You already read and write one kind of script: an alphabet, where each letter stands for one sound (more or less). But that is only one way to write. Every writing system ever invented uses one or more of three kinds of sign, and knowing which is which is the first skill a decipherer needs.
Key idea
The three kinds, side by side
| Kind | One sign stands for | Example | How many signs a script needs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Logogram (word sign) | a word or thing | 𐂃 "horse" in Linear B; the digit 7 or the sign & in English | hundreds or thousands |
| Syllabogram (syllable sign) | a syllable | 𐀴𐀪𐀡 ti-ri-po, three signs for three syllables | dozens, often 50 to 100 |
| Letter (alphabet) | one sound | τρίπους, tripous, eight letters | about 20 to 30 |
Why it works
Mixed scripts
Most ancient scripts mix kinds. Egyptian hieroglyphs use sound signs and word signs together. Linear B spells words with syllable signs and uses logograms beside numbers to say what is counted: a man, a woman, a horse, a tripod, wheat, oil. Even English mixes them: the digits 0 to 9, & and @ are logograms.
Common mistake
Worked example: Count the signs
- About 25 signs is far too few for word signs or for most syllabaries.
- It is about the number of sounds in a language.
Answer: An alphabet.
Worked example: Which kind?
- The first two signs, i and qo, spell the word i-qo, "horse".
- The horse's head stands alone before the number: it says what is counted.
Answer: A logogram (word sign).
Next, How a Syllabary Works shows how a syllabary is built.