Writing system
A Writing system is based on a specific script and is regulated by a given set of rules. It is a method of representing verbal communication in visual form. Although written and verbal both are excellent forms of communication. But written communication offers the advantage of storage and data transfer. Writing is done either on a durable medium such as paper or computer system, or non-durable medium such as blackboard, computer display, in sand or in skyrocketing. Reading a text can be an internal process of reading in mind and can be external to reading orally.
Writing systems are categorised into alphabets, logographs, or syllabaries although one writing system can include more than one category.
Alphabets: In this category, a set of letters are used to denote different speech sounds. A set of almost 100 letters is sufficient to represent a language.
Syllabary: This category uses symbols to represent a syllable or mora. It can use hundreds of symbols to express a single language
Logography: Here, characters are used to represent semantic units such as morphemes or words. It can have thousands of symbols to express one language.
A special set of symbols are also used in the writing system known as punctuation. These are used to capture nuances and help in interpretation, it also helps in providing various variations in the meaning of the sentences.
In earlier times, proto-writing was in function which used pictograms, mnemonic sounds and ideograms. But It lacked the ability to express the whole range of thoughts and emotions. The writing system was invented in the bronze age and enabled the durable recording of human history instead of oral records which were quite vulnerable.
Featural system: It represents finer details as compared to alphabets. Here, whole phonemes are not represented by symbols but the features that are used to make up the phonemes for example voicing or its place of articulation. Each feature can be written in separate letters. The only prominent system of such sorts is Korean Hangul. This system includes three levels of phonological representation.
Ambiguous system: Most writing systems are not purely one type. For example, The English language consists of numerical as well as other logograms. Now, logographic systems have phonetic components. There are some scripts that are truly ambiguous for example: Spanish and old Persian