The Tentative Comparison Of Oracle-bone Inscriptions And Maya Hieroglyphs From A Semeiotic Perspective

With the employment of the method of relation on semeiology , the comparative research on Oracle-bone inscriptions and Maya hieroglyphs is undertaken. By the mutual discoveries between different relative items, the relative characteristics and features of the two ancient characters are to be found out.This thesis is divided into three parts:The first part is the generality, introducing the purpose of the chosen topic, the survey of present research, the significance of the research, theoretical support, methods for study and the two thoughts and presentations on the topic.The second part is the body of the thesis, which consists of three another comparative parts.Firstly, according to the hardware on characters, the writing tools, materials and writing method of the Oracle-bone inscriptions are quite different from which of Maya hieroglyphs, resulting in the completely different style in the appearance of the two ancient characters. Actually, even as to the same Maya hieroglyphs, in view of the method of comparative analysis relatively, there are differences between simplification and complication, privacy and publicity, convenience and elegance lying between the internal side of writing characters and the carved writings.Therefore, the hardware of characters has a close relationship with characters, and the different writing media affect the appearances of characters.Besides, from the aspects of endurance and vulnerability of the symbolism writings, in the internal of both Chinese ancient writings and Mayan writings, there were easily damaged and endurable differences writing systems. Those are the Oracle-bone inscriptions and Bronze-ware engraved inscriptions, the Mayan writing characters and stone-craved writings. On the one hand, the endurance and vulnerability of the hardware of writing media is closely related to their functions and purposes, which decide the choices of the hardware of the writing media. On the other hand, the different choices for the hardware of the writing media affect the writings, exhibiting different structures and styles. Ancient Chinese characters and Mayan writings are the same to this point.Secondly, the two types of writings show different characteristics in the relations between image & writing and writing & objectives.The relation between image & writing is the relation between image (including prints and pictures) and characters. The expressions on symbols for oracle-bone inscriptions and Maya hieroglyphs are different. As to Oracle-bone inscriptions, the explanations of the information on the cracks of the Oracle-bones and the explanations of the divination of the Oracle-bone are different. The explanation of the divination is the substitute for the inflection of the cracks on the Oracle-bone. Comparatively, the relation between Maya hieroglyphs and the pictures is much the equivalent as both of them convey information and meanings at the same time. Maya hieroglyphs and pictures are complementary in meaning, so they show a complementary relation.The so-called writing & objectives relation refers to the pictographic relation between writings and objectives. Although the Oracle-bone inscriptions are the symbolized line-draw, the relation between inscriptions and objectives is much close. That is to say, the motivation for the Oracle-bone inscriptions is great and the implication for the writings is self-evident without the help of other means of expressions. So in the image & writing relation, the writing symbols don't emphasize the expression of the pictures but underline the role of"writing". Maya hieroglyphs have much pictorial and realistic representation, but meanwhile it has much arbitrariness and convention. That is, the motivation between writing and objective is relatively insignificant and words can't convey concise meanings independently. Therefore, other means of expressions are needed to complement and many means of expressions appear which include both pictures and writings side by side.In conclusion, the self-motivation between writing & objectives for Maya hieroglyph is poor, which contributes to the outstanding complementary expression within the image & writing relation. But comparatively, as the motivation between writing & objectives for Oracle-bone inscriptions is powerful, which makes the substitution relation in the image & writing.Finally, we will compare the two writings from the relation between characters and characters. During the development, Oracle-bone inscription creates a spirit of mutual-understanding, even the lately arising logograms with phonetic complements in great number have the system of phonogram, the tendency for non-linear and line-drawing is still prevailing. There are logograms in Maya hieroglyphs, but the combination of letters is rather for the phonetic need. Functionally, the phonetic function for Maya hieroglyphs has suppressed the function for ideogram. Some characteristics of letter words have appeared within the writings, for example, the tendency for linear structure has appeared. In other words, possibly we can say that, through Maya hieroglyphs, the internal structural principles and central spirits for phonogram have come into being within the hieroglyphs. Therefore, we can't under-evaluate the position of Maya hieroglyphs just from the writing forms.The final part is the conclusion, summarizing the complete thesis and pointing out several more future comparative aspects between the two ancient writings.