DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1167#0045
there is an intermediate vowel, and if so which one.24 It is generally assumed that any
biconsonantal sign is equivalent to a sequence of two monoconsonantal signs without
change in phonological information, i.e. the number of consonantal distinctions is the
same regardless of which phonographic writing method is chosen. The values of most
biconsonantal signs are well known because alphabetic signs are frequently written
instead of biconsonantal signs or in addition to them (as so-called "phonetic comple-
ments"). However, in some cases the evidence is more or less uncertain since monocon-
sonantal writings are rare, contradictory, or date to periods when certain sound mergers
had already taken place. For example, the assumed sound values wp oi\J (Fi3), tp of |
(T8), hr of !& (T28), ib of f (U23)a5, and km of lj (U36) are based on comparatively weak
evidence. Furthermore it is sometimes difficult to estimate how sound changes affected
the value of complex phonograms.
a.5.9 The interaction of phonograms and semograms
Egyptian words can be written with phonograms, semograms, or a combination of both.
There are no clear-cut rules for deciding which writing to use, and most words are
attested in numerous different graphical variants. Nevertheless, the rule seems to be
observed quite strictly that Egyptian complex phonograms are not used across a
morpheme boundary (rule by Kammerzell 1995: XXXIII and 1998a: 22; there are a few
exceptions to this, cf. e.g. Faulkner 1978).
Fortunately, almost all words are attested in phonographic writing at least occasionally,
so there remain few words for which the sound structure is completely unknown.
2.5.10 Different graphemic subsets applied by etymological criteria
It is a familiar phenomenon in writing systems that etymologically different strata within
the lexicon are distinguished by the use of different graphemic subsets which are phonet-
ically equivalent. In Japanese, for example, signs of the Kanji type can be used for both
native words and loans from Chinese, the Hiragana type is used preferably in native
words, and the Katakana type is used mainly for writing words of European origin. In
older German texts, native words used to be printed in Gothic types but foreign words in
Latin types within the same text. In Persian and Urdu, there are signs which only appear
in loan words from Arabic, although they no longer reflect specifically Arabic sounds.
This phenomenon even occurs in English, although in a somewhat peripheral manner,
where the letter c (leaving aside the combination ch) is used primarily in words of Ro-
mance origin and represents sounds which are written k or s in words of Germanic origin.
24 The existence of several triconsonantal signs is usually assumed as well, but most of
these signs can better be classified as logograms.
25 Cf. Edel (1955/64: I, § i33).
45
biconsonantal sign is equivalent to a sequence of two monoconsonantal signs without
change in phonological information, i.e. the number of consonantal distinctions is the
same regardless of which phonographic writing method is chosen. The values of most
biconsonantal signs are well known because alphabetic signs are frequently written
instead of biconsonantal signs or in addition to them (as so-called "phonetic comple-
ments"). However, in some cases the evidence is more or less uncertain since monocon-
sonantal writings are rare, contradictory, or date to periods when certain sound mergers
had already taken place. For example, the assumed sound values wp oi\J (Fi3), tp of |
(T8), hr of !& (T28), ib of f (U23)a5, and km of lj (U36) are based on comparatively weak
evidence. Furthermore it is sometimes difficult to estimate how sound changes affected
the value of complex phonograms.
a.5.9 The interaction of phonograms and semograms
Egyptian words can be written with phonograms, semograms, or a combination of both.
There are no clear-cut rules for deciding which writing to use, and most words are
attested in numerous different graphical variants. Nevertheless, the rule seems to be
observed quite strictly that Egyptian complex phonograms are not used across a
morpheme boundary (rule by Kammerzell 1995: XXXIII and 1998a: 22; there are a few
exceptions to this, cf. e.g. Faulkner 1978).
Fortunately, almost all words are attested in phonographic writing at least occasionally,
so there remain few words for which the sound structure is completely unknown.
2.5.10 Different graphemic subsets applied by etymological criteria
It is a familiar phenomenon in writing systems that etymologically different strata within
the lexicon are distinguished by the use of different graphemic subsets which are phonet-
ically equivalent. In Japanese, for example, signs of the Kanji type can be used for both
native words and loans from Chinese, the Hiragana type is used preferably in native
words, and the Katakana type is used mainly for writing words of European origin. In
older German texts, native words used to be printed in Gothic types but foreign words in
Latin types within the same text. In Persian and Urdu, there are signs which only appear
in loan words from Arabic, although they no longer reflect specifically Arabic sounds.
This phenomenon even occurs in English, although in a somewhat peripheral manner,
where the letter c (leaving aside the combination ch) is used primarily in words of Ro-
mance origin and represents sounds which are written k or s in words of Germanic origin.
24 The existence of several triconsonantal signs is usually assumed as well, but most of
these signs can better be classified as logograms.
25 Cf. Edel (1955/64: I, § i33).
45