. Aztec or Nahuatl writing is a pictographic pre-Columbian writing system used in central Mexico by the Nahua peoples
| Aztec | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Script type | Pictographic
|
Period | Most extant manuscripts from the 16th century. |
| Languages | Nahuatl |
| Related scripts | |
Sister systems | Mixtec |
| Unicode | |
| U+15C00 to U+15FFF (tentative)[1] | |
Origin
While the true origin of the writing system still remains unclear, it is thought that the origin of the Aztec writing system is from the Zapotec. The first Oaxacan inscriptions are through to be from the Zapotec, especially because the Zapotec were distinct in their use of suffixes for numerals.[1] Additional writing systems descended from the Zapotec, including the Aztec writing system and the Mixtec writing system.
Type of Writing System
The Aztec writing system system can be classified as a logographic writing system, in which each symbol represents a different word or idea. However, the writing system shows some complexity because the symbols are pictographic, ideographic, and has phonetic components. A pictogram is a smaller picture symbol of the object it is representing. For example, This also means that the writing system was also ideographic, which means that symbol represented a concept, that was not too easily seen. An ideogram represents messages and underlying concepts and ideas. For example, death is represent by a corpse wrapped by burial. In addition, the Aztec writing system utilized the rebus principle, in which words that sounded the same could be represented by a similar symbol.[2]
Structure and Use
The Aztec writing system was not read from left to right, nor were the symbols places along side one another. Instead, the symbols combined together represent a scene or a larger composition. At the bottom of the picture would be the ground, and at the top of the picture would be the sky. The picture was not intended to be read, instead "deciphered" like a puzzle.[3] Thus, the Aztec writing system was not developed to be read as spoken words.[4] Rather,
In addition, the writing system was not truly developed because there were no true defined rules or symbols that had to be use. Instead, each scribe could create his own symbols to represent a different idea or image. [5]The only exception to this is that symbols used for the calendar.
As stated, the writing system was not developed to be spoken, but rather used to represent gods, peoples, places, and dates. In particular, the most developed part of the writing system was its symbols for the calendar.[6]
References
1. Justeson, John S. (1986). "The Origin of Writing Systems: Preclassic Mesoamerica". pp. 437–458. {{cite book}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
2. Prem, Janns J. & Riese, Berthold. "Autochthonous American writing systems: The Aztec and Maya examples". pp. 167–177. {{cite book}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
3. Bray, Warwick (1968). "Everyday Life of The Aztecs". pp. 93–96. {{cite book}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
4. Carmack, Robert M., Gasco, Janine L., Gossen, Gary H. (2007). "The Legacy of Mesoamerica". p. 426. {{cite book}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
- Lawrence Lo. "Aztec". Ancient Scripts.
- Nicholson, H. B. (1974). "Phoneticism in the Late Pre-Hispanic Central Mexican Writing System". In E. P. Bensen (ed.). Mesoamerica Writing Systems. pp. 1–46.
- Prem, Hanns J. (1992). "Aztec Writing". Supplement to the Handbook of Middle American Indians, Volume 5: Epigraphy. Austin: University of Texas Press.
- Thouvenot, Marc (2002). "Nahuatl Script". In Anne-Marie Christin (ed.). A History of Writing: From Hieroglyph to Multimedia. Flammarion.
See also
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