Deciphering Ancient Scripts and Modern Handwriting: New Insights in Language Studies

In 1857, linguists faced the challenge of independently translating 800 lines of Akkadian text for the Royal Asiatic Society. This contest aimed to validate the interpretation of wedge-shaped carvings found on clay tablets, which some believed were an ancient writing system. Joshua Hammer's "The Mesopotamian Riddle" explores the 19th-century archaeology field, highlighting figures like Henry Rawlinson, Austen Layard, Edward Hincks, William Fox Talbot, and Jules Oppert. Their work established the existence of civilizations predating the Greeks and Romans and confirmed links to Biblical stories. Meanwhile, in modern Germany, linguist Eva Odersky is leading a shift in handwriting education. The "FlowBY" project in Bavaria introduces primary school students to print script initially, encouraging them to develop their own handwriting style directly, without learning cursive. Odersky's research indicates that connected scripts are slower than partially connected or print scripts. Her study of fourth-graders revealed that children often switch between systems, hindering writing fluency. The project aims to support children in developing fluid and legible handwriting by teaching them the partially connected style commonly used by adults.