Article One of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Pahauh Hmong script One of the most interesting discoveries results of research by the Endangered Alphabets Project is that fully half of all scripts in use around the world today were not adopted and/or adapted from an existing script—they were invented by an individual or … Continue reading #EndangeredAlphabets: Another Script Author Murdered
#EndangeredAlphabets: Trotting Out Camels
“Save our language” in the Zaghawa language and the Beria script, in which each letter resembles a camel branding symbol. Carved by the author. Right, let’s get this month going. Let’s head out into the fascinating world of Indigenous and minority scripts. And let’s start by talking about camels. I’m trotting out camels, so to … Continue reading #EndangeredAlphabets: Trotting Out Camels
#EndangeredAlphabets: Consider the Mermaid
We have no idea what we don't know about writing until we see someone doing something else with it. And it's my great good fortune that in voyaging about among the endangered alphabets, I've found people doing things with writing that change the very definition of writing. This delightful image, for example, is a detail … Continue reading #EndangeredAlphabets: Consider the Mermaid
Exploring the World of Endangered Alphabets
Fourteen years ago, for reasons so odd and random they don’t bear explaining in brief, I began to carve pieces of text in endangered alphabets. I couldn’t read or pronounce any of the words or phrases I was carving. I wasn’t an anthropologist or a linguist—I wasn’t even a woodworker. What I didn’t yet suspect … Continue reading Exploring the World of Endangered Alphabets
Global Literature in Libraries Initiative 