On System-Internal and Differential Iconicity in Egyptian Hieroglyphic Writing

While referential modes of iconicity in signs of writing are well recognized, this paper emphasizes the complementary importance of system-internal modes of iconicity and sign motivation in complex writing systems. Focusing on Egyptian hieroglyphs particularly, instances of differential iconicity ar...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Andréas Stauder
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Université de liège 2018-10-01
Series:Signata
Subjects:
Online Access:http://journals.openedition.org/signata/1927
Description
Summary:While referential modes of iconicity in signs of writing are well recognized, this paper emphasizes the complementary importance of system-internal modes of iconicity and sign motivation in complex writing systems. Focusing on Egyptian hieroglyphs particularly, instances of differential iconicity are discussed, by which the very differences between pairs or small sets of visual related signs are essential in motivating these. In some cases, it is proposed, differential iconicity affords the foundation for referential modes of iconicity themselves.
ISSN:2032-9806