In a few of my earlier talks, I introduced you to some of the aspects of writing in Ancient Egypt. Most of the time, I've concentrated more on its relationship to art, architecture, religion, and society. Today, I want to focus on the basics and mechanics of the language itself. I'll be telling you about the fundamentals so that, hopefully, you will be able to understand how Ancient Egyptian really works. To write a few things, perhaps your name and maybe even have some fun in the process. That's what we want to do today. Before we begin this topic, it's probably a good idea to think first about how this language came about. In order to do this, you have to ask a few questions. For example, for what purpose was it created? That is, what was the motivation? Another question would be to whom was it directed and for whom was it created? These questions really inquire about the intended audience. Once writing appears in Ancient Egypt around 3300 to 3400 BCE and then takes hold, we can look for answers to some of these questions. The first steps to make written records, however, appear to have been primarily visual messages not necessarily representing verbal communications to be sounded out. The basics of a visible language system had to be established. For example, sound values had to be coordinated with imagery, and such signs had to continue in use for some time in order to take hold and to be remembered. For example, in the early dynastic period, slightly later than the dates I just mentioned, there were two images that together represent and sound out the name of one of the first kings of this period, Narmer. But the question remains as to how the Ancient Egyptians reached this stage. Scholars have many theories about this point, and I've pointed out several to you. From the analysis of recent discoveries, it now seems as if writing in Egypt may well be the earliest type of writing developed. Other cultures may not have used what some people call visible language for the communication of information. In some places, inhabitants have used large scale figures as statements. In others, monolithic structures, such as stone circles, like those at Stonehenge in Great Britain. These were to communicate other information in Ancient Egypt as in some other locations. An early means of visible communication seems to have been rock art. Recently developed methods of dating such items have led researchers to suggest that some of these examples may actually date more than 8000 years ago. Over time, such sources became more common and by at least 4000 BCE, carvings had become much more common. Not yet a language, however, it is rather a record of some idea or message. There is no way to know if any images like this were accompanied by a vocalization. That is, whether its message was sounded out perhaps by an official or a priest who was occasionally at the location. We do know that one type of priest from the Old Kingdom on was called a Lector priest or reading priest, and he had the responsibility of reading text for those people who were not literate, and that pretty much included most of the population. In pharaonic times, it is clear that such priest must have moved around. But it seems unlikely that in earlier times that they would be able to travel to all of the remote locations, where many of the rock drawings were carved. It may be important to remember that in Ancient Egyptian language, from the beginning of it's more than 3000 to 3400 year history, that the signs that carry the vocalizations, that is, the sounds of the words, are the language, and they are primarily images in two dimensions. These pictures represent impressions of things from the real world of the Egyptians. And sometimes their perceptions of the cosmos of the gods and the world of the afterlife they hope to reach as well. In other words, they did not use abstractions or other symbols to represent the sounds of their language as some other cultures did. It's also important to mention that Egyptians could express some of the sounds of their language in three dimensions. This could be in the form of a statue expressing the name of a ruler cryptographically. Another example is the entrance to an Egyptian temple. Not only does it function as an architectural element, but it also depicts a three dimensional hieroglyphic sign, akhet, the Ancient Egyptian word for horizon. As you can see, the boundaries between writing in two and three dimensions were quite fluid. Visible language and recording of text and image interact to the degree that they can become one. It can be in the form of a text or applied decoration on utilitarian, prestigious and/or religious items, and it can also occur on other surfaces. Whatever form it takes, its purpose from the earliest times in Egypt was a visible message. But why did it happen? Possibly, it came into being first to fill a need or desire that surfaced at that time in history. Possibly for identification of some type, a need to record amounts or identity, size, or weight. In Egypt, the intent, the aim, and/or the objective was visible communication for a particular purpose. Identifying the audience for such a message is not so simple since location may have limited some observers and so could decorum. That is the appropriateness of the individuals who could have access or see such visible writing. For these reasons, only a few individuals at first might have been able to receive the message. The jump from icon to writing seems to have been a need or desire to enhance, lengthen, and embellish the message. In many cases, early examples seem to have served as tools to identify things, places, and individuals, but it also enabled humankind to signify concepts and ideas to a vast audience in a more permanent media. Some might call it ancient social media. Outer walls of temples, private tombs, stone slabs, and statuary, all could carry messages. The only other issue I wanted to mention is that a script version of the hieroglyphs came into being pretty much simultaneously with the expanded use of hieroglyphs. Like our script that we use today, it is less formal. It differs with the particular scribe and seems less pictographic and more abstract. The Egyptians introduced this type of writing around the same time as they did with hieroglyphs. And it seems that they used it at first primarily to record different, less formal things, but there often is fluidity to these borders, so the uses can overlap. Hieratic signs are more abstract than hieroglyphic ones, and the two types record primarily different type of material. I'll talk more about the orientation later in the class.
