where do our alphabet come from?
is it from the phoenicians
Google is a wonderful invention:
http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2013/09/the-origin-of-the-english-alphabet/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_alphabet
and this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Latin_alphabet
Yes, the modern alphabet that is widely used today is derived from the Phoenician alphabet. The Phoenicians were a trading civilization in the eastern Mediterranean around 1200 BCE. They developed a writing system consisting of 22 consonant symbols, which eventually spread to other cultures through trade and exploration.
To understand how the Phoenician alphabet eventually evolved into the alphabet we use today, here are the key steps:
1. Phoenician Alphabet: The Phoenician alphabet consisted only of consonant letters. Vowels were not included.
2. Greek Adaptation: The ancient Greeks, primarily the Ionians, borrowed the Phoenician alphabet and adapted it to suit their language. They added vowel symbols to represent their distinctive vowel sounds.
3. Latin Adaptation: The Romans adopted and modified the Greek alphabet to create the Latin alphabet, which was then spread throughout the Roman Empire. This Latin alphabet eventually became the basis for many modern alphabets, including English.
4. English Alphabet: The English alphabet developed from the Latin alphabet through various historical changes. The English alphabet consists of 26 letters, including both consonants and vowels.
So, while the Phoenician alphabet was the precursor, it underwent significant changes and adaptations by the Greeks and Romans before evolving into the alphabet we use today.