March 29, 2004

•  

  
  

  Women-Only Language Re-emerges

  
  

  By Jennifer Viegas, Discovery News
  

  March 29, 2004 — Chinese archivists will unveil a rare collection of items featuring Nushu, a mysterious ancient language created by, and exclusively for, women.

  
  

  Nushu, meaning women's script, was held so securely by its speakers and writers that women used to burn manuscripts to keep them away from men, or they would bury items containing Nushu with female friends upon their deaths.

  
  

  The language's origins are unclear, but most scholars believe Nushu emerged in the third century during a time when the Chinese government prohibited education of women. Practices such as arranged marriages and foot binding also prevented many women from travelling far beyond their homelands.

  
  

  Orie Endo, professor of sociolinguistics and Japanese teaching methodology,  theorized that Nushu arose out of a custom called Jiebai Zimei, or "sworn sisterhood."

  
  

  From scottishfyre

  
  

   

  • 7:19 pm
  • 1 Comment