Considers opinions about how the alphabet might have been invented. Concludes that it probably occurred in a single "giant leap" taken by one man. Reviews the inventor's necessary background, creation of letter shapes, the writing medium, and direction of script. Postulates possibilities for initial acceptance and diffusion. Encapsulates the whole…

Argues that a fast and effective writing system need not stay close to the phonemic detail of speech, and offers shorthand systems as examples of this. Some proposals for spelling reform are briefly evaluated in the light of this evidence. (HOD)

Hypothesizes that writing systems affect cognitive strategies at a deeper level of human information-processing than is generally accepted in present day psychology. Discusses why almost all varieties of alphabets, syllabaries, and consonantal systems have been written to the left while vocalic systems have been written to the right. (JD)

Explores difficulties in translating and understanding visual poetry created by a linguistically different culture. Provides historical context and analyzes the design process of El Lissitzky's typographic presentation of Vladimir Mayakovsky's poems. Transposes the visual wordplays found in the original Cyrillic typography into the Roman alphabet.…