The use of any visual media and symbols to express meanings is not always what we want to call writing. For example, all drivers understand the traffic code signal with the white arrow in the blue circle indicating mandatory forward movement.
However, this message does not mean that this symbol is associated with a particular linguistic expression but can be attributed in different ways such as:
- Obligatory course ahead.
- I have to go ahead.
- Obligatory forward movement
Instead, the letters have a unique way of reading. For example:
''Dim is a liar'' can not be read ''Dim is lying'' no matter if they are identical.
Writing therefore defines a system of permanent visual convention points, used to represent a speech in such a way that it can be retracted by the reader with absolute precision without the intermediary of its producer (Daniels & Bright 1996)
Center of Greek language: History of Greek lenguage, scientific editing A.-F. Christides
(see B.6 Writing Systems page 184)