Writing Systems of the World
This Webquest will introduce the world’s different writing systems.
-A writing system is a method of representing a language or the sounds of
language by written symbols. Different languages use different writing systems.
The differences comprise not only the symbols used, but also the way these
symbols are used: they might represent a single consonant or vowel, and entire
syllable, or even an entire word.
Directions:
Go to www.omniglot.com and click on abjads to answer the following
questions:
1. An abjad, or _____________ ___________, represent ___________ only,
or consonants plus some vowels.
2. Identify these three abjads currently in use:
a. What is the name of this writing system? _______________________________
b. What is the name of this writing system? ___________________________________
c. What is the name of this writing system? ___________________________________
3. Abjads are currently in use in the Middle East. Identify the Middle East on
this map of the world. Use a pen or pencil to mark it with a dot (If you need
help use the internet to find a map of the Middle East!):
4. Name three Middle Eastern countries that use the Arabic abjad:
_____________________,____________________,___________________
Directions:
Go to www.omniglot.com and click on syllabic alphabets to answer the
following questions:
5. Syllabic alphabets, alphasyllabaries or__________ consist of symbols for
consonants and __________. The consonants each have an inherent
__________which can be changed to another vowel or muted by means of
diacritics. Vowels can also be written with separate letters when they occur at
the beginning of a word or on their own.
Many Indian languages are written with abugidas.
6. Identify India on this map of the world. Use a pen or pencil to mark it with
a dot:
7. Using /www.omniglot.com/writing/syllabic.htm, name some of these
Indian abugidas:
a.
c.
__________
b.
__________ d.
____________
________________
8. In your own words, what is the difference between abugidas and abjads?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
The Chinese writing system often uses a single character for a word. The
Chinese learn thousands of characters in order to learn to write. Chinese
characters are sometimes known as ideograms, because they use a single
symbol to convey a whole idea.
9. Translate the meaning of each Chinese character’s meaning. Go to
www.chinapage.com/word/chineseword.html for the answers.
a. ________
b. _________
c.________
10. Using a pen or pencil, identify China with a dot on the map below:
The most widespread writing system is our own Latin alphabet. Many
languages are written with the Latin Alphabet. These languages include:
English, German, French, and Spanish.
Below is a map. Countries where the Latin alphabet is used are shaded in
dark green. Countries that use both the Latin alphabet and another writing
system are shaded in light green.
11. Name six countries that use just the Latin alphabet (dark green):
____________________, ____________________, ___________________,
____________________, ____________________,____________________
12. If you visited any of these countries, would you understand their
languages? Why or why not? ______________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
13. The Latin alphabet is neither an abugida nor an abjad. Our alphabet
does not use ideograms. Instead, it uses a separate symbol for each consonant
and vowel. Can you think of any advantages or disadvantages to using the
Latin Alphabet? _______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
Directions:
Go to www.ancientscripts.com. Find the search box on the left hand
side of the page. Type in the word cuneiform and then type in the word
hieroglyphics and answer the following questions:
Both cuneiform and hieroglyphics were writing systems used by ancient
civilizations. Neither is currently in use.
14. Circle the name of the ancient civilization that used this writing system:
a.
Ancient Egypt or Ancient Sumeria?
b.
Ancient Egypt or Ancient Sumeria?
There are many ancient writing systems.
Here is an ancient writing system from the Easter Islands in the Pacific
Ocean. It is known as Rongo Rongo, but no one alive can now translate what
it says:
Go to www.omniglot.com/writing/rongorongo.htm to find out more.
15. What writing system do Easter Islanders use these days? _____________
Go to www.omniglot.com/writing/undeciphered.htm to read more
about undeciphered scripts.
16. Which undeciphered writing system is the most intriguing or interesting
to you?_______________________________________________________
Why?_________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
17. If you were a linguist—a person who specializes in translating different
writing systems—what are some methods you could use to figure out the
meaning of an undeciphered script?________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
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