[KS] NYTimes.com Article: Writing as a Block for Asians

[Yuh Ji-Yeon]

Shouldn't someone write a letter to the NYT and point out that Korean 
hangul is an alphabet system with "abstractions" in which letters are 
either consonants or vowels and do not represent syllables?

I also have a question for linguists out there: on what basis can it be 
said that a letter like A or B or like the hangul giuk is more abstract 
than a Japanese syllable like ah or no?

best,
Yuh Ji-Yeon

At 09:57 ¿ÀÀü 2003-05-05 -0400, you wrote:
>Dear listmembers,
>
>since we have had quite some discussion on language etc. going on on this 
>list, I think the follwing article might be of some interest. It is about 
>the controversial connection between language and thought.
>
>Cheers,
>
>Ruediger
>
>
>New York Times (www.nytimes.com)
>
>>Writing as a Block for Asians
>>
>>May 3, 2003
>>By EMILY EAKIN
>>
>>A better understanding of Asian writing systems has not
>>stopped Western experts from making grand claims about
>>their virtues and limitations.
>>
>>http://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/03/arts/03ASIA.html?ex=1053142398&ei=1&en=f1a3637a7f455b2a
>