LINGUISTIC AWARENESS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ANATOLIAN HIEROGLYPHIC SIGN VALUES

Abstract

One theory sustains that the invention of writing is linguistically determined and limited to societies whose language is rich in
monosyllabic morphemes (Daniels 1992; Boltz 2000). Its validity, however, depends on an assessment of the role of acrophony
in the invention of scripts across the globe, something which is still unrealized. As far as the Anatolian Hieroglyphic script
is concerned, Hawkins (1986) set forth the only attempt to understand the linguistic rationale behind the use of rebus and
acrophony in the script’s invention. In his opinion, a pattern is observable: the syllabic values of the signs were always drawn
from monosyllabic or reduplicated stems of Luwian or Hittite words. !irty years on, this picture of Anatolian Hieroglyphic,
while not far from reality, needs to be fully reassessed. !is article represents an e"ort towards that goal.