Re:A Zimbabwean archaeologist reimagines the story of an Afr...
by prepend on Tuesday December 28, 2021 @12:35PM
(#29715918)
Your first link describes the Malian documents that were written in Arabic and a language developed in the 15th century.
I think GP meant that written languages weren’t developed at times similar to other ancient civilizations (ie, Sumerian was 4K years ago).
Your second link describes an Ethiopian written language that came about in the 10th-14th century.
So I think the point is that written languages developed (or at least there’s not evidence of) much later in civilizations like where Great Zimbabwe was created.
This is different than other parts of the world. And if the Great Zimbabwe had been made in Siam or Persia or Japan or England, the cultures there had written languages at that time.
So I think the conflict is in the interpretation of time periods. I think GP’s point is valid as when I think of ancient civilizations having languages (or even the civilization that built this cool structure) I don’t think they had written languages.
Although there are many great civilizations that didn’t have written languages (eg, Inca had their knot system) and built lasting structures. So I don’t think the presence of written language is some sort of agenda.
I think GP meant that written languages weren’t developed at times similar to other ancient civilizations (ie, Sumerian was 4K years ago).
Your second link describes an Ethiopian written language that came about in the 10th-14th century.
So I think the point is that written languages developed (or at least there’s not evidence of) much later in civilizations like where Great Zimbabwe was created.
This is different than other parts of the world. And if the Great Zimbabwe had been made in Siam or Persia or Japan or England, the cultures there had written languages at that time.
So I think the conflict is in the interpretation of time periods. I think GP’s point is valid as when I think of ancient civilizations having languages (or even the civilization that built this cool structure) I don’t think they had written languages.
Although there are many great civilizations that didn’t have written languages (eg, Inca had their knot system) and built lasting structures. So I don’t think the presence of written language is some sort of agenda.