Re: Japanese RTL (was RE: Mongolian (was RE: Syriac and Mongolian

From: John Cowan (jcowan@reutershealth.com)
Date: Wed Jan 12 2000 - 16:17:39 EST

Roozbeh Pournader wrote:
 
> I have not never heard about Arabic script being carved on stone.

Well, I suppose any script may be carved on stone, though I think
Arabic might be more difficult than some.

> Arabic is newer than that. Would you please tell me about any references
> you may have to Arabic carvings?

I have none. My point was that Arabic, Hebrew, Syriac etc. retain the
directionality of the original alphabetic script, namely RTL, presumably
because it was once carved on stone. Other descendants of the original
alphabetic script have been switched to LTR, perhaps because of improved
convenience in writing. 

-- 

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