Avaliação: Beyond writing and iconography: coding & de-coding Amerindian graphisms –

The aim of this GT is to discuss the most recent advances in studying the richness of native Amerindian graphic communication systems (GCS) especially in terms of methodology and common terminology. As research suggests, narrow Old World categories like writing or iconography do not necessarily suit the analysis of Amerindian GCSs and condemn to a permanent maneuvering between categories. Moreover, Amerindian GCSs tend to be related to and embedded within oral traditions, ritual performances and musical enactments and transmutations between different genres. This GT invites methodically and theoretically innovative contributions, that engage with aspects of the broad range of graphic displays starting from Mesoamerican codices, through Andean khipus and tocapus, so-called picture writing, to woven designs, basketry and petroglyphs, to mention just a few. Native Amerindian GCSs may have several dimensions: a) glottographic; b) notational; c) mnemonic; d) recursive; e) semantic (iconic, indexical or symbolic); f) pragmatic; g) cognitive. There are, then, different methodological steps that can be undertaken to elucidate how the meaning is encoded and communicated and what operating principles are in use. For this GT, specialists working on different Amerindian GCSs from all the Americas are invited to share their advances and contributing towards elaborating steps for a unified methodology and terminology for studying those native systems.

• Graphic communication systems
• Amerindians
• Study methodologies