"The Idea of Writing" is an exploration of the versatility of writing systems. From ancient Egyptian, Cuneiform and Merotic writing to Chinese, Maya and Maldivian script, the authors examine the problems and possibilities of polysemy, representing loanwords and the problems of adapting a writing system to another language. The playful and artistic use of writing, including a contribution on writing dance, further illustrates the intricacies of the systems. This collection of articles aims to highlight the complexity of writing systems rather than to provide a first introduction. The different academic traditions in which these writing systems have been studied use linguistic, socio-historical and philological approaches that give complementary insights of the complex phenomena.

Table of contents Acknowledgements Introducing writing on writing Alex de Voogt Play in writing Strange byways in cuneiform writing Irving L. Finkel Scripts and shapes: Chinese characters and Japanese syllabaries in early modern Japan Margarita Winkel Substitution, substitution, substitution: the many faces of Maya writing Erik Boot Loanwords From group-writing to word association: representation and integration of foreign words in Egyptian script Joachim Friedrich Quack What is being borrowed? Language and script contact in Taiwan Henning Kloter The adaptation of the cuneiform script to foreign languages Wilfred H. van Soldt Loanwords, "foreign words," and foreign signs in Maya writing Erik Boot On loans and additions to the Fidal (Ethiopic) writing system Azeb Amha Languages and scripts in the Maldive Islands: coding and encoding Alex de Voogt Foreign terms in Sanskrit pertaining to writing Harry Falk Polysemy Reducing polyvalency in writing systems: from Egyptian to Meroitic Claude Rilly Difficult hieroglyphs and unreadable Demotic? How the ancient Egyptians dealt with the complexities of their script Joachim Friedrich Quack Maya Writing: synonyms and homonyms, polyvalency and polysemy Erik Boot In the interstices of representation: ludic writing and the locus of polysemy in the Chinese sign Wolfgang Behr Towards another script Egyptian writing for non-Egyptian languages and vice-versa: a short overview Joachim Friedrich Quack The Caroline Islands script: a linguistic confrontation Alex de Voogt The interaction of syllabic and alphabetic cuneiform writing in Ugarit Wilfred H. van Soldt Writing Dance Joukje Kolff Index