Er, maybe we'd better back up a step: what does "epigraphy" mean to you?

Cathy Waldman wrote:

>
> Peter, thanks for replying!
>
> Another question: What if I'm not sure what language I'm interested
> in? Right now I'm interested in all languages, really. Especialy the
> ones that are not from Europe: Native Americam, Asian, Mesoamerican,
> Middle East. Is there a way to study epigraphy w/o picking a
> particular language, maybe by studying a whole language group or how
> about studying comparative writing systems?
>
> Cathy
>
> "Peter T. Daniels" wrote:
>
> Why is it not on topic?
>
> The epigraphy of a language is a (very small) part of the study of (the
> history of) that language. So if you have specialized in a language or
> language family, that is the department you belong in. (Archeologists
> aren't epigraphers, unless they happen to have also studied that
> subject; they invite them to the dig in order to deal with whatever
> inscriptions might turn up.)
>
> Cathy Waldman wrote:
> >
> > Hello Qalam,
> >
> > I'm applying for grad schools in the hopes of getting a PhD
> > in a  program that will allow me to become an epigrapher.
> > However, I'm having trouble finding this specific field
> > listed on grad school sites.
> >
> > Does anyone know in which department epigraphy is usually
> > studied? I have checked out linguistics, classics,
> > archaeology, anthropology, and language depts in various
> > schools, and found nothing definite. In what programs did
> > you all get your degrees?

--
Peter T. Daniels grammatim@...