From: Young-Key Kim-Renaud
Message: 2445
Date: 2004-06-08
----- Original Message -----
From: suzmccarth <suzmccarth@...>
Date: Monday, June 7, 2004 5:57 pm
Subject: Re: functional classification of writing systems
> No value judgements intended. Just this, When I present
> multilingual computing to other teachers I would like to say that:
>
> 1. Some scripts have linear, sequenced blocks of letters and some
> have syllable blocks. (This way I do not have to use terms like
> syllabaries, alphabets and abugidas.) Normally the systems with
> linear blocks are in the first section of languages in language
> support and work like a western alphabet.
>
> 2. There are systems with syllable blocks and they are on the
> computer Asian languages, specifically CKJ.
>
> 3. Then I have to explain what "complex" means. I must make this
> meaningful... so I could say that (besides the bidi scripts, we
> understand those) there are writing systems that are linear but
> not
> sequenced by sound production. These systems are normally
> arranged
> into syllable blocks when they are taught to children on paper but
> on
> the computer they are not composed in syllable blocks.
>
> Then when a teacher spells a word out loud to a child or provides
> a
> written model for the child to copy in that language the teacher
> has
> to know that the child cannot use a linear system to keyboard the
> letters. (Unless, of course, I can download another system than
> what
> is provided in Uniscribe.) That is a very significant difficulty.
> Many children through the years copy an oral spelling or written
> model in a linear fashion to input their search word into google.
> This truly does affect how children and the less literate achieve
> digital literacy.
>
> If there is no argument with this kind of vocabulay I will go with
> it. I must add that we have technology curriculum goals that start
> in
> grade 1. This is not a hypothetical discussion for me.
----- Original Message -----
From: suzmccarth <suzmccarth@...>
Date: Monday, June 7, 2004 6:50 pm
Subject: Re: functional classification of writing systems
> I have never heard of the "Tyranny of the Alphabet". I don't want
> to
> argue about it at all. Haven't seen the book.
>
> Downloading a different keyboard system is probably not difficult.
> I
> have no idea.
>
> Teaching a child to keyboard in a non-linear fashion is difficult.
>
> Suzanne McCarthy