Graphemics and Diachrony : Evidence from Hebrew (Afroasiatic Linguistics)

The analysis of writing is shown to parallel that of speech. Graphemes-- that is, letter shapes--are analyzed in terms of the physical distinctive features of strokes, minimal pairs, and etic and emic components. Hence, GRAPHEMICS. In the development of Hebrew/Yiddish cursive from the medieval square forms, there is a clear tendency toward maximization of contrasts, elimination of redundancy, and evolution by means of drag chains and push chains; there is also some evidence of gradualness, and documentation of sub-emic change.