Aims

Students will have a general idea of the principal systems or oriental scripts and of their history. They will become familiar with questions concerning the origins and the definition of writing. They will become aware of the problems of adapting scripts to the languages they represent.

Main themes

To present the major questions raised by the history of oriental scripts. How and why did these scripts come about ? What were their components ? To what extent are they phonetically faithful to the languages they transcribe ? What were the oldest oriental scripts (Egyptian, cuneiform) ? History of the alphabet (precursors, the first examples, their descendants). Some important scripts of the Far East (China, Japan, Indus script, and the Indian sub-continent).

Content and teaching methods

Content: 1st part: general theory of writing; the prehistory of scripts; the first scripts; birth of the alphabet. 2nd part: some important scripts of the Far East (China, Japan, Indus script, and the Indian sub-continent).
Teaching methods: Lectures leading to discussions. Maps, illustrations and basic bibliography of the questions studied will be available. Students will have the possibility to write an essay on a subject of their choice concerning the history of Oriental scripts.

Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

Prerequisite : none.
Evaluation : a) students who have not written an essay : oral examination on the whole subject matter of the course. b) students who have written an essay : oral examination bearing on the 1st part of the course and evaluation of their essay.
Teaching materials : Maps, illustrations and basic bibliography of the questions studied will be available.

Other credits in programs