Friday, May 18, 2007

script and sensibilities




Warning! This is totally speculative.

This is not a complete thought. In fact it is more of a question.
There could be a correlation between the way we write and the way we think. I am not referring to our handwriting but the script we write in.
For example is there a correlation between the Roman Script and the collective mental programming of all the cultures that use the Roman script for their language viz. Germans, English, Russians?

Could the layout or the shape of letters of the alphabet in different languages have something to do with the way people in these cultures think?
I do not know if there is any empirical evidence to suggest this but if you just observe scripts of different languages you see some connections (and these are broad generalizations and just about as robust as speculation is, so please do not infer that I am concluding anything about any of the cultures that I am drawing inferences about, here) also, needless to mention that exceptions are everywhere.
Having said that, here are some points of speculation

1.Linear logical thinking – Roman Script – straight lines (boxed and organized letters) viz. English, Germans, Most of the other European countries & Russia

2.Linear Logical Thinking – Dravidian Script – rounded symmetry or letters. Kannadadigas, Tamilians, Malayalis, Telugu (South Indian Languages)

3.Logical thinking with creative streaks here and there – Devnagri Script – all alphabets have a horizontal line on top – that’s the linear or logical part. Matras (solid horizontal lines on top) etc act as the deviations from the logic – they symbolize the creative side (Hindi, Pali, Sanskrit, Marathi etc.)

4.Process orientation/Performance orientation – Chinese/Korean/Japanese languages and communities – I do not know much about these or perhaps this observation does not hold good for these cultures or communities

Thoughts, points, counterpoints are welcome, as I has said earlier, this is not a complete thought..

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