Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-13
GLYPH DICTIONARY
OF MAYA FINISHED
Thirty Years Work Of Dr..
Gates Makes History Easier
to Understand.
Special Dispatch TO The Star.


MEXICO CITY, September 12.-Thir-
ty years of study and investigation pro-
vide the basis for an archaeological work
which has just been completed, under
the patronage of the Maya Society OF
Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, by
DR.. William Gates of that city, and
which is attracting widespread atten-
ton and comment from students Of
Magyar history and language. both in
Mexico and other parts of the world.
The result of DR.. Gates researches,
which are embodied in his Dictionary
of the Magyar Glyphs." is regarded by
the officials of the National Archeologi-
cal and Historical Museum here as con-
shutting an important key for deciphcr-
ing the hieroglyhpics LETT by the pre-
conquest inhabitants of Yucatan and
contiguous regions of Central America
in their codicc; and in the stone rem
ants of their temples and other struc-
.L.es.
Expectations are held that through
the medium of the conclusions eStab-
lished by DR.. Gates extensive progress
will be made in calculating much OF
the hitherto unrevealed history and
mythology of the Mayas which Is be-
lieved to lie within the hitherto un-
decipherable maze Of their surviving
picture writings.
Based on Symbols.
This picture writing, according to the
theory of DR.. Gates, Is based upon a
series Of highly conventional prime ele-
ments Of Geographic symbols modified
by a series OF secondary elements, in
which latter principally rests the key
for interpreting the Maya records. 1t
is not asserted by him that this key
will supply the means Of reading all of
the Maya hieroglyphics, but he main
tains that by applying his theory TO
portions of the ancient records utilized
by him Tor test purposes, which he
cites, more extensive ana correct in
terpi citation is within the reach of stu
dents. He presents -rany interpreta-
tons of selected writings as proof OF
his ability, by the use OF his theory. to
elucidate for the first time the signi-
f1cance of some of the symbols.
Among the conclusions reached by
DR.. Gates is that the language spoken
by the Mayas and nations allied with
them was derived from common
mother tongue, in fashion similar TO
the derivation of the Romance Ian
guage group followed the same course
as that taken by the Romance Ian
guages, and occurred at about the same
historical period. In the belief that
the structure and Syntax OF the Maya
language was reflected in the symbols
Of their picture writing and in their
arrangement, Dr. Gates began his re-
searches by making an intensive study
Of the language.
Complies $500 Symbols.
In connection with the preparation
of his dictionary he has compiled all
of the different symbols displayed in
the available Magyar codices, which
are in excess of $500, and which are
accompanied by a hundred or more
of the secondary elements OF signifi-
canoe upon which he lays stress, and
classified them to demonstrate the
quality of each symbol, either indi-
vidually or when used in combination
with others. Each symbol or combi-
nation of symbols has been provided
with an index number and arranged in
groups, with an accompanying index
showing where the symbol or combina-
ton may be found in the codex from
which it was taken.
The dictionary contains more than
5000 references. To the brief list of
Maya symbols, the significance of which
has been known since the sixteenth
century, DR.. Gates has added many
new ones, with a concordance which
is based upon a succinct analysiS of
every case and the association of va
riouS symbols with others He also has
marked the division of the codices
under separate chapters and demon
Strated that the text definitely refers to