Changes

In some cultures, the symbols which once represented a concept would begin to also represent the sound that the word for that concept began with.  This development allowed for a series of pictograms to convey a concept not easily drawn (like "love"), but for which the spoken language had a word for.  Such cultures are said to write with an alphabet.

In some cultures, the symbols which once represented a concept would begin to also represent the sound that the word for that concept began with.  This development allowed for a series of pictograms to convey a concept not easily drawn (like "love"), but for which the spoken language had a word for.  Such cultures are said to write with an alphabet.

 

In other cultures, abstract symbols were developed for verbs and for nouns not easily drawn. Such a culture is frequently said to write with hieroglyphs, although this word is generally not used for the Chinese system, although it fits this description.

In other cultures, abstract symbols were developed for verbs and for nouns not easily drawn. Such a culture is frequently said to write with hieroglyphs, although this word is generally not used for the Chinese system, although it fits this description.

Once a pictogram system developed to the point of being able to express all or most of the concepts which could be expressed through vocal language, it ceased to be a pictogram system and became a writing system.

Once a pictogram system developed to the point of being able to express all or most of the concepts which could be expressed through vocal language, it ceased to be a pictogram system and became a writing system.

===Sumer===

===Sumer===