Says the author" "This book... is not written for the members of fringe political groups, such as the Weatherman, or The Minutemen. Those radical groups don't need this book. They already know everything that's in here.
Ranging from cuneiform to shorthand, from archaic Greek to modern Chinese, from Old Persian to modern Cherokee, this is the only available work in English to cover all of the world's writing systems from ancient times to the present.
This third edition (2007) is a further revision of the material which reflects the experience of the contributors and users with the previous editions. The book has been systematically brought up to date and new sections have been added.
"--Peter H. Raven, Missouri Botanical Garden "Precise and accurate, a masterpiece of clarity and succinctness."--G. Ledyard Stebbins, University of California, Davis
Written by a team of international specialists, this unique reference work provides an up-to-date and comprehensive survey of twelve Germanic languages from English and German to Faroese and Yiddish.
With its fresh translations by newer voices in the field, its broad scope, and its flowing style, this anthology places the immense riches of Chinese literature within easy reach.
This new edition includes two new chapters and is revised and updated throughout to reflect how the revolution in electronic communication has transformed the field.