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| | The '''Latin alphabet''' (or '''Roman alphabet''') is the most widely-used [[alphabetic writing system]] in the world.<ref>http://www.orbilat.com/Languages/Latin/Grammar/Latin-Alphabet.html</ref> Most Western alphabets are based on the script of ancient [[Rome]] which comprises the following 23 characters or letters: | | The '''Latin alphabet''' (or '''Roman alphabet''') is the most widely-used [[alphabetic writing system]] in the world.<ref>http://www.orbilat.com/Languages/Latin/Grammar/Latin-Alphabet.html</ref> Most Western alphabets are based on the script of ancient [[Rome]] which comprises the following 23 characters or letters: |
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| − | :[[A|Aa]], [[B|Bb]], [[C|Cc]], [[D|Dd]], [[E|Ee]], [[F|Ff]], [[G|Gg]], [[H|Hh]], [[I|Ii]], [[K|Kk]], [[L|Ll]], [[M|Mm]], [[N|Nn]], [[O|Oo]], [[P|Pp]], [[Q|Qq]], [[R|Rr]], [[S|Ss]], [[T|Tt]], [[V|Vv]], [[X|Xx]], [[Y|Yy]], [[Z|Zz]] | + | :[[A]]a, [[B]]b, [[C]]c, [[D]]d, [[E]]e, [[F]]f, [[G]]g, [[H]]h, [[I]]i, [[K]]k, [[L]]l, [[M]]m, [[N]]n, [[O]]o, [[P]]p, [[Q]]q, [[R]]r, [[S]]s, [[T]]t, [[V]]v, [[X]]x, [[Y]]y, [[Z]]z |
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| | It should be noted that although the Latin alphabet does not contain the letter U, the language itself now contains both the sounds of the English U and V, both denoted by V - the placing of the letter determines the pronunciation.<ref>http://www.ai.uga.edu/mc/latinpro.pdf</ref> | | It should be noted that although the Latin alphabet does not contain the letter U, the language itself now contains both the sounds of the English U and V, both denoted by V - the placing of the letter determines the pronunciation.<ref>http://www.ai.uga.edu/mc/latinpro.pdf</ref> |
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| | In the English language three characters have been added to the Latin alphabet, and the English alphabet comprises the following '''26''' characters: | | In the English language three characters have been added to the Latin alphabet, and the English alphabet comprises the following '''26''' characters: |
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| − | :Aa, Bb, Cc, Dd, Ee, Ff, Gg, Hh, Ii, '''[[J|Jj]]''', Kk, Ll, Mm, Nn, Oo, Pp, Qq, Rr, Ss, Tt, '''[[U|Uu]]''', Vv, '''[[W|Ww]]''', Xx, Yy, Zz | + | :Aa, Bb, Cc, Dd, Ee, Ff, Gg, Hh, Ii, '''[[J]]j''', Kk, Ll, Mm, Nn, Oo, Pp, Qq, Rr, Ss, Tt, '''[[U]]u''', Vv, '''[[W]]w''', Xx, Yy, Zz |
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| | === Other Languages === | | === Other Languages === |
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| − | Most Germanic and Romance languages from Europe use the same letters as the English alphabet. Some languages expand the alphabet's representation with with [[diacritic]]al<ref>Sometimes referred to as ''accented'' letter, e.g. á, ç, è, î, ñ, ü</ref> markings on the letters, but these are not considered by the language to be distinct letters. [[digraph]]s<ref>Two letters that represent a single sound and are regarded as distinct from their individual components, such as ''ll'' in Welsh or Spanish</ref> and [[ligature]]s <ref>Two letters that are combined into one such as the German double-S: '''''ß'''''</ref>. | + | Most Germanic and Romance languages from Europe use the same letters as the English alphabet. Some languages expand the alphabet's representation with with [[diacritic]]al<ref>Sometimes referred to as ''accented'' letter, e.g. á, ç, è, î, ñ, ü</ref> markings on the letters, but these are not considered by the language to be distinct letters. [[digraph]]s<ref>Two letters that represent a single sound and are regarded as distinct from their individual components, such as ''ll'' in Welsh or Spanish</ref> and [[ligature]]s.<ref>Two letters that are combined into one such as the German double-S: '''''ß'''''</ref> |
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| | == Greek Alphabet == | | == Greek Alphabet == |
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| | The Greek alphabet comprises the following characters: | | The Greek alphabet comprises the following characters: |
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| − | [[Alpha|Αα]], [[Beta|Ββ]], [[Gamma|Γγ]], [[Delta|Δδ]], [[Epsilon|Εε]], [[Zeta|Ζζ]], [[Eta|Ηη]], [[Theta|Θθ]], [[Iota|Ιι]], [[Kappa|Κκ]], [[Lamda|Λλ]], [[Mu (Greek letter)|Μμ]], [[Nu|Νν]], [[Xi|Ξξ]], [[Omicron|Οο]], [[Pi|Ππ]], [[Rho| Ρ ρ]], [[Sigma|Σσς]], [[Tau|Ττ]], [[Upsilon|Υυ]], [[Phi|Φφ]], [[Chi|Χχ]], [[Psi|Ψψ]], [[Omega|Ωω]] | + | [[Alpha|Αα]], [[Beta|Ββ]], [[Gamma|Γγ]], [[Delta|Δδ]], [[Epsilon|Εε]], [[Zeta|Ζζ]], [[Eta|Ηη]], [[Theta|Θθ]], [[Iota|Ιι]], [[Kappa|Κκ]], [[Lamda|Λλ]], [[Mu (Greek letter)|Μμ]], [[Nu|Νν]], [[Xi|Ξξ]], [[Omicron|Οο]], [[Pi|Ππ]], [[Rho|Ρ ρ]], [[Sigma|Σσς]], [[Tau|Ττ]], [[Upsilon|Υυ]], [[Phi|Φφ]], [[Chi|Χχ]], [[Psi|Ψψ]], [[Omega|Ωω]] |
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| | In addition to the single letters, Greek letters may be combined to make completely new sounds, such as ντ, which makes a "d" sound or αυ, which makes the sound "af" or "av". | | In addition to the single letters, Greek letters may be combined to make completely new sounds, such as ντ, which makes a "d" sound or αυ, which makes the sound "af" or "av". |
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| | Thai alphabet has 44 consonants (พยัญชนะ), and at least 43 vowels (สระ). | | Thai alphabet has 44 consonants (พยัญชนะ), and at least 43 vowels (สระ). |
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| − | ==See Also== | + | ==See also== |
| | *[[Semitic languages]] | | *[[Semitic languages]] |
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| − | ==External Links== | + | ==External links== |
| | *[http://terpconnect.umd.edu/~rfradkin/alphapage.html Evolution of Alphabets] | | *[http://terpconnect.umd.edu/~rfradkin/alphapage.html Evolution of Alphabets] |
| | *[http://terpconnect.umd.edu/~rfradkin/phon-greek.html Evolution of Greek Alphabet from Phoenecian] | | *[http://terpconnect.umd.edu/~rfradkin/phon-greek.html Evolution of Greek Alphabet from Phoenecian] |