--- In qalam@yahoogroups.com, cowan@... wrote:

> suzmccarth scripsit:
>
> > Now I am really puzzled since Cree would have a similar syllable
> > structure <ma-si-na-hi-ka-n> simple CV <a-s-pi-ta-s-ko-pi-so-n>

and

> > CV with final /s/ and final /n/ using a "final". The system is
> > composed of syllabics for open syllables and finals (plus a

couple of

> > featural signs not always used)They certainly call their system
> > syllabic even though Naskapi has a different structure in the

spoken

> > language.
>
> Cree can be seen as an abugida as well, although the vowel signs

and

> the virama are encoded using size and orientation changes rather

than

> diacritics (Indic scripts) or incorporated strokes (Ethiopic).
>
> It was convenient for Unicode to assimilate Ethiopic and Canadian
> Syllabics to the syllabaries and the Indic scripts to the

alphabets (with

> complex script rendering), but there is nothing fundamental about

this.

This seems to me to be the only logical answer. I can't think why
else Tamil couldn't have precomposed characters for aksharas since
Canadian Syllabics works for 3 languages with fairly different
syllable structure, Western Cree, Naskapi and Inuit.

After using many different alphabets and Asian scripts on the
computer, I have to say that they have a certain nature or virtue to
them that can be understood by children. (Electronic literacy should
be available to all) They do what you would expect them to do
(leaving keyboard layout like qwerty aside) Alphabets segment and
sequence, Asian lgs go from parts to whole, but complex scripts do
neither and sequence of sound production conflicts with visual
sequence and children can't input sight words. etc.

> Does anyone know the language -- I believe it is a North American

one -- in

> which syllabograms that look like ligatured North American English

handwriting

> are used? I saw it once but have no clue where.
>
> --
> A mosquito cried out in his pain, John Cowan
> "A chemist has poisoned my brain!"

http://www.ccil.org/~cowan

> The cause of his sorrow

http://www.reutershealth.com

> Was para-dichloro- jcowan@...
> Diphenyltrichloroethane. (aka DDT)