FALL 2008

Maya Hieroglyphic Writing Weekend Workshops

The Structural Analysis of Maya Texts
Sept. 12-14

Maya glyphIntroductory Maya Hieroglyphic Writing

Intended for beginners as well those who may wish to brush up on their skills, this workshop begins with a slide lecture introducing the ancient Maya world and defining the place and function of writing within it. On Saturday and Sunday, lecture sessions on various aspects of the Maya calendar and on the technique of structural analysis alternate with hands-on work on Maya texts. An optional Saturday evening potluck and study session offers an additional opportunity for hands-on glyphing and access to a large library of Maya resource materials. A wide variety of texts are covered in this session, including monumental inscriptions from Palenque and Yaxchilan, and passages from the Maya codices.

date...............Fri.-Sun., Sept. 12-14

time...............Fri., 7-10 p.m.; Sat./Sun., 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

fee...............$50, $46 additional for credit (optional)

place...............Fri.: Founders Hall 118; Sat./Sun.: Founders Hall 179

instr...............Tom Jones

course...............EENC x081, 42095

credit...............WLC 480, 1 unit (CR/NC), 42592

Phonetics & Semantics of Maya Texts
Sept. 19-21

IMaya glyphntermediate Maya Hieroglyphic Writing

This intermediate workshop goes beyond structural analysis to explore the sound and sense of the inscriptions. It begins on Friday with an introduction to the world of Maya hieroglyphic decipherment, focusing upon Diego de Landa and the impact of his writing upon 19th and 20th century scholars. The principle of structural analysis is reinforced and its use in arriving at phonetic and semantic readings is demonstrated. Short lectures alternate with hands-on application of principles by participants working in small groups on a set of inscriptions from Piedras Negras, as well as other selected texts. Phonetic values will be posited and researched using a large collection of Maya language dictionaries and grammars.

date...............Fri.-Sun., Sept. 19-21

time...............Fri., 7-10 p.m.; Sat./Sun., 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

fee...............$50, $46 additional for credit (optional)

place...............Fri.: Founders Hall 118; Sat./Sun.: Founders Hall 179

instr...............Tom Jones

course...............EENC x082, 42096

credit...............WLC 480, 1 unit (CR/NC), 44217

Advanced Individual Studies
Sept. 26-28

Maya glyphAdvanced Maya Hieroglyphic Writing

Principles and procedures of decipherment learned from the earlier workshops will be applied to the public monuments of a specific Maya site as an exercise in recovering the dynastic, political and overall historical and cultural content of the inscriptions.

Required Text & Supplies: Participants will need a copy of the HSU Workshop Notebook for use during the sessions. It will be available at the workshops for $25. Copies of the notebook from previous years may be used. Please bring scissors and a pad/pen/pencil for taking notes.

date...............Fri.-Sun., Sept. 26-28

time...............Fri., 7-10 p.m. and Sat./Sun., 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

fee...............$50, $46 additional for credit (optional)

place...............Fri.: Founders Hall 118; Sat./Sun.: Founders Hall 179

instr...............Tom Jones

course...............EENC x082, 43821

credit...............WLC 480, 1 unit (CR/NC), 44218

About the instructors:

The workshops are led by Tom Jones. In addition to serving on the teaching staff of Linda Schele's annual seminars on Maya writing at the University of Texas at Austin from 1985 through 2001, and offering occasional workshops elsewhere, Professor Jones has authored articles on glyph decipherment and participated in educational tours of the Maya region. He is assisted during the workshops by Carolyn Jones and Cheyenne Spetzler, both of whom have also served on the staff of the Texas seminars and written articles on glyph decipherment.