[Xmca-l] Re: Concerning the origins of writing

["Jones, Peter" <P.E.Jones@shu.ac.uk>]

Dear all
If you read one book on writing, I would recommend Roy Harris's 'The Origins of Writing', quite remarkable and a powerful contrast to the usual view (including Vygotsky's) of writing as a representation of spoken language.
Best wishes
P
________________________________________
From: xmca-l-bounces@mailman.ucsd.edu [xmca-l-bounces@mailman.ucsd.edu] on behalf of mike cole [lchcmike@gmail.com]
Sent: 15 August 2013 21:22
To: xmca-l@ucsd.edu
Subject: [Xmca-l]  Concerning the origins of writing

Chuck is pointing at the work of Denise Schmandt-Besserat. I agree on its
central importance and it is included in stuff on my web page.
The work is not uncontroversial, but I like the story a lot.

For a quick and accessible summary see

http://www.austinchronicle.com/books/1999-12-10/74962/

mike