Ancient Visual Languages
In the early 3000 B.C.E. civilianization had to come up with ways to communicate by using visual art. These ways helped early civilianizations communicate with people from different countries. Also, visual art was a form of entertainment in certain countries such as, Egypt. In the Southern countries they would use these visual arts as a way of counting and trading certain items. Due to differences in cultures and time periods, there are different styles as well as formats. The four main styles over the centuries are; pictography, ideogram, cuneiform, and hieroglyphics. The major contrasting elements between those four are the uses, meanings of symbols, and the materials used to create them.
One of the main differences between cuneiform, pictograph, and hieroglyphics are the material and minerals used to create them. Hieroglyphics were engraved in either black basalt slabs or papyrus paper (Ayiter,Elif). Unlike the others, Egyptians made their own paper to write the hieroglyphics on. This paper was made by, “peeling the stem off the papyrus reeds and slicing the inner core into thin pieces" (Ayiter,Elif). Next the wet strips of the reed were placed into a wooden frame on top of each, and another layer was placed on the top. Going through those steps, made a unique paper called papyrus. Papyrus was the first form of paper (Ayiter,Elif). Unlike hieroglyphics, cuneiform were made on clay, due to the fact it was ready to use (Ayiter,Elif). The early civilianization also used clay because it was recyclable and durable. The clay was sometimes formed to make, "cones, balls, prisms, and other shapes," depending on the purpose (Ayiter,Elif). Someone would press down on to the tip of the reed stylus into the clay, and start drawing along the object to make the symbol. A special tool was made to make the “wedge-shaped" look on the strokes (Ayiter,Elif). On the other hand, the pictographs were made on caves walls, “alcoves, and sandstone that was smoothed" (Lee). The pictograph added more color to them compared to the other styles. Colors such as red were created by “hematite and red iron oxide" (Glen Canyon Natural History Association). The white was made from white clay and charcoal was used to make black. These "minerals were mixed with a vehicle and a binding agent of some kind to help them cling to the rock" (Glen Canyon Natural History Association). Some of the pictograph were done by finger painting, or by a fiber like brush made from yucca plant (Glen Canyon Natural History Association). All cultures used different materials and styles that fit their particular needs and resources.
The second main difference between Ideograms, hieroglyphics, cuneiform, and pictographs are they reasons why they were invented. Ideograms were pictures that represented a particular idea. The main reason for ideograms was so that people, who do not speak the same language could still understand. In some countries these are still used today. For an example, a picture of an airplane would represent that there is an airport nearby. This idea would help people from different countries better understand where things are in other countries (Ayiter,Elif). While the Egyptians used hieroglyphics for entertainment, and as more of an art. Hieroglyphics were a combination of logographic and alphabetic elements (Ayiter,Elif). Pictographs were invented for a way to communicate, it was considered to be an "alogous to individual words in natural language"(Glen Canyon Natural History Association). Unlike ideographs, pictographs, and hieroglyphics; cuneiform was invent to keep records or trades. In Southern Iraq, their population was growing and their society became really into the trading companies (Lawerence,Lo). Which led them to coming up with the cuneiform to create a form of accounting. Not only did cuneiform help them with receiving resources, but also with distributing. Due to the different reason for them, they all also have different styles and meanings.
Lastly, Cuneiform, ideograms, hieroglyphics, and pictographs have completely different meanings and styles. Pictographs are more like "sentences of visual languages" rather than just pictures of one single idea (Lee). The drawings are mainly about everyday life, thoughts, and emotions. These pictures were also used to resemble an event, or an activity (Ayiter,Elif). The pictures represent what they "signify" (Ayiter,Elif). Hieroglyphics represent imaginary or real elements; some are simple while others are complex. In both simple and complex drawings, they are still understandable. Also, some hieroglyphics are thought to be interpreted in more than one way. On the other hand, ideograms are still being used today; they are pictures that represent an idea. For example, “wayfining signages like an airport" (Ayiter,Elif). While cuneiform are a means of accounting. Cuneiform was used to count agricultural items such as, gains and cereals. Also, they are a means of counting and recording non-agricultural items. These items included manufactured goods and industrial items. (Lawerence,Lo)
In the early civilianization, visual languages were invented to communicate and express ideas. Also they were used as a form of receipt in some countries. The four major visual languages are; pictographs, cuneiform, hieroglyphics, and ideograms. In contrast, those four have different meanings, reasons for being used and completely different minerals used. While hieroglyphics were made on a specially made papyrus paper, cuneiform was made on simple clay. They used clay, because it was reused able and easy to come by. Cuneiform was often made into shapes, while pictographs were usually drawn on rocks or cave walls. Pictographs were more like sentences, while ideograms were pictures of an idea. Cuneiform was made for accounting and keeping track of trades, kind of like a receipt. While hieroglyphics were usually made of imaginary or real elements, that are simple or complex. These differences assisted the people in each unique culture in many crucial ways.
