The clue is “Yet to adopt a system of written language” from the crossword puzzle Times Concise No. 9853 . The clue clearly references entire cultures or societies that never developed writing but it can just as easily apply to individuals, such as young children who have not yet learned to read or write. While it might look tricky on the surface, this one is a straight definition clue, and the answer falls neatly into place once you think it through. Here is the answer to “Yet to adopt a system of written language”.
Yet to Adopt a System of Written Language Crossword Clue Answer
PRELITERATE is the answer to the “Yet to adopt a system of written language” clue.
Any culture or society is considered preliterate if it has not yet developed any form of writing for communication. The word quite literally means “before writing”, and it can also apply to individuals. Toddlers, for example, are often described as preliterate since they have not yet learned to read or write.
The main difference between a preliterate and a literate society is, of course, the absence of a writing system. Only a few preliterate societies still exist today as many have developed, mostly among remote indigenous tribes. One of the biggest challenges they face is the lack of a reliable way to preserve and pass on information. Oral traditions are powerful, but compared to written records, they don’t quite measure up in accuracy or permanence.
However, I would not go as far as calling such societies stagnant and unchanging. They are dynamic and have adapted to overcome the challenges of the day.
