Classifying Undeciphered Writing Systems

Abstract

English abstract Writing systems are classified as logographic, syllabic, or alphabetic, although in ancient times most writing consisted of a mixture of logograms and syllables (logographic-syllabic). The number of signs and their frequencies depend on the type of writing system and describes the degree of phonetization of a specific script. It can be shown that the mean word length depends on the sign distribution expressed by a linear relationship between mean word length and the exponent of a power law of the sign frequencies. The function allows the classification of the language of undeciphered writing systems as polysynthetic or fusional. The exponent of a power law of the sign frequencies also shows a relationship to the percentage of syllables or one-consonant signs, which makes it possible to estimate the degree of phonetization of undeciphered scripts. Both statistical relationships allow the classification of logographic-syllabic writing systems in greater detail than previously possible count...