Re: Hypothical language amongst the more brainier dinosaurs

[john-schneiderman@cox.net]

On Thu, Oct 27, 2011 at 3:54 PM, Richard W. Travsky wrote:

> On Thu, 27 Oct 2011 john-schneiderman@cox.net wrote:
>
> > If brainy dinosaurs such as Troodon evolved into a highly intelligent 
> > creature, isn't it possible that along with tool making, some form of 
> > written language could have developed?
> > If so, what kind of writing do you see having developed?
> > One idea I had would be a form of symbolic writing by means of 
> > scratch marks left on soil [temporary], plant material [longer 
> > lasting], rock [semi-permanent], utilizing the 3 claws on both hands.
> > A combination of vertical and angles slashes, producing 1, 2, or 3 
> > lines, either alone or mixed, representing an idea, warning, or 
> > notice.
> >
> > |||   |\    \\ /   |    ///    etc.
> >
> > I've seen some birds scratch-out marks in the soil with their feet 
> > [just one foot used] that didn't look like just random scratching or 
> > acquiring food. Some of the other birds would look at the marks made 
> > with some interest.
>
> Dinotopia beat you to it.
>
> http://dinotopia.wikia.com/wiki/Footprint_alphabet

Dinotopian dinosaurs used a simple replacement of Footprints [creating 
letters and punctuation] in place of the human English alphabet.  The 
requirements to 'write' is complex 'dancing-like' moves.
I would think that simple hand slashing or foot scratching/raking would 
produce enough simple symbols that could convey a lot of different words 
or ideas.
I do not see the development of sentence syntax or words, but multiple 
symbols could produce compound words, or more complex ideas.