The Alphabet Effect: The Impact of the Phonetic Alphabet on the Development of Western Civilization - Softcover

Logan, Robert K.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0688063896 ISBN 13: 9780688063894

Publisher: William Morrow & Co, 1986

Synopsis

Describes the evolution of writing, compares the characteristics of Eastern and Western civilizations, and argues that the alphabet led to the development of linear logic

About this title

From Library Journal:

This book has a message: the rise in the West of codified law, monotheism, theoretical science, logic, and individualism was fostered by the phonetic alphabet. Unfortunately, the message is not substantiated. Logan shows that literacy has contributed to many "Western" innovations, but literacy is not synonymous with alphabetas witness the Chinese, the Japanese, etc. Further, the relation between the alphabet and monotheism is obscure: both the ancient Greeks and the Hindus had an alphabet and many gods. Logan may argue that the phonetic alphabet possesses "logic," but where is the logic in a random list of alphabetized words: aardvark, abacus, acrobat, admirable? Yet many Chinese dictionaries are logical, grouping related words under the appropriate sign. Not recommended. Catherine von Schon, SUNY at Stony Brook Lib.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: William Morrow & Co
• Publication date: 1986
• ISBN 10: 0688063896
• ISBN 13: 9780688063894
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 320