Book Title: Alphabet Key To History Of Mankind
Author(s): David Diringer
Publisher: Hutchinsons Scientific and Technical Publications
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OTHER IDEOGRAPHIC SCRIPTS
153
1907, the first reform of the script took place. The script became partly syllabic and was reduced to 419 signs (this is the figure given by M. Labouret; M. Delafosse, however, quotes a figure of approximately 350). In successive revisions the number of symbols was reduced to 286 (c. 1913), 205 (c. 1915) and 70 (1918). According to other sources, revisions took place in 1907, 1909, 1911, 1916 and 1918 (Fig. 78, 2). Since 1918, a new system, consisting of 70 greatly simplified signs, has been in use, and is almost purely phonetic. The script was taught in the native schools and employed by the natives as the official script of their "State." Njoya died in 1932, but his invention has survived, although now it is slowly dying out.
The direction of writing is horizontal, and, with some exceptions, from left to right.
It is only because of its origin that the Bamun script is placed amongst the ideographic scripts. If I had to consider it from the point of view of its successive development, and especially its final system, the writing should be considered as syllabic or quasi-alphabetic.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Missionary Goehring, Der Konig von Baum und seine Schrift, "DER EVANGELISCHE HEIDENBOTE," 1907 and 1908; Semtliche Zeichen der vom Kernig Njoya ton Bamun erfundenen Schrift, Basel, 1907.
A. van Gennep, Une nouvelle écriture nègre, "REVUE DES ÉTUDES ETHNOGRAPHIQUES ET SOCIOLOGIQUES," Paris, 1908.
B. Struck, Konig Ndschoya von Bamum als Topograph, "GLOBUS," 1908, II. C. Meinhof, Zur Entstehung der Schrift, "ZEITSCHR. FURR AEGYPTISCHE SPRACHE UND ALTERTUMSRUNDE," 1911.
A. Hertz, Ein Beitrag zur Enticicklung der Schrift, "ARCHIV FUER DIE GES. PSYCHOLOGIE," 1917; Les débuts de l'écriture, "REVUE ARCHEOLOGIQUE," 1934.
M. Delafosse, Naissance et évolution d'une système d écriture de création contemporaire, "REVUE D'ETHNOGRAPHIE ET TRADITIONS POPUL..." 1922.
A. Rein-Wuhrmann, Mein Bamuntolk, Stuttgart-Basel, 1925.
A. Schramm, Die Bamumschrift, "ARCHIV FUER SCHREIB- UND BUCHWESEN,"
1927An interesting article by Mr. O. G. S. Crawford on the Bamun writing appeared in "ANTIQUITY," December, 1935
RECENT IDEOGRAPHIC SCRIPTS OF AMERICAN INDIANS
(1) In some parts of the Paucartambo Valley, in Peru, fragments painted in red and blue on old Dutch paper, or in light red on dark brown woven material, have been found. These contain in pictographic characters stories connected with the New Testament. Nothing is known of the origin of this script, of its connection with the Catholic missionaries, or of its diffusion. Fig. 79, 1 and 2 show some examples of this writing.
(2) Much more is known of a local script of another South American native tribe, the Aymarà, who live mainly in the region around Lake
