A reappraisal of the development of the Mayan Syllabary

Abstract This paper revisits the problem of the derivation of phonographic signs in Mayan writing (cf. Mora-Marín 2003 ). The primary goal is to evaluate Lacadena’s ( 2010a , 2010b ) proposal that the Mayan syllabary was initially derived through the wholesale adoption of a Mixe-Zoquean-based script. Lacadena argued that Mayan <CV> syllabograms based on consonants shared by both Mayan and Mixe-Zoquean generally lack acrophonic explanations, while <CV> syllabograms for consonants exclusive to Mayan can be explained either by Mayan-based acrophony or graphic modifications of existing graphemes (i.e. addition of graphic elements, or coinage of digraphs). After (1) preparing a more comprehensive dataset of Mayan syllabograms using the Maya Hieroglyphic Database ( Looper and Macri (1991–2025) ), and (2) conducting a more thorough review of the literature for possible acrophonic derivations and the nature of graphic modifications and seemingly digraphic combinations, the paper carries out a statistical test of a syllabary development model based on Lacadena’s proposal, concluding that such model is not viable, and that on present evidence, the Mayan syllabary was mostly an autochtonous invention.