Table of Contents
THE ORIGIN OF WRITING
Passage
Writing was first invented by the Sumerians in ancient Mesopotamia before 3,000 BC. It was also independently invented in Meso-America before 600 BC and probably independently invented in China before 1,300 BC. It may have been independently invented in Egypt around 3,000 BC although given the geographical proximity between Egypt and Mesopotamia the Egyptians may have learnt writing from the Sumerians.
There are three basic types of writing systems. The written signs used by the writing system could represent either a whole word, a syllable or an individual sound. Where the written sign represents a word the system is known as logographic as it uses logograms which are written signs that represent a word. The earliest writing systems such as the Sumerian cuneiform, Egyptian hieroglyphics and Mayan glyphs are predominantly logographics as are modem Chinese and Japanese writing systems. Where the written sign represents a syllable the writing system is known as syllabic. Syllabic writing systems were more common in the ancient world than they are today. The Linear A and B writing systems of Minoan Crete and Mycenaean Greece are syllabic. The most common writing systems today are alphabetical. These involve the written sign (a letter) representing a single sound (known as a phoneme). The earliest known alphabetical systems were developed by speakers of semetic languages around 1700 BC in the area of modem day Israel and Palestine. All written languages will predominately use one or other of the above systems. They may however partly use the other systems. No written language is purely alphabetic, syllabic or logographic but may use elements from any or all systems.
Such fully developed writing only emerged after development from simplier systems. Talley sticks with notches on them to represent a number of sheep or to record a debt have been used in the past. Knotted strings have been used as a form of record keeping particularly in the area around the Pacific rim. They reached their greatest development with the Inca quipus where they were used to record payment of tribute and to record commercial transactions. A specially trained group of quipu makers and readers managed the whole system. The use of pictures for the purpose of communication was used by native Americans and by the Ashanti and Ewe people in Africa. Pictures can show qualities and characteristics which can not be shown by tally sticks and knot records. They do not however amount to writing as they do not bear a conventional relationship to language.
An alternative idea was that a system by which tokens, which represented objects like sheep, were placed in containers and the containers were marked on the outside indicating the number and type of tokens within the container gave rise to writing in Mesopotamia. The marks on the outside of the container were a direct symbolic representation of the tokens inside the container and an indirect symbolic representation of the object the token represented. The marks on the outside of the containers were graphically identical to some of the earliest pictograms used in Sumerian cuneiform, the worlds first written language. However cuneiform has approximately 1,500 signs and the marks on the ouside of the containers can only explain the origins of a few of those signs.
The first written language was the Sumerian cuneiform. Writing mainly consisted of records of numbers of sheep, goats and cattle and quantites of grain. Eventually clay tablets were used as a writing surface and were marked with a reed stylus to produce the writing. Thousands of such clay tablets have been found in the Sumerian city of Uruk. The earliest Sumerian writing consists of pictures of the objects mentioned such as sheep or cattle. Eventually the pictures became more abstract and were to consist of straight lines that looked like wedges.
The earliest cuneiform was an accounting system consisting of pictograms representing commodities such as sheep and a number. The clay tablets found might for example simply state “ten sheep”. Such writing obviously has its limitations and would not be regarded as a complete writing system. A complete writing system only developed with the process of phonctization. This occurs when the symbol ceases to represent an object and begins to represent a spoken sound, which in early cuneiform would be a word. This process was assisted when the symbols which initally looked very like the object they represented gradually became more abstract and less clearly related to an object. However while the symbol became more closely connected to words, it was words dealing with objects, such as sheep, bird or pot. It was still not possible to write more abstract ideas such as father, running, speech or foreigner.
The solution to this problem was known as the rebus principle. Words with the same or similar pronuciation to an abstract word could be used to represent the abstract word. The sign for eye could be used to represent the word “I”. The sign for deer could represent the word “dear”. Which word is referred to by the picture is decided by an additional sign. Pictographs which originally represented a word began to represent the sound of the word. The rebus principle is used to represent abstract words in all word writing systems in Sumer, Egypt, China and in the Aztec and Mayan writing in central America.
The Rebus principle lead to cuneiform becoming a form of logo-syllabic writing consisting of both logograms and syllabic writing. The effect of the change from logographic to logo-syllabic writing was substantial. Logographic writing cannot produce normal prose and is resticted to nouns, numbers, names and adjectives. The vast majority of early Sumerian writing consisted of bureaucratic records of products received or products distributed. Only when syllabic writing was introduced into cuneiform did it become possible to write prose such as myths and royal propaganda.
The next major development in writing in the old world was the development of the alphabet. The alphabet was developed out of Egyptian hieroglyphs which contained 24 signs for 24 Egyptian consonants. About 1700 BC Semites who knew Egyptian hieroglyphs began making certain changes in their writing system. They put the letters in a particular sequence and gave them simple names to assist learning and ease of memory. They also dropped the logograms and other signs used in hieroglyphs and just kept the Egyptian consonants and resticted the signs to those for individual consonants. Finally, they introduced vowels into their alphabet. Alphabets were soon to spread over most of the world as they provide both flexibility and simplicity for a writing system.
Questions
Question 1-3
Complete the summary below.
Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer. Write your answers in boxes 1 – 3 on your answer sheet.
There are three types of writing systems. Logography utilizes written signs representing a 1………. Syllabic writing systems were more common in the ancient world, as they adopt written sign symbolizing a 2…………… The most common alphabetical systems use a letter to represent a 3 ………………
Question 4- 10
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 1?
On your answer sheet please write
TRUE if the statement is true
FALSE if the statement is false
NOT GIVEN if the information is not given in the passage 1
4. There is no language that adopts elements from only one writing system.
5. Inca quipus used talley sticks to track payments and commercial transactions.
6. The marks on the outside of the containers originated from pictograms used in Sumerian cuneiform.
7. The first written language was created to document the quantities and types of livestock and food.
8. Cuneiform could not express abstract concepts at all.
9. Affected by the rebus principle, cuneiform combined the elements of both logograms and syllabic writing.
10. Most countries adopt alphabetical writing systems due to their flexibility and simplicity.
Question 11 – 14
Use the information in the passage to match the options (listed A – E) with statements (listed 11-14) below.
Write the appropriate letter (A – E) in boxes 11 – 14 on your answer sheet.
NB Some options may match more than one statement.
A. Egyptians
B. Native Americans
C. Semites
D. Chinese
E. Sumerians
11………..developed the alphabet from Egyptian hieroglyphs. 12………..used pictures for the purpose of communication. 13………..invented a written language which consisted of signs looked like wedges. 14………..might have independently invented writing 5,000 years ago.
Answers
Below are the answers, key words, synonyms and full explanations for the IELTS Reading passage The Origin of Writing (Passage 1, Questions 1–14).
Questions 1–3: Summary Completion (NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS)
1. Logography utilizes written signs representing a ______.
Answer: word
Key words: Where the written sign represents a word the system is known as logographic
Explanation: A logogram represents a word → word.
2. Syllabic writing systems adopt a written sign symbolizing a ______.
Answer: syllable
Key words: Where the written sign represents a syllable the writing system is known as syllabic
Explanation: Syllabic signs stand for a syllable → syllable.
3. Alphabetical systems use a letter to represent a ______.
Answer: single sound
Key words: the written sign (a letter) representing a single sound (known as a phoneme)
Explanation: A letter represents a single sound (a phoneme) → single sound.
Questions 4–10: True / False / Not Given
4. There is no language that adopts elements from only one writing system.
Answer: TRUE
Key words: No written language is purely alphabetic, syllabic or logographic but may use elements from any or all systems
Synonyms: no language uses only one system = no language is purely one type = “No written language is purely alphabetic, syllabic or logographic”
Explanation: Every language mixes systems, so none uses only one → TRUE.
5. Inca quipus used tally sticks to track payments and commercial transactions.
Answer: FALSE
Key words: Knotted strings … reached their greatest development with the Inca quipus where they were used to record payment of tribute and to record commercial transactions
Synonyms: quipus used tally sticks (contradicted) = quipus were knotted strings, not tally sticks = “Knotted strings … the Inca quipus”
Explanation: Quipus were knotted strings, not tally sticks → FALSE.
6. The marks on the outside of the containers originated from pictograms used in Sumerian cuneiform.
Answer: FALSE
Key words: a system by which tokens … gave rise to writing in Mesopotamia. The marks … were graphically identical to some of the earliest pictograms used in Sumerian cuneiform
Synonyms: marks originated from pictograms (contradicted) = the container marks GAVE RISE to the pictograms, not the reverse = “gave rise to writing … graphically identical to some of the earliest pictograms”
Explanation: The container marks preceded and gave rise to the pictograms — the causation is reversed → FALSE.
7. The first written language was created to document the quantities and types of livestock and food.
Answer: TRUE
Key words: The first written language was the Sumerian cuneiform. Writing mainly consisted of records of numbers of sheep, goats and cattle and quantities of grain
Synonyms: quantities and types of livestock and food = records of numbers of sheep, goats, cattle and grain = “records of numbers of sheep, goats and cattle and quantities of grain”
Explanation: Cuneiform first recorded livestock and grain → TRUE.
8. Cuneiform could not express abstract concepts at all.
Answer: FALSE
Key words: The solution to this problem was known as the rebus principle. Words with the same … pronunciation to an abstract word could be used to represent the abstract word
Synonyms: could not express abstract concepts at all (contradicted) = the rebus principle let cuneiform represent abstract words = “the rebus principle … could be used to represent the abstract word”
Explanation: The rebus principle enabled abstract words, so “not at all” is false → FALSE.
9. Affected by the rebus principle, cuneiform combined the elements of both logograms and syllabic writing.
Answer: TRUE
Key words: The Rebus principle lead to cuneiform becoming a form of logo-syllabic writing consisting of both logograms and syllabic writing
Synonyms: combined logograms and syllabic writing = became logo-syllabic writing = “a form of logo-syllabic writing consisting of both logograms and syllabic writing”
Explanation: Rebus turned cuneiform into logo-syllabic writing → TRUE.
10. Most countries adopt alphabetical writing systems due to their flexibility and simplicity.
Answer: TRUE
Key words: Alphabets were soon to spread over most of the world as they provide both flexibility and simplicity for a writing system
Synonyms: due to flexibility and simplicity = they provide both flexibility and simplicity = “as they provide both flexibility and simplicity”
Explanation: Alphabets spread widely for flexibility and simplicity → TRUE.
Questions 11–14: Matching (A–E)
A. Egyptians B. Native Americans C. Semites D. Chinese E. Sumerians
11. …developed the alphabet from Egyptian hieroglyphs.
Answer: C (Semites)
Key words: About 1700 BC Semites who knew Egyptian hieroglyphs began making certain changes in their writing system
Explanation: The Semites developed the alphabet from hieroglyphs → C.
12. …used pictures for the purpose of communication.
Answer: B (Native Americans)
Key words: The use of pictures for the purpose of communication was used by native Americans and by the Ashanti and Ewe people in Africa
Explanation: Native Americans used pictures to communicate → B.
13. …invented a written language which consisted of signs looked like wedges.
Answer: E (Sumerians)
Key words: the pictures became more abstract and were to consist of straight lines that looked like wedges (Sumerian cuneiform)
Explanation: Sumerian cuneiform’s signs looked like wedges → E.
14. …might have independently invented writing 5,000 years ago.
Answer: A (Egyptians)
Key words: It may have been independently invented in Egypt around 3,000 BC
Synonyms: might have independently invented writing 5,000 years ago = may have been independently invented in Egypt around 3,000 BC = “It may have been independently invented in Egypt around 3,000 BC”
Explanation: The uncertain (“might/may have”) independent invention ~3,000 BC points to Egypt → A. (The Sumerians’ invention is stated as certain, not “might.”)
Answer Key (Quick Reference)
| Q | Answer | Q | Answer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | word | 8 | FALSE |
| 2 | syllable | 9 | TRUE |
| 3 | single sound | 10 | TRUE |
| 4 | TRUE | 11 | C |
| 5 | FALSE | 12 | B |
| 6 | FALSE | 13 | E |
| 7 | TRUE | 14 | A |
Thank you for your help