1. Logographic vs. Alphabetic:
* Hieroglyphs: Primarily logographic, meaning each symbol represents a word or concept, not a single sound.
* Modern writing: Primarily alphabetic, meaning symbols represent individual sounds (letters).
2. Determinatives:
* Hieroglyphs: Often used determinatives, which are symbols that give additional information about the word, such as its grammatical category (noun, verb, adjective) or its specific meaning.
* Modern writing: Doesn't typically use determinatives.
3. Directionality:
* Hieroglyphs: Could be written in multiple directions (left-to-right, right-to-left, or vertically).
* Modern writing: Usually written in a single direction (left-to-right or right-to-left).
4. Complexity:
* Hieroglyphs: Very complex, requiring extensive learning and memorization.
* Modern writing: Generally much simpler and easier to learn.
5. Use:
* Hieroglyphs: Used primarily for formal writing, such as inscriptions on monuments, tombs, and temple walls.
* Modern writing: Used for a much wider range of purposes, including everyday communication, literature, and scientific writing.
In essence, hieroglyphs are a more visual and symbolic system, while modern writing is more phonetic and abstract. While hieroglyphs are fascinating for their historical and artistic value, they are not practical for modern communication due to their complexity and lack of phonetic consistency.