The Maya writing system is best described as using what form of writing?

• A. A purely syllabic script
• B. A purely alphabetic script
• C. A glyph-based writing system
• D. A pictographic system only

Answer: (C)

The Maya script is a glyph-based writing system. It uses individual signs called glyphs that can function as logograms (standing for words or morphemes) and as phonetic signs (representing syllables or sounds). Scribes would combine these glyphs in sequences to express Maya language in inscriptions, codices, and monuments, which is why it’s described as logosyllabic or glyph-based rather than purely syllabic or alphabetic. It’s also more than just pictures; the signs carry linguistic information and can encode both meaning and sound, sometimes in complex stacked or paired arrangements. So the best description captures this mixture of word-signs and sound-signs within a single writing system.