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Welcome to the writing portal

Writing is the act of creating a persistent, usually visual representation oflanguage on a surface. As a structured system of communication, writing is also known aswritten language. Historically, written languages have emerged as a way to record correspondingspoken languages. While the use of language is universal across human societies, most spoken languages are not written. A particular set of symbols, called ascript, as well as the rules by which they encode a particular spoken language, is known as awriting system. In some rare cases, writing may betactile rather than visual.
Thecognitive andsocial activity of writing involvesneuropsychological andphysical processes whose physical output is also calledwriting (or atext): a series ofphysically inscribed,mechanically transferred, ordigitally represented symbols.Reading is the activity of encountering a text andconstruing its symbols.
In general, writing systems do not constitute languages in and of themselves, but rather a durable means of representing language such that it can be understood by people at a later time. While not all languages use a writing system, those that do can complement and extend the capacities ofspoken language, transmitting it across space (e.g.written correspondence) and storing it for future reading (e.g.libraries). Writing can also change people's relationships with the knowledge they acquire, since it allows humans to externalize their thinking in forms that are easier to reflect on, process more slowly, elaborate on, reconsider, and revise. (Full article...)
Calligraphy (fromGreekκάλλοςkallos "beauty" +γραφήgraphẽ "writing") is a type ofvisual art. It is often called the art of fancy lettering (Mediavilla 1996: 17). A contemporary definition of calligraphic practice is "the art of giving form to signs in an expressive, harmonious and skillful manner" (Mediavilla 1996: 18). The story of writing is one of aesthetic evolution framed within the technical skills, transmission speed(s) and material limitations of a person, time and place (Diringer 1968: 441). A style of writing is described as a script, hand or alphabet (Fraser and Kwiatkowski 2006; Johnston 1909: Plate 6).
Modern calligraphy ranges from functional hand//-lettered inscriptions and designs to fine-art pieces where the abstract expression of the handwritten mark may or may not compromise the legibility of the letters (Mediavilla 1996). Classical calligraphy differs fromtypography and non-classical hand-lettering, though a calligrapher may create all of these; characters are historically disciplined yet fluid and spontaneous, at the moment of writing (Pott 2006 and 2005; Zapf 2007 and 2006).
Calligraphy continues to flourish in the forms ofwedding and event invitations,font design/typography, original hand-letteredlogo design,religious art, announcements/graphic design/commissioned calligraphic art, cut stoneinscriptions and memorialdocuments. It is also used forprops and moving images for film and television,testimonials,birth anddeath certificates,maps, and other works involving writing (see for example Letter Arts Review; Propfe 2005; Geddes and Dion 2004). Some of the finest works of modern calligraphy arecharters andletters patent issued bymonarchs andofficers of state in various countries.(Full article...)
Henry George is best known for his argument that theeconomic rent of land should be shared by society rather than being owned privately.The clearest statement of this view is found inProgress and Poverty: "We must make land common property." By taxing land values, society could recapture the value of its common inheritance, and eliminate the need for taxes on productive activity.(Full article...)
| ... thatscreenwriterRichard Baer's writing credits for television included twenty-three episodes ofBewitched and five episodes ofThe Munsters? |
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Writing •Calligraphy •Penmanship •Writing implements •Inks •Alphabetic writing systems •Abjad •Abugida •Kanji •Logographic writing systems •Writing systems •Cyrillic alphabets •Hellenic scripts •Script typefaces
•Calligraphy •
Western calligraphy •Islamic calligraphy •Indian calligraphy •Chinese calligraphy •Korean calligraphy •Japanese calligraphy •Persian calligraphy •Manuscript
•Writing instruments •
Pen •Ink brushes •Inks •Ink stone •Qalam •Quill •Dip pen •Nib •Paper •Writing slate •Pencil •Typewriter •Word processor •Dry erase marker •Touchscreen
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