Alphabets
by Unice Yoo
The Phoenicians created the first shortened alphabet with only 22 consonants, but no vowels. It is written from right to left. The Greek alphabet was derived from this alphabet, so the Phoenician alphabet can be considered the indirect predecessor of all Western alphabets. Phoenician colonial scripts are variants of the Phoenician alphabet. They are categorized into three groups: Cypro-Phoenician, Sardinian, and Punic. Although the alphabet experienced many changes, the changes were merely changes in the physical appearance of the letters. The alphabet still contained the same 22 letters.
The Phoenicians were traders, so they spread their language and alphabet to many other cultures. Because this system of writing was so much more simpler and efficient, it was easily adopted.
The Phoenicians were traders, so they spread their language and alphabet to many other cultures. Because this system of writing was so much more simpler and efficient, it was easily adopted.
The Greeks were one of the peoples who adopted the Phoenician alphabet. Like the Phoenician alphabet, the Greek alphabet was initially written from right to left. The Greeks made an important contribution to the alphabet: vowels. The Greek alphabet modified some of the consonants in the Phoenician alphabet, such as 'alef, he, yod, 'ayin, and vav, and turned them into alpha, epsilon, iota, omicron, and upsilon, which are the vowels a, e, i, o, and u. The addition of vowels allowed for greater accuracy and legibility. The alphabet consisted of 24 characters, seven of which were vowels. The system of writing also included capital letters for monuments and inscriptions.
The ancient Greek alphabet could be divided into two braches: the Ionic (eastern) and Chalcidian (western). The Chalcidian alphabet was adopted and modified by the Etruscans.
The ancient Greek alphabet could be divided into two braches: the Ionic (eastern) and Chalcidian (western). The Chalcidian alphabet was adopted and modified by the Etruscans.
The Etruscan alphabet, like the Greek and Phoenician alphabets, was usually written from right to left. It had 20 characters: 16 consonants and four vowels. The four vowels consisted of i, e, a, and u or o. Other letters included p, t, c, m, n, l, r, z, and letters for the Greek characters phi, theta, and chi. The equivalents for these letters in the Etruscan alphabet sounded ph, th, and ch, pronounced like p, t, and k with a puff of air (like an h sound). A system of points was created, with two, three, or four points aligned vertically to mark boundaries, show syllables, or abbreviate.
This alphabet was the predecessor to Italic alphabets and the Latin alphabet, which replaced it.
This alphabet was the predecessor to Italic alphabets and the Latin alphabet, which replaced it.
Sources
"Etruscan alphabet." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online School Edition.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 2013. Web. 11 Oct. 2013. <http://archive.school.eb.com/eb/article-9033159>.
"Etruscan language." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online School Edition.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 2013. Web. 11 Oct. 2013. <http://archive.school.eb.com/eb/article-75368>.
"Greek alphabet." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online School Edition.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 2013. Web. 11 Oct. 2013. <http://archive.school.eb.com/eb/article-280772>.
"Greek alphabet." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online School Edition.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 2013. Web. 11 Oct. 2013. <http://archive.school.eb.com/eb/article-9037912>.
"Phoenician alphabet." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online School Edition.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 2013. Web. 11 Oct. 2013. <http://archive.school.eb.com/eb/article9059754>.
http://www.phoenician.org/alphabet.htm
http://www.phoenician.org/alphabet_phoenician.GIF
http://www.phoenician.org/pyrgi_gold_tablets.jpg
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 2013. Web. 11 Oct. 2013. <http://archive.school.eb.com/eb/article-9033159>.
"Etruscan language." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online School Edition.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 2013. Web. 11 Oct. 2013. <http://archive.school.eb.com/eb/article-75368>.
"Greek alphabet." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online School Edition.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 2013. Web. 11 Oct. 2013. <http://archive.school.eb.com/eb/article-280772>.
"Greek alphabet." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online School Edition.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 2013. Web. 11 Oct. 2013. <http://archive.school.eb.com/eb/article-9037912>.
"Phoenician alphabet." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online School Edition.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 2013. Web. 11 Oct. 2013. <http://archive.school.eb.com/eb/article9059754>.
http://www.phoenician.org/alphabet.htm
http://www.phoenician.org/alphabet_phoenician.GIF
http://www.phoenician.org/pyrgi_gold_tablets.jpg