Skip to content
My OpenLearn Profile
Personalise your OpenLearn profile, save your favourite content and get recognition for your learning
Free course
A brief history of communication: hieroglyphics to emojis
Free statement of participation on completion
This free course, A brief history of communication: hieroglyphics to emojis, is an introduction to the history of writing, and the key role it plays in human communication. It tracks this history from the invention of writing around 5500 years ago to the mass popularity of emojis today.
Course learning outcomes
After studying this course, you should be able to:
- understand how different writing systems have developed over time
- understand how technology influences what we can do with language, and the form that language takes.
First Published: 14/11/2018
Updated: 05/12/2019
Skip Rate and Review
Rate and Review
Create an account to get more
Track your progress
Review and track your learning through your OpenLearn Profile.
Statement of Participation
On completion of a course you will earn a Statement of Participation.
Access all course activities
Take course quizzes and access all learning.
Review the course
When you have finished a course leave a review and tell others what you think.
This is a really good introductory course but somebody needs to decide whether the plural of emoji is 'emoji' or 'emojis' and then apply it consistentky throughout the material.