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submitted 1 year ago by garfaagel@sh.itjust.works to c/til@lemmy.ca
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[-] rephlekt2718@kbin.social 12 points 1 year ago

What does independent mean here? Not influenced by a previous writing system? Does this imply that all other writing systems have a singular source?

[-] ggppjj@lemmy.world 30 points 1 year ago

It implies that most of the written languages we're aware of have been based on preexisting character sets, with very few root character sets. This is one of those few root sets.

[-] rephlekt2718@kbin.social 7 points 1 year ago

Amazing! Do you happen to know where the root sets arose from?

[-] sgibson5150@kbin.social 29 points 1 year ago

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_writing#Inventions_of_writing

According to the article, experts currently believe that writing was invented independently at least four times:

  • Mesopotamia (between 3400 and 3100 BCE)
  • Egypt (around 3250 BCE)
  • China (1200 BCE)
  • Mesoamerica (by 500 BCE)

There is still debate around Rongorongo script and Vinča symbols, since no is sure if they are actually writing systems.

[-] rephlekt2718@kbin.social 8 points 1 year ago

This is sick, thanks for the info!!

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this post was submitted on 24 Aug 2023
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