EXPRESSION UP-SIDE DOWN IN ANCIENT EGYPTIAN LANGUAGE: SIGNS A29 , P(1) EXAMPLES

Abstract

Among the vast number of signs that were used in the ancient Egyptian language was the corpus of upside-down signs. This paper focuses on two models of it, namely the signs A29 and P(1) in Gardiner’s Sign List. The present study investigates these signs as determinatives or phonograms in textual sources. It examines how the upside-down signs give an opposite meaning to words in accordance with their upside-down position. The subject of the present work examines the meanings of the most well-known words written with A29 and P(I) signs in order to trace the contexts in which such words were used. This study, based on linguistic sources, presents more documentation of these models of signs to serve as the basis for further research.

Keywords

• upside down signs
• determinative
• hieroglyphs
• ancient egyptian language
• gardiner’s sign list