Difference between revisions of "Alphabet"
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Many ancient alphabets are believed to have been developed from even earlier writings, of ancient ''pictograms'' where a spoken sound or word was represented by small drawing of an object. These pictures eventually developed into formalized graphical symbols. By convention these symbols are written in a specific order ([[alphabetic]] order) when listed. The alphabet was a great impetus to literacy as there was no longer a need to learn myriads of pictures to represent the multitudinous concepts present in reality and thought. With an alphabet, all that was needed was to learn the symbols to represent the rather limited sounds of any particular language. | Many ancient alphabets are believed to have been developed from even earlier writings, of ancient ''pictograms'' where a spoken sound or word was represented by small drawing of an object. These pictures eventually developed into formalized graphical symbols. By convention these symbols are written in a specific order ([[alphabetic]] order) when listed. The alphabet was a great impetus to literacy as there was no longer a need to learn myriads of pictures to represent the multitudinous concepts present in reality and thought. With an alphabet, all that was needed was to learn the symbols to represent the rather limited sounds of any particular language. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Types of alphabets== | ||
| + | |||
| + | In additional to full alphabets that use letters to indicate each vowel and consonant, two other types of alphabet are widely used. One type is called an '''abjad''' or '''consonant alphabet''', in which the letters primarily or exclusively represent only consonants; the Hebrew alphabet is an example.<ref>[http://www.omniglot.com/writing/alphabetic.htm Abjads / Consonant Alphabets]</ref> The other type is called an '''abugida''', '''alphasyllabary''', or '''syllabic alphabet'''. In an abugida, each letter represents a consonant followed by an inherent vowel. For a different vowel or no vowel, a [[diacritic]] is applied to the consonant letter.<ref>[http://www.omniglot.com/writing/syllabic.htm Syllabic alphabets / Alphasyllabaries / Abugidas]</ref> Separate vowel letters are used to write vowel-initial words; for example, in Tibetan, a letter represents the inherent vowel ''a'' (which may be thought of as a silent consonant plus the inherent vowel), and the other vowels are represented by the same diacritics used with consonant letters.<ref>[http://www.omniglot.com/writing/tibetan.htm Tibetan alphabet]</ref> The major writing systems of [[India]] are abugidas. | ||
== Latin Alphabets == | == Latin Alphabets == | ||
| − | The '''Latin alphabet''' (or '''Roman alphabet''') is the most widely | + | 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: |
| − | :[[A | + | :[[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 |
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: | ||
| − | :Aa, Bb, Cc, Dd, Ee, Ff, Gg, Hh, Ii, '''[[J | + | :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 |
=== Other Languages === | === Other Languages === | ||
| − | Most Germanic and Romance languages from Europe use the same letters as the English alphabet. Some languages expand the alphabet's representation | + | Most Germanic and Romance languages from Europe use the same letters as the English alphabet. Some languages expand the alphabet's representation 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> |
== Greek Alphabet == | == Greek Alphabet == | ||
| Line 25: | Line 29: | ||
The Greek alphabet comprises the following characters: | The Greek alphabet comprises the following characters: | ||
| − | [[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]] |
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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== Cyrillic Alphabet == | == Cyrillic Alphabet == | ||
{{main|Cyrillic alphabet}} | {{main|Cyrillic alphabet}} | ||
| − | The '''Cyrillic alphabet''', and variants of it, is used in [[Russian]], [[Ukrainian]], [[Bulgarian]], [[Serbo-Croat]] and [[Mongolian]] (in the Republic of [[Mongolia]]). The Cyrillic alphablet was mandatory in [[Soviet]] republics before their independence from the [[Soviet Union]], but many of these have reverted to their earlier alphabets which often are based on Latin letters. | + | The '''Cyrillic alphabet''', and variants of it, is used in [[Russian language|Russian]], [[Ukrainian]], [[Bulgarian]], [[Serbo-Croat]] and [[Mongolian]] (in the Republic of [[Mongolia]]). The Cyrillic alphablet was mandatory in [[Soviet]] republics before their independence from the [[Soviet Union]], but many of these have reverted to their earlier alphabets which often are based on Latin letters. |
== Hebrew Alphabet == | == Hebrew Alphabet == | ||
| Line 42: | Line 46: | ||
== Korean alphabet == | == Korean alphabet == | ||
| + | {{main|Hangul}} | ||
== Thai alphabet == | == Thai alphabet == | ||
| + | Thai alphabet has 44 consonants (พยัญชนะ), and at least 43 vowels (สระ). | ||
| − | ==See | + | ==See also== |
*[[Semitic languages]] | *[[Semitic languages]] | ||
| − | ==External | + | ==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] | ||
Latest revision as of 17:26, July 13, 2016
An alphabet is a series of symbols (letters) which correlate to individual (and occasionally multiple) sounds, allowing the spoken word to be recorded for later use. The word "alphabet" is derived from the first two letters the Greek alphabet, alpha and beta, which were in turn derived from the first two letters of the Phoenician aleph and beth.
Many ancient alphabets are believed to have been developed from even earlier writings, of ancient pictograms where a spoken sound or word was represented by small drawing of an object. These pictures eventually developed into formalized graphical symbols. By convention these symbols are written in a specific order (alphabetic order) when listed. The alphabet was a great impetus to literacy as there was no longer a need to learn myriads of pictures to represent the multitudinous concepts present in reality and thought. With an alphabet, all that was needed was to learn the symbols to represent the rather limited sounds of any particular language.
Types of alphabets
In additional to full alphabets that use letters to indicate each vowel and consonant, two other types of alphabet are widely used. One type is called an abjad or consonant alphabet, in which the letters primarily or exclusively represent only consonants; the Hebrew alphabet is an example.[1] The other type is called an abugida, alphasyllabary, or syllabic alphabet. In an abugida, each letter represents a consonant followed by an inherent vowel. For a different vowel or no vowel, a diacritic is applied to the consonant letter.[2] Separate vowel letters are used to write vowel-initial words; for example, in Tibetan, a letter represents the inherent vowel a (which may be thought of as a silent consonant plus the inherent vowel), and the other vowels are represented by the same diacritics used with consonant letters.[3] The major writing systems of India are abugidas.
Latin Alphabets
The Latin alphabet (or Roman alphabet) is the most widely used alphabetic writing system in the world.[4] Most Western alphabets are based on the script of ancient Rome which comprises the following 23 characters or letters:
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.[5]
English Alphabet
In the English language three characters have been added to the Latin alphabet, and the English alphabet comprises 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 Germanic and Romance languages from Europe use the same letters as the English alphabet. Some languages expand the alphabet's representation with diacritical[6] markings on the letters, but these are not considered by the language to be distinct letters. digraphs[7] and ligatures.[8]
Greek Alphabet
For a more detailed treatment, see 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
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".
Cyrillic Alphabet
For a more detailed treatment, see Cyrillic alphabet.
The Cyrillic alphabet, and variants of it, is used in Russian, Ukrainian, Bulgarian, Serbo-Croat and Mongolian (in the Republic of Mongolia). The Cyrillic alphablet was mandatory in Soviet republics before their independence from the Soviet Union, but many of these have reverted to their earlier alphabets which often are based on Latin letters.
Hebrew Alphabet
For a more detailed treatment, see Hebrew alphabet.
The Hebrew alphabet is made up of 22 characters used to write the Hebrew and Yiddish languages.
Arabic Alphabet
For a more detailed treatment, see Arabic alphabet.
The Arabic alphabet is used to represent Arabic and other Middle Eastern languages.
Korean alphabet
For a more detailed treatment, see Hangul.
Thai alphabet
Thai alphabet has 44 consonants (พยัญชนะ), and at least 43 vowels (สระ).
See also
External links
Notes & References
- ↑ Abjads / Consonant Alphabets
- ↑ Syllabic alphabets / Alphasyllabaries / Abugidas
- ↑ Tibetan alphabet
- ↑ http://www.orbilat.com/Languages/Latin/Grammar/Latin-Alphabet.html
- ↑ http://www.ai.uga.edu/mc/latinpro.pdf
- ↑ Sometimes referred to as accented letter, e.g. á, ç, è, î, ñ, ü
- ↑ Two letters that represent a single sound and are regarded as distinct from their individual components, such as ll in Welsh or Spanish
- ↑ Two letters that are combined into one such as the German double-S: ß