Examines different writing systems, the attitudes to the act of writing in different cultures and the use and influence of different writing implements. This book offers a conceptual base to the task of learning a second writing system, to help individuals work between any two.

This text ranges widely over the field of different writing systems, the attitudes to the act of writing in different cultures and the use and influence of different writing implements. The field of English as a second language is well documented, whereas the subject of how to acquire the Latin alphabet as a second writing system, or how to alter from any particular writing system has not received as much attention. This book aims to offer a conceptual base to open people's minds to the task of learning a second writing system, allowing them to work between any two. The book is in two sections: the first covers the writing systems of different cultures today. It deals with the letters, characters and postural aspects, as well as the cultural attitudes, differences in educational atttitudes, political aspects of writing systems and systems in transition. The second section of the book looks forward to the future of iconographies taking in contributions from specialists working in a wide variety of fields. It includes sections on developing iconographies for the deaf and visually impaired, as well as systems of notation of movement from choreography, physiotherapy and music.