HANDWRITING ACCENTS – TO REVEAL CULTURAL IDENTITY OF AUTHOR

Abstract

Handwriting is a neuro-muscular phenomenon, which is influenced by gender, age, ethnicity, handedness, the system of handwriting learned, subject matter (content), writing protocol (written from memory, dictated, or copied out), writing instrument (pen and paper), changes in the handwriting of an individual over time, etc. In other words, one can say that handwriting is an acquired skill, which is greatly influenced by the ethnicity and the system of handwriting learned. Handwriting relates the cognitive aspects of the brain with the muscular movements. Thus, it becomes likely that a certain degree of commonness exists in the handwriting features of the people of the same population group.” Few researches had been conducted in this aspect to identify the ethnic origin of author via some distinctive characteristics of their handwriting, which reflects their ethnic origin. Out of these works, a couple of studies took quantitative approach to statistically examine the observed handwriting characteristics. The predictions of this work will help the forensic fraternity in identifying the authors of anonymous writings. Also, the work will help the anthropological researchers in identifying the ethnic origin of writer based on their ethno-linguistic handwriting features.