--- In qalam@yahoogroups.com, "Peter T. Daniels" <grammatim@...>
wrote:

> suzmccarth wrote:
> >
> > --- In qalam@yahoogroups.com, "Peter T. Daniels" <grammatim@...>
> > wrote:
>
> > > > > There is a HUGE difference between having 50-100 different
> > > > > characters, each for a separate syllable with no similarity

between the

> > > > > characters for similar-sounding syllables, and having 20-30

different

> > > > > characters, each of which takes on a handful of (up to a

dozen)

> > > > > modifications, with similar character-bases and similar

modifications

> > > > > reflecting phonetic similarity.
> > > >
> > > > Cree slips in or out of your definition of an abugida every

single

> > > > time you post.
> > >
> > > You are truly the mistress of the non sequitur.
> >
> > You know very well that your paragraph above includes Cree as an
> > abugida, which is a reversal from your preceding post. Do I need

to

> > point this out?
>
> I see no mention of Cree whatsoever. I see no mention of any

examples at

> all.
>

Obviously, in your description above, Cree has the lower number of
characters, "each of which takes on a handful of modifications with
similar ..."

Can we talk about Punjabi? Is it representative of abugidas? Could I
expect to find a syllable chart for Punjabi which resembles the one
for Ethiopic? Would there be some apparent similarity between Punjabi
and Ethiopic? I had origially thought that Tamil was the better
candidate for an abugida but evidently it is unusual.

Suzanne McCarthy