BREVCIRKELN

Magazine Overview

Title: BREVCIRKELN
Issue: NR 5
Volume: C
Date: 1992

This issue of BREVCIRKELN, titled "Språkets Ursprung - Atlantis?" (The Origin of Language - Atlantis?), delves into the fascinating history and evolution of writing systems. It posits a theory connecting the origins of phonetic alphabets, specifically the Phoenician and Maya scripts, to the lost civilization of Atlantis. The author, Anna-Lisa Helle, suggests that the destruction of Atlantis by a natural catastrophe is the only plausible explanation for the disappearance of its advanced culture and its unique linguistic contributions.

The Evolution of Writing Systems

The article begins by stating that out of hundreds of writing systems worldwide, all but two are based on pictograms. The exceptions are the Phoenician alphabet and the script of the ancient Maya people in Central America. Both are noted for being based on phonetic sounds, represented by written characters, and exhibit remarkable similarities, leading to the conclusion of a common origin.

The origin of these early writing systems is traced back to the petroglyphs (rock carvings) left by primitive peoples. These carvings served as navigational aids and conveyed information about the path taken by a tribe, depicting elements like the sun for a day, the moon for a month, wavy lines for water, crossed spears for conflict, and animal horns for abundant game. Over time, these pictograms were simplified and transformed, often losing their original resemblance to the depicted objects. The article cites Chinese and Egyptian hieroglyphs as examples of this evolution, noting that while Egyptian hieroglyphs retained their original forms for sacred texts, a simplified demotic script was developed for everyday use.

The author emphasizes the immense effort required to convey complex or abstract ideas using only pictographic scripts, requiring a vast array of images. This led to a pivotal development: the realization that existing symbols could be used to represent sounds rather than ideas.

The Phonetic Alphabet and its Origins

The human vocal tract is capable of producing approximately twenty distinct sounds, which formed the basis for early alphabets. The article notes that the number of letters later expanded to twenty-six or twenty-eight, with some letters being variations or interchangeable, such as D and T, or V and F, or I and J.

It is asserted that all European languages derive their alphabets from the Phoenician system. Until about four hundred years ago, the Phoenician script was the only known archaic writing system in the world based on sounds, not pictures.

The Maya Connection and Atlantis

The article then introduces a compelling parallel: the Maya script. It recounts how, about ten to twenty years after Columbus's discovery of America, Diego da Landa, the Bishop of Yucatan, became interested in the glyphs adorning Maya structures. The Maya people informed him that their ancestors had learned this script. To his astonishment, he discovered that it was not a simplified form of picture writing but a phonetic alphabet.

The presence of such a phonetic system among the Maya was considered remarkable, especially since the combined civilizations of Asia, Europe, and Africa had not produced anything similar, with the Phoenician alphabet being the only known precursor. Even more extraordinary was the striking similarity between these two unique alphabets.

The author poses a thought experiment: if one needed to select sixteen characters to represent sixteen distinct sounds, and the Maya alphabet had that many letters, the selection of variations in lines and circles would be nearly limitless.

The Fate of Atlantis

The final section of the magazine issue, attributed to Anna-Lisa Helle, directly addresses the title's question. It states that the people of Atlantis possessed a highly developed culture, and all traces of their successive development were wiped out along with them during a catastrophic natural disaster that destroyed their continent. This, the author concludes, is the only possible explanation for the enigma surrounding their existence and achievements.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout this issue is the exploration of linguistic origins and the potential connection between ancient, advanced civilizations and the development of sophisticated writing systems. The editorial stance appears to be one that embraces speculative historical theories, particularly those involving Atlantis, and seeks to find unifying explanations for seemingly disparate historical and linguistic phenomena. The article champions the idea that phonetic alphabets, like those of the Phoenicians and Maya, represent a significant leap in human communication and may have roots in a lost, highly advanced civilization.