Writing Systems: Theory, History, and Cognition (SYMSYS 295R)

3–4 credits · Undergraduate

This course is about the writing systems and written languages of the world. The course is loosely organized into three main topics: theories and formal models of writing systems and how they can vary; the history and development of writing; and the psychological and cognitive side of writing systems and literacy. The knowledge and skills that this course aims to teach include: the ability to analyze and describe differences in writing systems; the ability to recognize various common and historically prominent writing systems; a foundational understanding of the relationship between writing systems/literacy and cognition; an understanding of how writing systems change, and why; and familiarity with understanding and navigating the academic literature about writing systems. Students will incorporate what they learn into their own independent writing systems-related projects.