Difference between revisions of "Alphabet"
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| − | + | An '''alphabet''' is a series of symbols that enable the spoken word to be recorded for later use and are the foundation stone of [[writing]]. The word "alphabet" is a combination of the first two letters ([[alpha]] and [[beta]]) of the [[Greek]] alphabet. Modern alphabets have evolved from ancient ''pictograms'' where a spoken sound was represented by small drawing of an object. These pictures eventually developed into formalised graphical symbols. By convention these symbols are written in a specific order ([[alphabetic]] order). | |
| − | == | + | == Latin Alphabets == |
| − | [[A]], [[B]], [[C]], [[D]], [[E]], [[F]], [[G]], [[H]], [[I | + | |
| + | Most Western alphabets are based on the script of ancient [[Rome|Roman]] which comprised 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]], [[LLl]], [[M|Mm]], [[N|Nn]], [[O|Oo]], [[P|Pp]], [[Q|Qq]], [[R|Rr]], [[S|Ss]], [[T|Tt]], [[V|Vv]], [[X|Xx]], [[Y|Yy]], [[Z|Zz]] | ||
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| + | === English Alphabet === | ||
| + | In the English language three characters have been added to the Latin, and the English alphabet comprise 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 | ||
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| + | === Other Languages === | ||
| + | Most European languages use the same letters as the English alphabet but often less than the full 26 except in the case of imported words. Other languages have extended the alphabet with [[diacritic]]s<ref>Sometimes referred to as ''accented'' letter, e.g. á, ç, è, î, ñ, ü</ref>, [[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 == | ||
| + | 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|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]] | ||
Revision as of 10:51, June 2, 2007
An alphabet is a series of symbols that enable the spoken word to be recorded for later use and are the foundation stone of writing. The word "alphabet" is a combination of the first two letters (alpha and beta) of the Greek alphabet. Modern alphabets have evolved from ancient pictograms where a spoken sound was represented by small drawing of an object. These pictures eventually developed into formalised graphical symbols. By convention these symbols are written in a specific order (alphabetic order).
Latin Alphabets
Most Western alphabets are based on the script of ancient Roman which comprised the following 23 characters or letters:
English Alphabet
In the English language three characters have been added to the Latin, and the English alphabet comprise the following 26 characters:
- Aa, Bb, Cc, Dd, Ee, Ff, Gg, Hh, Ii, Jj, Kk, Ll, Mm, Nn, Oo, Pp, Qq, Rr, Ss, Tt, Uu, Vv, Ww, Xx, Yy, Zz
Other Languages
Most European languages use the same letters as the English alphabet but often less than the full 26 except in the case of imported words. Other languages have extended the alphabet with diacritics[1], digraphs[2] and ligatures [3].
Greek Alphabet
The Greek alphabet comprises the following characters:
Αα, Ββ, Γγ, Δδ, Εε, Ζζ, Ηη, Θθ, Ιι, Κκ, Λλ, Μμ, Νν, Ξξ, Οο, Ππ, Ρ ρ, Σσς, Ττ, Υυ, Φφ, Χχ, Ψψ, Ωω