Les écritures égyptiennes

Bibliothèque nationale de France BnF

4 Oct 202202:20

Summary

TLDRThe provided script delves into the intricacies of ancient Egyptian writing, highlighting its primarily phonetic nature with 24 phonograms representing consonants, collectively known as the Egyptian alphabet. The script explores the versatility of hieroglyphs, which can have both symbolic and phonetic meanings, and the use of determinatives to clarify the meaning of a glyph group. The evolution of Egyptian writing is also discussed, with the development of more cursive forms like hieratic script, which follows the same principles as hieroglyphs but is written from right to left. The script's arrangement in virtual rectangles and the direction of reading, often determined by the gaze of animated beings depicted, are explained. The summary touches on the rhythmic structure of texts, the absence of punctuation, and the close relationship between text and images in Egyptian writing, where hieroglyphs retain strong graphic power, transforming into visual representations of the concepts they represent. The script also mentions the traditional use of red to highlight titles and the unique way names are depicted, emphasizing the artistic and symbolic aspects of Egyptian writing.

Takeaways

🔠 The Egyptian writing system is primarily phonetic, with 24 phonograms representing the equivalent of their consonants, commonly known as the Egyptian alphabet.
📜 Egyptian hieroglyphs can have multiple meanings, sometimes representing the object they depict or having one or more phonetic values to avoid graphical confusion and to clarify the meaning of a group of hieroglyphs.
📝 Determinatives, which are non-pronounced hieroglyphs, are placed after a group of hieroglyphs to specify its meaning.
👉 The direction of reading in Egyptian hieroglyphs is determined by the direction in which animated beings are facing; the reader follows the gaze of the figures.
📏 Hieroglyphs are arranged in a virtual rectangle, and the text is read from top to bottom, regardless of the direction of the animated beings.
💬 The hieratic script is a more cursive form of writing that developed from a simplification of hieroglyphs and always reads from right to left.
🔴 Titles in hieratic texts are marked in red, and the text does not contain punctuation but is rhythmed by two series of words in red.
🖼 The Egyptian writing system closely links text and images, with hieroglyphs maintaining a strong graphical power.
🌍 The hieroglyph for 'earth' becomes the representation of the ground, and the one for 'sky' becomes the image of the sky, supported by two hieroglyphs symbolizing power and strength.
🎤 The names of the singer and the god would typically be followed by their respective determinations, but in the script, they are disproportionately enlarged to become images of the two characters.
📚 Egyptian inscriptions are arranged in a harmonious composition, with careful attention to the layout and directionality to ensure the coherence of the message.

Q & A

What is the primary characteristic of Egyptian writing?
-The primary characteristic of Egyptian writing is that it is essentially phonetic, with 24 phonograms representing the equivalent of their consonants, commonly known as the Egyptian alphabet.
How do Egyptian hieroglyphs sometimes convey meaning?
-Egyptian hieroglyphs can sometimes convey meaning by representing what they depict or by having one or more phonetic values, in addition to their phonetic transcription.
What is the purpose of determinatives in Egyptian hieroglyphs?
-Determinatives are used in Egyptian hieroglyphs to avoid graphic confusion and to specify the meaning of a group of hieroglyphs. They are placed after the hieroglyphs they qualify and are not pronounced.
What is the direction of reading for hieroglyphs in inscriptions?
-In inscriptions using hieroglyphs, the signs are arranged in lines or columns and are always read from top to bottom.
How do animated beings in hieroglyphs indicate the direction of reading?
-Animated beings in hieroglyphs help determine whether the reading direction is from right to left or vice versa. The reading is done in the opposite direction of their gaze, as if the reader is approaching them, to ensure the harmony of the composition.
What is the origin of hieratic writing?
-Hieratic writing is directly derived from a simplification of hieroglyphs and operates on the same principle.
How is the direction of reading in hieratic texts different from hieroglyphic texts?
-Unlike hieroglyphic texts, in hieratic texts, the text always flows from right to left, regardless of the direction of the animated beings depicted.
What is the significance of titles in Rite Atik texts?
-In Rite Atik texts, titles are highlighted in red to distinguish them from the rest of the text.
How is the rhythm of the text indicated in the absence of punctuation in Egyptian writing?
-The rhythm of the text in Egyptian writing is indicated by two series of words in red, serving as a visual form of punctuation.
What is the relationship between texts and images in Egyptian writing?
-In Egyptian writing, texts and images are closely linked. Hieroglyphic signs maintain a strong graphic power, and what is written can become a pictorial representation, such as the hieroglyph of the earth becoming the soil, or the sky becoming an image of the sky.
How are the names of the singer and the god represented in the script?
-The names of the singer and the god should each be followed by their respective determinatives. However, in the script, they are disproportionately enlarged and become the image of the two characters themselves.
What is the purpose of arranging inscriptions in a virtual rectangle?
-Arranging inscriptions in a virtual rectangle helps to organize the text and maintain the aesthetic harmony and balance of the composition.

Outlines

00:00

📜 Egyptian Writing: Phonetics and Hieroglyphs

The paragraph discusses the nature of ancient Egyptian writing, which is predominantly phonetic. It explains that 24 phonograms represent the consonants, forming what is commonly known as the Egyptian alphabet. However, these signs can sometimes have meanings that represent what they depict or multiple phonetic values to avoid graphical confusion. Determinatives are added after the glyph to clarify meaning without being pronounced. Egyptian writing also developed more cursive forms, such as hieratic, which operates on the same principle. Inscriptions using hieroglyphs are arranged in lines or columns and are read from top to bottom. Animated beings in the text help determine the direction of reading, either right to left or vice versa, based on the direction of their gaze. The composition is harmonized by arranging inscriptions within a virtual rectangle. The hieratic script is a simplified form of hieroglyphs, with a consistent right-to-left direction, and titles in red ink. Egyptian writing is rhythmic, with two series of words in red, and closely ties text and images, maintaining a strong graphic power for the hieroglyphs. For instance, the glyph for 'land' becomes the soil, and 'sky' becomes an image of the sky, supported by two glyphs symbolizing power and robustness. Names of individuals, such as a singer and a god, are usually followed by their respective determinations, but in this case, they are disproportionately enlarged to represent the figures themselves.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Phonetic Writing

Phonetic writing refers to a system where symbols represent speech sounds. In the context of the video, it is used to describe how Egyptian writing is fundamentally phonetic, using 24 phonograms to transcribe the equivalent of their consonants, which is commonly known as the Egyptian alphabet.

💡Hieroglyphs

Hieroglyphs are a type of writing using stylized pictures or symbols to represent words, sounds, or ideas. The video discusses how Egyptian hieroglyphs can sometimes have a meaning that represents what they depict or have one or more phonetic values. They are an essential part of the script's narrative about Egyptian writing systems.

💡Determinatives

Determinatives are symbols used in writing systems to clarify the meaning of a word or phrase without contributing to its pronunciation. In the video, it is mentioned that determinatives are placed after a group of hieroglyphs to avoid graphic confusion and to specify the meaning.

💡Direction of Reading

The direction of reading in a script is the way in which text is conventionally read. The video explains that in Egyptian inscriptions, the direction can be determined by the direction of the gaze of animated beings depicted, with the reader's direction being opposite to their gaze.

💡Hieratic Script

Hieratic script is a form of writing that is more cursive and was developed by the Egyptians as a simplification of hieroglyphs. It operates on the same principle but is used for more informal writing purposes, as described in the video.

💡Erratic Script

Erratic script, also known as cursive script, is a form of writing that is characterized by its fluidity and is used in texts where the direction of writing always goes from right to left, as mentioned in the video.

💡Red Ink for Titles

In the context of the video, the use of red ink is a convention in Egyptian writing to highlight titles within a text. It serves as a visual marker to distinguish titles from the rest of the script.

💡Punctuation

Punctuation is a system of signs used in writing to delimit linguistic units and express intonation and pauses. The video notes that the Egyptian text does not contain punctuation but is rhythmed by two series of words in red.

💡Graphic Power

Graphic power refers to the visual impact or symbolic strength of a written symbol. The video emphasizes that the hieroglyphic signs in Egyptian writing retain a strong graphic power, where the symbol for the earth becomes the soil, and that for the sky becomes an image of the sky.

💡Power and Robustness

This concept is related to the symbolic meaning of hieroglyphs. In the video, it is mentioned that two hieroglyphs symbolize power and robustness, which may be used to convey the importance or strength of certain words or concepts.

💡Virtual Rectangle

A virtual rectangle is a conceptual framing used in the arrangement of inscriptions. The video describes how inscriptions are arranged within a virtual rectangle to ensure the harmony of the composition.

💡Determination of Names

In the context of the video, the determination of names refers to the practice of following a name with a symbol that specifies the nature or role of the person or deity named. The video notes that names in the script are disproportionately large and become images of the characters themselves.

Highlights

Egyptian writing is primarily phonetic, with 24 phonograms representing the equivalent of their consonants, commonly known as the Egyptian alphabet.

Egyptian signs can sometimes have a meaning that represents what they depict or have one or more phonetic values.

Determinative signs are used in Egyptian writing to avoid graphic confusion and to specify the meaning of a group of hieroglyphs.

The direction of reading in hieroglyphs is determined by the direction of the gaze of animated beings depicted.

Hieroglyphs are arranged in inscriptions either in a line or a column and are always read from top to bottom.

Hieroglyphic writing maintains a strong graphic power, with the hieroglyph of the earth becoming the soil, and that of the sky becoming the image of the sky.

The names of the singer and the god should each be followed by their respective determinations, but in this case, they are disproportionately enlarged and become the image of the two characters.

The Egyptians developed more cursive forms of writing, such as hieratic, which operates on the same principle as hieroglyphs.

Erratic script, a form of hieratic, always reads from right to left.

In Rite Atik texts, titles are indicated in red, and the text does not have punctuation but is rhythmed by two series of words in red.

In Egyptian writing, texts and images are closely linked, with the hieroglyphic signs retaining a strong visual impact.

The hieroglyphic signs are arranged in a virtual rectangle to ensure the harmony of the composition.

Hieroglyphs are used not only for their phonetic value but also for their symbolic meaning, as seen with the hieroglyphs for earth and sky.

The hieroglyphic writing system allows for a high degree of artistic expression, with the potential for the names of individuals to be artistically enlarged to represent the characters themselves.

The use of determinative signs in hieroglyphic writing helps to clarify the intended meaning of a group of signs, preventing misinterpretation.

The direction of the gaze of animated beings in hieroglyphs is a key indicator of the direction of reading, adding an interactive element to the script.

The hieratic script is a simplified form of hieroglyphs, allowing for faster writing and still maintaining the core principles of the writing system.

The use of color in Rite Atik texts, such as red for titles, adds a visual element to the text and aids in distinguishing different parts of the text.