This document outlines a method for systematically comparing two writing systems. It discusses 1) the different types of writing systems, including alphabetic, syllabic and logographic, 2) factors that affect learning like regularity of fit between symbols and sounds, and 3) a step-by-step process for comparing two systems ranging from those that use the same alphabet to those that are completely different. The goal is to understand similarities and differences in order to better identify learning challenges and improve teaching approaches.

1. How to Compare
Two Writing Systems
Charisma Pimentel Coloma

2. 1. Introduction
1.1 learning a writing systems is not the same as
learning a language
1.2 the written symbols of each language form a
system
1.3 types of writing systems
1.4 regularity of fit
1.5 knowing how to read and write involve habits
1.6 transfer of native writing habits affects our
learning of the writing system of a foreign
language
1.7 need for systematic comparison of systems

3. 1.1 “learning a writing system is not the
same as learning a language.”
(Bloomfield, 1933)
• a child learns to speak before he
learns to read and write
• caveat: when there is a
similarity in the writing
systems of both L1 & L2.

4. 1.2 “the written symbols of each
language form a system.”
• symbols language
• not all features of the symbols are
equally important
• caveat: when the correspondence
between sound & writing is more
complex, better use a system
approach rather than word item
approach

5. 1. 3 Types of Writing Systems
1. Alphabet Writing
2. Syllabic Writing
3. Logographic Writing

6. 1. 3 Types of Writing Systems
1. Alphabet Writing
• symbols represent phonemes (more
or less)
• historically the latest type to be
invented
• e.g. English, Spanish, French,
German

7. Alphabet Writing
Filipino English

8. 1.3 Types of Writing Systems
2. Syllabic Writing
• symbols represent syllables
• eg. Cherokee (Chief Sequoya, 1821),
Japanese (uses 2 sets of written
syllabic symbols)

9. Syllabic Writing
Cherokee Filipino

10. Syllabic Writing: Japanese
Hiragana Katakana

11. 1. 3 Types of Writing Systems
3. Logographic Writing
• symbols represent morphemes
• eg. Chinese (a symbol can be read in
different ways depending on the
Chinese language, but they represent
specific words with form and
meaning)
• Japanese uses logographic writing on
top of two syllabic writing systems

12. Logographic Writing: Chinese

13. Logographic Writing: Japanese

14. 1.4 “regularity of fit”
• “one to one relationship between
symbols and language units”
• English writing has particularly a bad
regularity of fit
• good regularity of fit: Turkish, Spanish,
Finnish,

15. 1.5 “knowing how to read and write
involve habits”

16. 1.6 “transfer of native writing habits
affects our learning of the writing
system of a foreign language”
similarity
dissimilarity

17. 1.7 why the need for a systematic
comparison?
• yield useful data on learning problems
• saves time
• better chances to achieve completeness
by comparing beforehand

18. 2. How to Compare Two Writing
Systems
2.1 analysis of both systems
2.2 comparing two systems that use the same
alphabet
2.3 comparing two systems that use different
alphabets but with some symbols that are
similar
2.4 comparing two alphabetic writing systems that
show no obvious resemblance
2.5 comparing two writing systems which are
basically different

19. 2.1 Analysis of both systems
• written symbols and what they
represent
• variations of the symbols
• direction of the lines of writing and
reading
• Distinctive features of the written
symbols

20. 2.2 Systems that use the same alphabet
Step 1: Symbols
a) General Comparison
b) Symbols not found in NL
c) Different styles in the written symbols
d) Different distribution of symbols
Step 2: Sound and Symbol
a) General Comparison
b) Same symbol, different sounds

21. 2.3 Systems that use different
alphabets but with some symbols that
are similar
a) Symbols not found in NL
b) Symbols that are similar enough to the
native ones to be identified with them
c) Similar symbols that represent
different sounds

22. 2.4 Two writing systems that show no
obvious resemblance

23. 2.5 Comparing two alphabetic writing
systems which are basically different

24. 3. Application
• astute teaching methodology
• significant research problems and testing
instruments
• clearer understanding of the L2 learner