Re: Written Language & Scripts

From: Simon Hibbs <simonh_at_msi-uk.com>
Date: Mon, 24 Aug 1998 13:26:35 +0100


Keith Nellist :

>I like this idea. I would also like to raise a point about mathematics.
I feel
>that socerors use some sort of magical mathematics - geometry etc.
>which would be written in a standard form, which would be part of
>Western. Is mathematical notation an ideographic or an alphabetic
>script. Either way I think it ties in with Brithini / Logic /Sorcery

If the analogy with the Kabbalah holds, then each character in the script is associated with a number. This enables a numerological analysis of the scriptures known as Gematria.

 Steven Barnes :

>If we are going to steal real-world cultures, then lets mix things up
>more. Kralorela is just a boring China knock-off. It should have been
>inhabited by black people. Put the whites on the primitive
>jungle-continent. Put the asians in european-style cultures.

Thus breaking the audience's intuitive psychological accociations, but for what gain, other than to make some kind of pseudo-PC statement? (i.e. under the skin, we're all the same?) I would rather think of the identification of Gloranthan cultures with their earthly siblings as a form of tribute to the source of their inspiration.

Glorantha looks a lot like our world and I'm sure it's inhabitants share many of the experiences and forms of belief as our ancestors, and even some still extant ancient cultures. Glorantha is different where it makes sense for it to be different; where the differences are meaninfull and informative. Arbitrarily mixing and matching racial stereotypes and cultures is in my mind little different from having a race of pointy eared people with insomnia and good eyesight and arbitrarily calling them elves. It doesn't mean anything

Glorantha is built on myths and symbolism. If you change the symbols and bastardise the myths then it looses it's power.

IMHO anyway.

Simon Hibbs


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