Re: Non-linear / full-2d writing systems?

On Thu, 5 May 2005 02:15:27 -0700, Sai Emrys <saizai@...> wrote:

>> Human languages are essentially linear (they are sequences of "words"). Ergo,
>> writing sytems for human languages are essentially linear as well.
>
>Your argument is circular here, if you intend it as one of 'purpose'.
>Certainly, I would agree that a writing system *intended* to 'fix
>language' as you call it - and I presume that you make the common
>equation that "real language" = "speech" - would need to be linear.
>That's obvious.
>
>But I would strongly disagree that a writing system *need* do so at
>all, and cannot exist entirely separate of a spoken language.
You can do that, but it's rather unusual. Most would consider e.g. maths or
formal logics a notational system, but not a writing system. Writing systems
are usually considered the subgroup of notational systems that represent
languages.

kry@s:
j. 'mach' wust

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