Seen Not Heard: Composition, Iconicity, and the Classifier Systems of Logosyllabic Scripts

This volume explores writing as a medium that is not just a handmaiden to oral and aural exchange but a communication system that is richly layered and experienced. Scholars from various fields incorporate methods from linguistics and semiotics, communication studies, art historical analysis, and traditional philology to investigate the explicit and implicit exploitation of visuality in scribal production, revealing power, mysticism, humor, and cultural maps.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 328 pages
Publication date: 31 July 2023
Publisher: Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures

Writing, a multifaceted and visually rich form of communication, has long been perceived as a means to represent and convey the spoken word. However, this volume takes a deeper dive into the realm of writing, exploring it as a complex communication system that is not just a tool for oral and aural exchange but a rich and multi-layered medium. By bringing together scholars from various fields, including Egyptology, Sinology, Hittitology, Assyriology, Mesoamericanists, art historians, and a sign language specialist, this volume seeks to uncover the full potential of visual code in writing.

In their contributions, these scholars employ methods traditionally used in linguistics, semiotics, communication studies, art historical analysis, and traditional philology to forge new paths of inquiry. They explore how visuality is explicitly exploited in scribal production to establish power, reveal mystical aspects, induce humor, or expose hidden views. They also uncover implicit knowledge schemes and cultural maps that underpin and inform these same productions.

The pioneering investigations presented in Seen Not Heard shed light on a crucial aspect of writing: its visual nature. While writing can be heard, its visual presence also impacts its reception and, consequently, the meaning of any transported phonological units. This volume thus offers a fresh perspective on writing, demonstrating its capacity to convey not only spoken words but also visual and cultural nuances that enrich our understanding of the written word.

In conclusion, Seen Not Heard is a groundbreaking volume that challenges traditional approaches to writing and unveils its rich visual dimension. By bringing together experts from diverse fields, it provides a comprehensive exploration of the ways in which writing can be seen and heard, and how this visuality affects its reception and meaning. This volume is a valuable resource for scholars, students, and anyone interested in the multifaceted world of writing and communication.

ISBN-13: 9781614910855