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The Mayans used Hieroglyphics to translate their spoken language, to a language that they could refer to at a later date or record something. Each letter had it's own strokes or 'lines' that formed a picture of part of one. Depending on the word used the pictures could look the same or completely different e.g. they manged to distinguish 'son' from 'sun' in their own way..

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The Mayan writing system, one of the most sophisticated systems developed in Mesoamerica, is made up of glyphs representing words or syllables. When combined, the glyphs formed any word or concept in the language. These heiroglyphic inscriptions were carved in wood, stone, monument, and architecture, or plained on paper, plaster walls and pottery.

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Q: What was Mayan system of writing that represents words and ideas?
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