On Sat, 27 Dec 2003, Mark A Mandel wrote: > >It seems that Dragaeran "symbols" code syllables, morphemes, or entire >words, like Chinese characters (either in Chinese writing or as used in >Japanese writing, where they are called "kanji") -- rather than >individual sounds, as letters of an alphabet do (although English is >notoriously irregular in this regard). There's an exchange in LOCB, I >don't remember where, on just this subject, w.r.t. the contrast between >Eastern and Dragaeran writing. > I believe I know what you are referring to. There is a scene in the later part of the 2nd half of tLoCB where Morrolan states to Sethra that he wishes to learn more of sorcery. She in turn mentions that she has many books on the topic, and Morrolan explains that he cannot read the language they are currently speaking (Dragaeran), but that he can read Easterner (and possibly serveral Eastern languages). He specifically complains that in Dragaeran, the same characters can stand for very different sounds. It seems to me that he was using the same complaint that someone with experience with a more phonetic alphabetic orthography might make of English. Sethra then suggests that he take reading lessons from Tukko, who has skills in such instruction. Anyway, that's my recollection.