Block, SkipCaptcha, Automoderated users, edit, rollback
3,026
edits
Changes
types of alphabets
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 [[diacritical mark]] is applied to the consonant letter. Separate vowel letters are used to write vowel-initial words. The major writing systems of [[India]] are abugidas.<ref>[http://www.omniglot.com/writing/syllabic.htm Syllabic alphabets / Alphasyllabaries / Abugidas]</ref>
== Latin Alphabets ==
== Latin Alphabets ==