Historical and Cultural Context

Language and Writing

LANGUAGE developed around 200,000 years ago.

led to the development of an oral culture.

oral culture dependent on a strong memory. the older people back then called it as memory banks. store words that wanted to be spoken.

they memorized information.

recited to the next generation.

the memory is a stored and accessible knowledge. the challenges face during that time :- 1)How to keep information accurate.

2) passing knowledge to the next from generation to generation.

3)some face difficulty on memorizing it in a long term record/memory.

Language in Islamic Perspective Definition

>System of communications consists of words, sounds and grammar.

Arabic was the first language. “And He taught Adam the nature of all things then He

placed them before the angels, and said: "Tell me the nature of these if you are right." (Al- Baqarah: 31)

“And among His Signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the difference of your languages and colours. Verily, in that are indeed signs for men of sound knowledge.” (Ar- Rum: 22)

>How language evolves?• An adaption• Language is a spandrel

>Reason why language change?• Interaction with other language.• Influence of fashion and even of individual unusual habits.

LANGUAGE IN WESTERN PERSPECTIVE

Quoted by Nuam Chomsky :- “When we study human language,

we are approaching what some might call the human essence.”

“According to the philosophy

expressed in the myths and religions of many people, language is the source of human life and power.”

Pre-requisite > when you know a language, you can speak and be understood by others who know the language.

>language is much more than speech

TYPES OF LANGUAGES

Universal Language

Sign Language English

Baby Language Malay

Body Language Mandarin

Arabic

French

WRITING Developed in Iraq around 3500 B.C. Then later spread to Egypt and China Around that time there are two

approaches emerge :-

Sign writing

(Graphic symbols representing objects)

Phonetic writing

(Abstract symbols (alphabet) for

ideas/sounds)

Writing in Islamic Perspective• During the lifetime of the Prophet (s.a.w), the

Quran was written down on parchments and other materials.

• Quranic verses were written on parchments, scapula, the leaf-stalks of date palms, and from the memories of men who had memorized it.

MATERIAL USED IN WRITING

1)Cuneiform 3)Parchment

>in (Sumeria) Iraq. >in Greece.

>is wedge shaped clay tablets. >sheep/ goats hides.

2)Papyrus 4)Paper >in Egypt. >in China.

> woven papyrus plants. > pressed wood and fibre

pulp.

Cuneiform

Papyrus Parchment

Created social divisions: readers vs. illiterates

Access to power garnered through knowledge

Encouraged birth and growth of ancient empires

Collective knowledge accumulates over time

Laws codified and universally administered

Social Impact of Writing

Writing During the Middle Ages

Begins with fall of Rome in the 6th century

Demand for books continues to rise.

Slow, costly hand-copying restricts supplies

Mistakes common and cumulative

No filing or cross-indexing system in place

Content moves from religion to lay areas

Trade spreads, universities begin, AD 1150

European Scriptorias (writing shops) flourish

MODERN WRITING constantly evolve time to time, due to the

development of technologies. the people in this era now prefer to type in

the computer rather than hand-writing. For instance :- 1)quilt pen.

2)hand-writing typing

The Seven Milestones Timeline

Language Writing Printing

200,000- 3500 B.C. A.D. 1500 A.D 1800 A.D 1900 A.D 2000 100,000 B.C.

Photography/motion picture

Telephone/Telegraph

Radio/TV

Digital Media

Mobile Media

Social Media

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