Writing Without Words: Alternative Literacies in Mesoamerica and the Andes by Elizabeth Hill Boone E

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Writing Without Words Alternative Literacies in
Mesoamerica and the Andes by Elizabeth Hill
Boone (Editor), Walter D. Mignolo (Editor)
Presenting
Paperback 322 pages Publisher Duke University
Press (March 1994) Product Dimensions 9.3 x 6.6
x 0.9 inches
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Where were the Incas, Miztecs, Mayas and Olmecs?
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This book deals with

• The concept of writing without words
• Literacy among the Pre-Columbian Maya
• Aztec Pictorial histories
• Reading of Codex Cospi (Reverse reading)
• Mixtec writing Embodied signs, Verbal art
• Codices, Maps, Lienzos As social contracts
• Cartographic histories, Nahua identity
• Colonial image of the Inca
• Signs Book in the new world
• Object and Alphabet Colonial period
• Writing and Recorded knowledge in Colonial and
  Post-colonial situations

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The editors aim
to confront (the) common definition of
writing and our notions of what constitute
writing system, We have to think more broadly
about visual and tactile systems of recording
ionformation, to reach a broader definition of
writing. - Elizabeth Boone to theorize
coevolutionary histories of writing and, second
to move toward a pluritopical interpretation of
the history of writing in colonial situations
when alphabetic literacy coalesced with
non-Western writing systems. - Walter Mignolo
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I see signs and symbols everywhere!!!
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disappearance of writing ?
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Orality and Literacy
Vedas
Homer
Plato
West-African storytelling tradition
East-Indian storytelling tradition
To paint, make designs, write
Mixtec term for Books
TACU
To hear, to listen
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Pictographic traditions
So Chikkan Chinese script on bamboo
Egyptian hieroglyphic
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Table showing periods, cultures and city states
of Mesoamerica
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Introduction
Mesopotamia (Iraq) Egypt
Olmec early Mayas
Sumerians (Iraq)
Elam (Iran) Greece
Aryans (Indus Valley)
Aryans (Vedas)
Chinese
Syrians
AD
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Aztec records without words
PARTICIPANT who? EVENT what? LOCATION
where? TIME when?
From Codex Boturini
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from Codex Boturini
PARTICIPANT who? EVENT what? LOCATION
where? TIME when?
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from Codex Boturini (Karl says)
PARTICIPANT who? EVENT what? LOCATION
where? TIME when?
courtesy http//www.thing.net/grist/ld/bot/botu
rini.htm
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Other codices
Codex Mexicanus
Codex Selden marriage scene
Codex Xolotl

• Cartographic History
• Migration History
• Year-count Annals
• Political senario, etc.

Inca writing ?
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Quipu
Each cluster of knots is a digit, and there are
three types of knots simple overhand knots long
knots made up of two or more turns and
figure-of-eight knots. A number is represented as
a sequence of knot clusters in base 10. Powers of
ten are shown by position along the string, and
this position is aligned between successive
strands. Digits in positions for 10 and higher
powers are represented by clusters of simple
knots (e.g. 40 is four simple knots in a row in
the "tens" position). Digits in the "ones"
position are represented by long knots (e.g. 4 is
a knot with 4 turns). Because of the way the
knots are tied, the digit 1 cannot be shown this
way and is represented in this position by a
figure-of-eight knot. Zero is represented by the
absence of a knot in the appropriate position.
Because the ones digit is shown in a distinctive
way, it is clear where a number ends. One strand
on a quipu can therefore contain several numbers.
For example, if 4s represents four simple knots,
3L represents a long knot with three turns, E
represents a figure-of-eight knot and X
represents a space The number 731 would be
represented by 7s, 3s, E The number 804 would be
represented by 8s, X, 4L The number 107 followed
by the number 51 would be represented by 1s, X,
7L, 5s, E
ancient Peruvian sailing reed boats
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Map of Cuauhtinchan showing the conquest of its
rulers
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The Conquest
The Conquest of Peru
Francisco Pizarro's route of exploration during
the conquest of Peru (1531-1533)
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Colonial Interventions
Commissioned by the Spanish Viceroy of Peru?
Spanish Missionary
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Amoxtli vuh
Codice Borbonico
Codice Tudela
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Glimpses of Mignolos topics

• Writing without Pens
• Social Roles of Writing
• Wisdom Signified with Signs
• The Connection Human Writing and writing of
  God
• Book is not necessarily a book
• Book The Carrier of Knowledge
• The White Mans Burden

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Reference

• Boone, E. H. Mignolo, W (Eds.), Writing without
  words Alternative
• literacies in Mesoamerica and the Andes Durham,
  NC
• Duke University Press, 1994
• Martí, Beatriz. Maya Codices, Maya Discovery,
  www.mayadiscovery.com/ing/history/codices.htm
  November, 2006.
• Quipu, Wikipedia, http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Q
  uipu

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