ABSTRACT
Writing is a system of graphic marks that represent the units of a specific language. The units to be represented (whether individual sounds, syllables, parts of words, or some combination of all three) are a function of the structure of the language, the needs and traditions of the society that uses that system, and the capabilities of the human brain. Writing is a general term for a visual system distinct from art, and a mode of language use that is distinguished from speaking, whereas writing system refers to a specific type of graphic marks that represent types of linguistic units. Other words for writing systems are script and orthography. Alphabets (such as the Roman alphabet), syllabaries (such as Cherokee or Ethiopic, which represent consonant+vowel syllables), abjads (such as Arabic, which represent only consonants), and logosyllabaries (such as Chinese, which represent words) are all types of writing systems.
