also serve as logograms. A silent vertical stroke accompanying a glyph indicates that it should be read as a logogram. Egyptian hieroglyphs are often clearly recognizable as the objects they represent; pictographic representations of humans, animals, and tools require little guesswork as to the word they represent.
Many of the phonetic values of Egyptian glyphs are also influenced by the meaning of the glyph when used as a logogram. In English, this would be similar to an image of a book being assigned the phonetic value “B,” because “B” is associated with “b”ook.
Additional Hieroglyphic Writing Systems
While Egyptian hieroglyphs may be the most well-known, a number of other hieroglyphic scripts employ the use of logograms. These include: Anatolian hieroglyphs (used to write Luwian), Mayan hieroglyphs, Olmec hieroglyphs, Mi’kmaq hieroglyphs, and Dongba script. With the exception of the Dongba script, which is still used by the Naxi priests in China and Tibet, hieroglyphic writing systems are no longer used.
Asian Languages
A number of Asian languages (most notably Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese) employ heavy use of logographic characters. Chinese and its derivative, Japanese kanji, are perhaps the most widely cited examples of predominantly logographic scripts still in use today.
When discussing Asian languages, the term “character” often replaces the term “logogram.” In the Chinese language, there are over 50,000 characters, 2,000 of which are considered necessary for basic literacy. In Japanese, knowledge of 1850 characters is required. While not all of these characters are technically logograms, most have logographic elements. For example, a character may represent only a part of a word as well as the word itself.
Chinese characters are traditionally divided into six types, of which only a very small number are true logograms, representing a single word. Some of the oldest Chinese characters are stylized pictographs, like “tree” and “mouth.” There are also a number of ideographs (representing abstract ideas,) such as “middle” and “above.” The majority of Chinese characters, however, are compound characters called “semantic-phonetic compounds.” These characters, which represent approximately ninety percent of existing characters, are made up of a “radical” that hints at the meaning of a character, as well as a phonetic component that helps clarify the pronunciation of the character.[2]
Numbers and Symbols
There are a number of logograms in use today that are understood world-wide. The vast majority of these are related to mathematics, such as numerals (“1, 2, 3, etc.”) and mathematical symbols like “+” (plus,) “<” (less than,) and “p” (pi.) Symbols for currency like “$, €, £” are universally recognized to mean “dollar, euro, and pound.” While the spoken representation of these symbols may change according to the language, the symbols themselves transcend language barriers. This is the reason many have referred to mathematics as “the universal language.”
Phonetic and Logographic Elements
All logographic scripts, both ancient and modern, include a phonetic system that works in tandem with logographic elements of the script. In some cases, like Akkadian or Egyptian hieroglyphs, most glyphs are used for their phonetic values and not their logographic meaning. Many logographic systems also employ an ideographic component (“determinatives” in Egyptian hieroglyphs or “radicals” in Chinese) that serves to clarify the meaning of a particular logogram. Scripts can also use phonetic complements to give clues as to the intended interpretation of a logogram.
Advantages of Logographic Systems
One of the clearest advantages to the use of logographic symbols or characters is their universality. This can be seen in mathematics, where mathematical formulas and problems can be easily understood by mathematicians from any country. This advantage is also evident in China, where hundreds of spoken dialects all use the same written language. Chinese who speak different dialects may not understand each other through speech, but can communicate effectively through writing.
Disadvantages of Logographic Systems
Logographic writing systems have clear disadvantages as well, one of the most obvious being that they are more time consuming to learn. Instead of a phonetic alphabet, logographic writing systems require the memorization of a large group of logograms. While most logographic languages have phonetic components, the pronunciation of a word is generally dependent on the reader knowing the meaning of a particular logographic symbol. Words in many alphabetic writing systems such as Italian or Finnish can be sounded out if they are not known to the reader; this cannot be done in more logographic languages like Korean or Chinese.
Logographic characters can also create difficulty with electronic devices. Instead of the reasonably small set of potential characters that make up most alphabetic systems of writing, logographic scripts like Chinese are much more cumbersome to type. Various methods exist for typing logograms: Chinese can be typed on a computer either by breaking a character up into its constituent parts, or by entering a phonetic pronunciation and selecting the correct character from a list. Additionally, because of this, more computer memory is generally needed to store text in Chinese than English.
Notes
- ↑ Lo, Lawrence. “Sumerian” Ancientscripts.com. (2007) Retrieved February 18, 2009.
- ↑ Ager, Simon. “Types of Chinese Characters” Omniglot. (2009) Retrieved February 18, 2009.
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
- DeFrancis, John (1984). The Chinese Language: Fact and Fantasy. University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 0-8248-1068-6.
- Hannas, William C. (1997). Asia's Orthographic Dilemma. University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 0-8248-1892-X.
- Hoffman, Joel M. (2004). In the Beginning: A Short History of the Hebrew Language. NYU Press. ISBN 0-8147-3690-4. - Chapter 3.
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