Abstract
This chapter discusses western apache writing system. It is essential to point out that problems may arise when etic concepts are applied a priori to the description of individual writing systems. Compound symbols are divided into five structural types according to the number of elements they contain and the classes to which these elements belong. The linguistic referent of a noncompound symbol is always isomorphic with the meaning of the element that forms it and can be learned in a single operation. Phonetic semantic signs are commonly partitioned into two subclasses—logographs and phraseographs. Apaches knowledge of Silas John's writing system is not widespread. The linguistic referents of compound symbols are never isomorphic with the names of the Class B and/or C elements that form them. The utility of kinetic sign and phonetic-kinetic sign as comparative concepts is judged on the basis of their capacity to clarify and describe emic distinctions in other systems of writing.
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