Aztec script: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 23:09, 3 December 2008

Revision as of 23:55, 3 December 2008

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==Structure and use==

Aztec was [[pictogram]] and [[ideographic]] [[proto-writing]], augmented by phonetic [[rebus]]es. However, unlike the [[Mayan Script]], the Aztec script is not considered a true writing system because there was no corpus of signs or defined rules that needed to be used. Instead, Aztec scribes created individual compositions: each scribe created his own representations of the ideas he wished to convey.<ref name=Prem> {{cite book |author=Carmack, Robert M., Gasco, Janine L., Gossen, Gary H. |year=2007 |chapter=The Legacy of Mesoamerica |pages=426}}</ref> <br />However, there only clear corpus of signs that were standardized in Aztec writing were those of a few plants, animals, parts of the human body, natural phenomena, some cultural artifacts, and the names of the first 20 days.<ref>{{cite book |author=Carmack, Robert M., Gasco, Janine L., Gossen, Gary H. |year=2007 |chapter=The Legacy of Mesoamerica |pages=426}}</ref> These glyphs were the only glyphs that were truly considered logographic. In addition, because these signs were considered logographic, these glyphs were understood by peoples from Central Mexico who spoke different language.<ref>{{cite book |author=Carmack, Robert M., Gasco, Janine L., Gossen, Gary H. |year=2007 |chapter=The Legacy of Mesoamerica |pages=426}}</ref><br />

[[Image:Aztec days.gif|thumb|300px|Aztec Day Signs]]<br />

<gallery>

Image:Aztec days.gif|Aztec Day Signs

</gallery><br />

The writing system was also [[ideographic]] because many of the glyphs represented underlying ideas and concepts associated with the glyph. For example, death is represent by a corpse wrapped for burial, night by a black sky and a closed eye, war by a shield and a club, and speech by a little scroll issuing from mouth of the person who is talking. In addition, the concept of motion and walking were indicated by a trail of footprints.<ref>{{cite book |author=Bray, Warwick |year=1968 |chapter=Everyday Life of The Aztecs |pages=93-96}}</ref>

As previously mentioned, the Aztec writing system also shows phonetic characteristics where the same glyph was used to represent the same sound, rather than showing the similarity in meaning. The rebus principle was used for this process. In addition, this is evident in the glyphs of town names.<ref>{{cite book |author=Bray, Warwick |year=1968 |chapter=Everyday Life of The Aztecs |pages=93-96}}</ref> For example, the glyph for Tenochititlan, the Aztec capital, was represented by combining two pictograms: stone (tetl) and cactus (nochtli). <br />

[[Image:Aztec town glyphs.jpg|thumb|300px|Formation of town glyphs from pictograms]]<br />

Aztec writing was not read in any particulary order, and the glyphs were not written linearly, but arranged to ideographically represent a scene or a larger composition. At the bottom of the picture would be the ground, and at the top the sky. The picture was not intended to be read, but rather "deciphered".<ref>{{cite book |author=Bray, Warwick |year=1968 |chapter=Everyday Life of The Aztecs |pages=93-96}}</ref>