Semasiographic principle in Linear B inscriptions

Abstract

ABSTRACT The aim of this article is to show that the structure of Linear B inscriptions was both of semasiographic and phonographic nature. Despite the indisputable role of the syllabographic signs, they should be treated neither as a dominant element in the inscriptions nor as the indicator of the general principle in the texts. Analysis of the writing strategies in the Linear B documents has shown that the texts were intended to be recognised as an overall communicate instead of to be read phonetically sign by sign. Such a strategy not only explains the inconsistent use of ideograms or so-called double-writing but also indicates that the main principle of the inscriptions was non-linear and non-linguistic but spatial and based on meaning.