--- In qalam@yahoogroups.com, "Richard Wordingham"
<richard.wordingham@...> wrote:

>
> --- In qalam@yahoogroups.com, "Don Osborn" <dzo@...> wrote:
> > Most specifically, I am interested in the parsing of this script

by

> > Philippine readers, as alibata is infamous for its inability to
> > represent the syllable-final consonants pervasive in many

Philippine

> > languages (i.e., the Tagalog word 'pagdating' would be

represented as

> > 'pa-da-ti'). I am curious regarding any possible phonological

reasons,

> > if any, why parsing this script was possible or if contextual

clues

> > really provide all of the cues necessary for readers to

understand the

> > text.
>
> The parallels of Linear B and traditional Cree syllabics come to

mind.

Cree doesn't have too many syllable final consonants (s,n) although
more word final consonants. So phonologically it may not compare to
Tagalog. However, I think the principle applies. If people have the
habit of writing one symbol for each syllable of spoken speech, and
that is how they conceptualize writing, then final consonants will
be left off regardless of their importance.

If at the lexical level there are not too many homographs then it
may not matter too much although an unfamiliar text might need to be
read and reread if there are no word boundaries. But this may meet
the original expectations.

I think the functions of literacy were very similar for Baybayin as
for the Cree. John Nichols' article in World's Writing Systems gives
an authentic and contemporary example of writing Cree in this way.

For Cree, which has been much modified by missionaries, linguists
and computer programmers, over the years, the full range of writing
is offered. You can write one symbol for one syllable, and let the
other phonetic information drop, or you can use some finals and a
few diacritics, or all finals and diacritics, although I have never
seen a native speaker write this way.

However, full marking is recommended by the Cree School Board. It is
one of the attractions of Syllabics that it is so flexible and meets
the needs of native speakers, educators and linguists alike, by
varying the style. Not unlike Hebrew.

I am looking just now at the notes of a child who transliterated
English sentences into Tamil script. She wrote 'va-t' for both what
and want, and 'pi-lay' for play. So here the preference was to
interpret English so that there were no consonant clusters. This is
just a matter of interest - I'm not sure what it shows.

> Alibata is a fairly recent name, based on the mistaken notion that

the

> alphabet was derived from Arabic.

Yes, I think Baybayin is more often used.

Suzanne McCarthy

>
> Richard.
>