Script
“Then the Lord replied: ‘Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.’”
Habakkuk 2:2-3
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As spoken language evolved, so too did the need to preserve it. Writing systems emerged as a response—visual tools to carry the voice across time and space.
While the Bible does not mention writing before the Flood, it does describe advanced societies and genealogical records, leading some to believe that symbolic or written forms of communication may have existed. Historically, the earliest known writing systems—Sumerian cuneiform and Egyptian hieroglyphs—appeared shortly after the approximate biblical timeline of the Flood, aligning with the resurgence of civilization described in Genesis.
Later, writing took on profound spiritual meaning, most notably when God Himself inscribed the Ten Commandments in stone—a pivotal moment when writing became not just a human invention but a sacred medium for divine truth.
Grammatology is the study of writing systems, which have undergone a fascinating evolution, shaping the way we communicate and record information. It began with logographic scripts, where symbols or characters represented entire words or ideas. Ancient systems like Egyptian hieroglyphs and Chinese characters are prime examples of this approach. Over time, abjads emerged, representing consonantal sounds but often omitting vowels—Arabic and Hebrew are well-known modern examples of this system.
As human communication needs grew more complex, syllabaries were developed, where each character corresponded to a syllable, as seen in Japanese scripts like Katakana and Hiragana. Eventually, alphabets emerged—systems assigning letters to both consonants and vowels. The Greek alphabet was among the first fully realized, laying the groundwork for many of the alphabets used today, including the one we use in English.
While the earliest recognized forms of writing, such as Sumerian cuneiform and Egyptian hieroglyphs, were revolutionary in their time, they were just part of the broader human effort to record language. Even before these, symbolic systems—such as the Jiahu symbols or Vinča script—may have existed, hinting at the long and layered journey humanity has taken in its pursuit of communication.
A total of 293 writing systems have been recorded through historical findings. The few examples shown here are not meant to be exhaustive, but rather reflective—reminders of the many paths humanity has explored in its effort to shape and transmit meaning. Each system represents a step in the search—a possible landing point along the winding, unpredictable journey that, through countless turns, eventually led to the English we use today.
Writing
Systems
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,"
Matthew 28:19
Cuneiform Symbols – Logographic (c. 3500–300 BC)
𒀀 𒀁 𒀂 𒀃 𒀄 𒀅 𒀆 𒀇 𒀈 𒀉 𒀊 𒀋 𒀌 𒀍 𒀎 𒀏 𒀐 𒀑 𒀒 𒀓 𒀔 𒀕 𒀖 𒀗 𒀘 𒀙 𒀚 𒀛 𒀜 𒀝 𒀞 𒀟 𒀠 𒀡 𒀢 𒀣 𒀤 𒀥 𒀦 𒀧 𒀨 𒀩 𒀪 𒀫 𒀬 𒀭 𒀮 𒀯 𒀰
Egyptian Hieroglyphs –
Logographic (c. 3300 BC)
𓀀 𓀁 𓀂 𓀃 𓀄 𓀅 𓀆 𓀇 𓀈 𓀉 𓀊 𓀋 𓀌 𓀍 𓀎 𓀏 𓀐 𓀑 𓀒 𓀓 𓀔 𓀕 𓀖 𓀗 𓀘 𓀙 𓀚 𓀛 𓀜 𓀝 𓀞 𓀟 𓀠 𓀡 𓀢 𓀣 𓀤 𓀥 𓀦 𓀧 𓀨 𓀩 𓀪 𓀫 𓀬
Chinese Characters – Logographic (c. 1200 BC – Present)
我 你 他 她 爱 学 书 中 国 天 地 心 人 日 月 山 水 火 大 小 生 时 年 友 话 见 想 道 好 家
Hebrew Script – Abjad
(c. 1000 BC – Present)
א ב ג ד ה ו ז ח ט י כ ל מ נ ס ע פ צ ק ר ש ת ך ם ן פ ץ
Arabic – Abjad
(c. 400 AD – Present)
ا ب ت ث ج ح خ د ذ ر ز س ش ص ض ط ظ ع غ ف ق ك ل م ن هـ و ي
Japanese Hiragana – Syllabary
(c. 800 AD – Present)
あ い う え お か き く け こ さ し す せ そ た ち つ て と な に ぬ ね の は ひ ふ へ ほ ま み む め も や ゆ よ ら り る れ ろ わ を ん
Cherokee – Syllabary
(c. 1821 AD – Present)
Ꭰ Ꭱ Ꭲ Ꭳ Ꭴ Ꭵ Ꭶ Ꭷ Ꭸ Ꭹ Ꭺ Ꭻ Ꭼ Ꭽ Ꭾ Ꭿ Ꮀ Ꮁ Ꮂ Ꮃ Ꮄ Ꮅ Ꮆ Ꮇ Ꮈ Ꮉ Ꮊ Ꮋ Ꮌ Ꮍ Ꮎ Ꮏ Ꮐ Ꮑ Ꮒ Ꮓ Ꮔ Ꮕ Ꮖ Ꮗ Ꮘ Ꮙ Ꮚ Ꮛ Ꮜ Ꮞ Ꮟ Ꮠ Ꮡ Ꮢ Ꮣ Ꮤ Ꮥ Ꮦ Ꮧ Ꮨ Ꮩ Ꮪ Ꮫ Ꮭ Ꮮ Ꮯ Ꮰ Ꮱ Ꮲ Ꮳ Ꮴ Ꮵ Ꮶ Ꮷ Ꮸ Ꮹ Ꮺ Ꮻ Ꮼ Ꮽ Ꮾ Ꮿ Ᏸ Ᏹ Ᏺ Ᏻ
%20(1)_.jpg)
"After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb."
Revelation 7:9
Proto-Sinaitic – Transitional (Logographic to Alphabetic)
(c. 1900–1600 BC)
𐤀 𐤁 𐤂 𐤃 𐤄 𐤅 𐤆
𐤇 𐤈 𐤉 𐤊 𐤋 𐤌 𐤍
𐤎 𐤏 𐤐 𐤑 𐤒 𐤓 𐤔
𐤕 𐤖 𐤗 𐤘 𐤙 𐤚 𐤛
𐤟 𐤠 𐤡 𐤢 𐤣 𐤤 𐤥
𐤦 𐤧 𐤨 𐤩 𐤪 𐤫 𐤯
𐤰 𐤷 𐤸 𐤯 𐤰 𐤱 𐤲
𐤳 𐤴 𐤵 𐤶
Phoenician Alphabet
(c. 1050 - 300 BC)
𐤀 𐤁 𐤂 𐤃 𐤄
𐤅 𐤆 𐤇 𐤈 𐤉
𐤊 𐤋 𐤌 𐤍 𐤎
𐤏 𐤐 𐤑 𐤒 𐤓
𐤔 𐤕
Modern Hebrew
(c. 400 BC – Present)
א ב ג ד ה
ו ז ח ט י
כ ל מ נ ס
ע פ צ ק ר
ש ת
ך, ם, ן, ף, ץ
Aramaic Script
(c. 900 BC – Present)
𐤀 𐤁 𐤂 𐤃
𐤄 𐤅 𐤆 𐤇
𐤈 𐤉 𐤊 𐤋
𐤌 𐤍 𐤎 𐤏
𐤐 𐤑 𐤒 𐤓
𐤔 𐤕
Greek Alphabet (Classical)
(8th Century BC – Present)
Α Β Γ Δ Ε Ζ Η Θ Ι
Κ Λ Μ Ν Ξ Ο Π Ρ
Σ Τ Υ Φ Χ Ψ Ω
Cyrillic Alphabet
(9th Century AD – Present)
А Б В Г Д Е
Ё Ж З И Й К
Л М Н О П Р
С Т У Ф Х Ц
Ч Ш Щ Ь Ю Я
Archaic Latin Alphabet
(7th – 1st Century BC)
A B C D E F G H
I K L M N O P Q
R S T V X
Ancient
Alphabets
Today, it is estimated that over 7,000 languages are still in active use globally, reflecting the rich diversity of human culture and history. However, many languages have already fallen out of use, with linguists estimating that nearly 30% of all historically known languages are now extinct. This highlights the constantly evolving nature of human communication, both spoken and written.
The written word, which is essential to preserving these languages, takes shape through different writing systems that have emerged over millennia. These systems are influenced by the unique needs and cultural contexts of the societies that created them.
Among the various writing systems, alphabets stand out for their efficiency and adaptability in representing sounds of speech. Modern alphabets, which serve as the foundation for written communication, exhibit significant variations in both style and length. For instance, the Latin alphabet, used in English and many other languages, consists of just 26 letters, while the Khmer script, used in Cambodia, includes over 70 characters. Alphabets like the Phoenician, the progenitor of many Western scripts, and the Hebrew and Aramaic alphabets, which feature right-to-left writing, show how writing evolved based on different linguistic and cultural needs.
The Arabic alphabet, characterized by its flowing, cursive style, is another fascinating example of how alphabets can adapt to different writing traditions. Meanwhile, alphabets like Hangul, used in Korean, take a more geometric approach, arranging characters into blocks to form syllables. Even ancient systems like Proto-Sinaitic, the precursor to many Semitic scripts, give us a glimpse into the early evolution of written language, showing how abstract symbols gradually developed into structured alphabets. These differences in structure and aesthetics highlight the unique evolution of writing systems, shaped by the needs, artistry, and traditions of their respective cultures.
Interestingly, the Archaic Latin alphabet, while foundational to the Roman Empire and its languages, initially lacked several letters that are essential to modern Latin and its descendants. Letters such as "G," "Y," and "Z" were added later, further demonstrating how writing systems adapt over time to meet the linguistic demands of their speakers. This early form of Latin, in its incomplete state, laid the groundwork for the future development of the alphabet and the emergence of the English language. As we move forward, we’ll explore how the English language evolved from these ancient roots, shaping the way we communicate today.
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Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7
“Then the Lord replied: ‘Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.’”
Habakkuk 2:2-3
As spoken language evolved, so too did the need to preserve it. Writing systems emerged as a response—visual tools to carry the voice across time and space.
While the Bible does not mention writing before the Flood, it does describe advanced societies and genealogical records, leading some to believe that symbolic or written forms of communication may have existed. Historically, the earliest known writing systems—Sumerian cuneiform and Egyptian hieroglyphs—appeared shortly after the approximate biblical timeline of the Flood, aligning with the resurgence of civilization described in Genesis.
Later, writing took on profound spiritual meaning, most notably when God Himself inscribed the Ten Commandments in stone—a pivotal moment when writing became not just a human invention but a sacred medium for divine truth.
Grammatology is the study of writing systems, which have undergone a fascinating evolution, shaping the way we communicate and record information. It began with logographic scripts, where symbols or characters represented entire words or ideas. Ancient systems like Egyptian hieroglyphs and Chinese characters are prime examples of this approach. Over time, abjads emerged, representing consonantal sounds but often omitting vowels—Arabic and Hebrew are well-known modern examples of this system.
As human communication needs grew more complex, syllabaries were developed, where each character corresponded to a syllable, as seen in Japanese scripts like Katakana and Hiragana. Eventually, alphabets emerged—systems assigning letters to both consonants and vowels. The Greek alphabet was among the first fully realized, laying the groundwork for many of the alphabets used today, including the one we use in English.
While the earliest recognized forms of writing, such as Sumerian cuneiform and Egyptian hieroglyphs, were revolutionary in their time, they were just part of the broader human effort to record language. Even before these, symbolic systems—such as the Jiahu symbols or Vinča script—may have existed, hinting at the long and layered journey humanity has taken in its pursuit of communication.
A total of 293 writing systems have been recorded through historical findings. The few examples shown here are not meant to be exhaustive, but rather reflective—reminders of the many paths humanity has explored in its effort to shape and transmit meaning. Each system represents a step in the search—a possible landing point along the winding, unpredictable journey that, through countless turns, eventually led to the English we use today.
Writing
Systems
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,"
Matthew 28:19
Cuneiform Symbols Logographic
(c. 3500–300 BC)
𒀀 𒀁 𒀂 𒀃 𒀄 𒀅 𒀆 𒀇 𒀈 𒀉 𒀊 𒀋 𒀌 𒀍 𒀎 𒀏 𒀐 𒀑 𒀒 𒀓 𒀔 𒀕 𒀖 𒀗 𒀘 𒀙 𒀚 𒀛 𒀜 𒀝 𒀞 𒀟 𒀠 𒀡 𒀢 𒀣 𒀤 𒀥 𒀦 𒀧 𒀨 𒀩 𒀪 𒀫𒀬 𒀭
𒀮 𒀯 𒀰
Egyptian Hieroglyphs
Logographic
(c. 3300 BC)
Chinese Characters Logographic
(c. 1200 BC – Present)
我 你 他 她 爱 学 书 中 国 天 地 心 人 日 月 山 水 火 大 小 生 时 年 友 话 见 想 道 好 家
Hebrew Script
Abjad
(c. 1000 BC – Present)
א ב ג ד ה ו ז ח ט י כ ל מ נ ס ע פ צ ק ר ש ת ך ם ן פ ץ
Arabic
Abjad
(c. 400 AD – Present)
ا ب ت ث ج ح خ د ذ ر ز س ش ص ض ط ظ ع غ ف ق ك ل م ن هـ و ي
Japanese Hiragana Syllabary
(c. 800 AD – Present)
あ い う え お か き く け こ さ し す せ そ た ち つ て と な に ぬ ね の は ひ ふ へ ほ ま み む め も や ゆ よ ら り る れ ろ わ を ん
Cherokee
Syllabary
(c. 1821 AD – Present)
Ꭰ Ꭱ Ꭲ Ꭳ Ꭴ Ꭵ Ꭶ Ꭷ Ꭸ Ꭹ Ꭺ Ꭻ Ꭼ Ꭽ Ꭾ Ꭿ Ꮀ Ꮁ Ꮂ Ꮃ Ꮄ Ꮅ Ꮆ Ꮇ Ꮈ Ꮉ Ꮊ Ꮋ
Ꮌ Ꮍ Ꮎ Ꮏ Ꮐ Ꮑ Ꮒ Ꮓ Ꮔ Ꮕ Ꮖ Ꮗ Ꮘ Ꮙ Ꮚ Ꮛ Ꮜ Ꮞ Ꮟ Ꮠ Ꮡ Ꮢ Ꮣ Ꮤ Ꮥ Ꮦ Ꮧ Ꮨ
Ꮩ Ꮪ Ꮫ Ꮭ Ꮮ Ꮯ Ꮰ Ꮱ Ꮲ Ꮳ Ꮴ Ꮵ Ꮶ Ꮷ Ꮸ Ꮹ Ꮺ Ꮻ Ꮼ Ꮽ Ꮾ Ꮿ Ᏸ Ᏹ Ᏺ Ᏻ
𓀀 𓀁 𓀂 𓀃 𓀄 𓀅
𓀆 𓀇 𓀈 𓀉 𓀊 𓀋
𓀌 𓀍 𓀎 𓀏 𓀐 𓀑
𓀒𓀓 𓀔 𓀕 𓀖 𓀗 𓀘
𓀙 𓀚 𓀛 𓀜𓀝 𓀞 𓀟
𓀠𓀡 𓀢 𓀣 𓀤𓀥 𓀦 𓀧
𓀨 𓀩 𓀪 𓀫
𓀬 𓀭 𓀮
"After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb."
Revelation 7:9
Proto-Sinaitic – Transitional (Logographic to Alphabetic)
(c. 1900–1600 BC)
𐤀 𐤁 𐤂 𐤃 𐤄 𐤅 𐤆
𐤇 𐤈 𐤉 𐤊 𐤋 𐤌 𐤍
𐤎 𐤏 𐤐 𐤑 𐤒 𐤓 𐤔
𐤕 𐤖 𐤗 𐤘 𐤙 𐤚 𐤛
𐤟 𐤠 𐤡 𐤢 𐤣 𐤤 𐤥
𐤦 𐤧 𐤨 𐤩 𐤪 𐤫 𐤯
𐤰 𐤷 𐤸 𐤯 𐤰 𐤱 𐤲
𐤳 𐤴 𐤵 𐤶
Phoenician Alphabet
(c. 1050 - 300 BC)
𐤀 𐤁 𐤂 𐤃 𐤄
𐤅 𐤆 𐤇 𐤈 𐤉
𐤊 𐤋 𐤌 𐤍 𐤎
𐤏 𐤐 𐤑 𐤒 𐤓
𐤔 𐤕
Modern Hebrew
(c. 400 BC – Present)
א ב ג ד ה
ו ז ח ט י
כ ל מ נ ס
ע פ צ ק ר
ש ת
ך, ם, ן, ף, ץ
Aramaic Script
(c. 900 BC – Present)
𐤀 𐤁 𐤂 𐤃
𐤄 𐤅 𐤆 𐤇
𐤈 𐤉 𐤊 𐤋
𐤌 𐤍 𐤎 𐤏
𐤐 𐤑 𐤒 𐤓
𐤔 𐤕
Greek Alphabet (Classical)
(8th Century BC – Present)
Α Β Γ Δ Ε Ζ Η Θ Ι Κ Λ Μ Ν Ξ Ο Π Ρ Σ Τ Υ Φ Χ Ψ Ω
Cyrillic Alphabet
(9th Cent. AD – Present)
А Б В Г Д Е
Ё Ж З И Й К
Л М Н О П Р
С Т У Ф Х Ц
Ч Ш Щ Ь Ю Я
Archaic Latin
Alphabet
(7th – 1st Century BC)
A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P Q R S T V X
Ancient
Alphabets
Today, it is estimated that over 7,000 languages are still in active use globally, reflecting the rich diversity of human culture and history. However, many languages have already fallen out of use, with linguists estimating that nearly 30% of all historically known languages are now extinct. This highlights the constantly evolving nature of human communication, both spoken and written.
The written word, which is essential to preserving these languages, takes shape through different writing systems that have emerged over millennia. These systems are influenced by the unique needs and cultural contexts of the societies that created them.
Among the various writing systems, alphabets stand out for their efficiency and adaptability in representing sounds of speech. Modern alphabets, which serve as the foundation for written communication, exhibit significant variations in both style and length. For instance, the Latin alphabet, used in English and many other languages, consists of just 26 letters, while the Khmer script, used in Cambodia, includes over 70 characters. Alphabets like the Phoenician, the progenitor of many Western scripts, and the Hebrew and Aramaic alphabets, which feature right-to-left writing, show how writing evolved based on different linguistic and cultural needs.
The Arabic alphabet, characterized by its flowing, cursive style, is another fascinating example of how alphabets can adapt to different writing traditions. Meanwhile, alphabets like Hangul, used in Korean, take a more geometric approach, arranging characters into blocks to form syllables. Even ancient systems like Proto-Sinaitic, the precursor to many Semitic scripts, give us a glimpse into the early evolution of written language, showing how abstract symbols gradually developed into structured alphabets. These differences in structure and aesthetics highlight the unique evolution of writing systems, shaped by the needs, artistry, and traditions of their respective cultures.
Interestingly, the Archaic Latin alphabet, while foundational to the Roman Empire and its languages, initially lacked several letters that are essential to modern Latin and its descendants. Letters such as "G," "Y," and "Z" were added later, further demonstrating how writing systems adapt over time to meet the linguistic demands of their speakers. This early form of Latin, in its incomplete state, laid the groundwork for the future development of the alphabet and the emergence of the English language. As we move forward, we’ll explore how the English language evolved from these ancient roots, shaping the way we communicate today.
Script
“Then the Lord replied: ‘Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.’”
Habakkuk 2:2-3
%20(1)_.jpg)
As spoken language evolved, so too did the need to preserve it. Writing systems emerged as a response—visual tools to carry the voice across time and space.
While the Bible does not mention writing before the Flood, it does describe advanced societies and genealogical records, leading some to believe that symbolic or written forms of communication may have existed. Historically, the earliest known writing systems—Sumerian cuneiform and Egyptian hieroglyphs—appeared shortly after the approximate biblical timeline of the Flood, aligning with the resurgence of civilization described in Genesis.
Later, writing took on profound spiritual meaning, most notably when God Himself inscribed the Ten Commandments in stone—a pivotal moment when writing became not just a human invention but a sacred medium for divine truth.
Grammatology is the study of writing systems, which have undergone a fascinating evolution, shaping the way we communicate and record information. It began with logographic scripts, where symbols or characters represented entire words or ideas. Ancient systems like Egyptian hieroglyphs and Chinese characters are prime examples of this approach. Over time, abjads emerged, representing consonantal sounds but often omitting vowels—Arabic and Hebrew are well-known modern examples of this system.
As human communication needs grew more complex, syllabaries were developed, where each character corresponded to a syllable, as seen in Japanese scripts like Katakana and Hiragana. Eventually, alphabets emerged—systems assigning letters to both consonants and vowels. The Greek alphabet was among the first fully realized, laying the groundwork for many of the alphabets used today, including the one we use in English.
While the earliest recognized forms of writing, such as Sumerian cuneiform and Egyptian hieroglyphs, were revolutionary in their time, they were just part of the broader human effort to record language. Even before these, symbolic systems—such as the Jiahu symbols or Vinča script—may have existed, hinting at the long and layered journey humanity has taken in its pursuit of communication.
A total of 293 writing systems have been recorded through historical findings. The few examples that follow are not meant to be exhaustive, but rather reflective—reminders of the many paths humanity has explored in its effort to shape and transmit meaning. Each system represents a step in the search—a possible landing point along the winding, unpredictable journey that, through countless turns, eventually led to the English we use today.
Writing
Systems
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,"
Matthew 28:19
Cuneiform Symbols Logographic
(c. 3500–300 BC)
𒀀 𒀁 𒀂 𒀃 𒀄 𒀅 𒀆 𒀇 𒀈 𒀉 𒀊 𒀋 𒀌 𒀍 𒀎 𒀏 𒀐 𒀑 𒀒 𒀓 𒀔 𒀕 𒀖 𒀗 𒀘 𒀙 𒀚 𒀛 𒀜 𒀝 𒀞 𒀟 𒀠 𒀡 𒀢 𒀣 𒀤 𒀥 𒀦 𒀧 𒀨 𒀩 𒀫𒀬 𒀭 𒀮 𒀯
Egyptian Hieroglyphs
Logographic
(c. 3300 BC)
𓀀 𓀁 𓀂 𓀃 𓀄 𓀅 𓀆 𓀇 𓀈 𓀉 𓀊 𓀋 𓀌 𓀍 𓀎 𓀏 𓀐 𓀑 𓀒 𓀓 𓀔 𓀕 𓀖 𓀗 𓀘 𓀙 𓀚 𓀛 𓀜 𓀝 𓀞 𓀟 𓀠 𓀡 𓀢 𓀣 𓀤 𓀥 𓀦 𓀧 𓀨 𓀩 𓀪 𓀫 𓀬 𓀭 𓀮
Chinese Characters Logographic
(c. 1200 BC – Present)
我 你 他 她 爱 学 书 中 国 天 地 心 人 日 月 山 水 火 大 小 生 时 年 友 话 见 想 道 好 家
Hebrew Script
Abjad
(c. 1000 BC – Present)
א ב ג ד ה ו ז ח ט י כ ל מ נ ס ע פ צ ק ר ש ת ך ם ן פ ץ
Arabic
Abjad
(c. 400 AD – Present)
ا ب ت ث ج ح خ د ذ ر ز س ش ص ض ط ظ ع غ ف ق ك ل م ن هـ و ي
Japanese Hiragana
Syllabary
(c. 800 AD – Present)
あ い う え お か き く け こ さ し す せ そ た ち つ て と な に ぬ ね の は ひ ふ へ ほ ま み む め も や ゆ よ ら り る れ ろ わ を ん
Cherokee
Syllabary
(c. 1821 AD – Present)
Ꭰ Ꭱ Ꭲ Ꭳ Ꭴ Ꭵ Ꭶ Ꭷ Ꭸ Ꭹ Ꭺ Ꭻ Ꭼ Ꭽ Ꭾ Ꭿ Ꮀ Ꮁ Ꮂ Ꮃ Ꮄ Ꮅ Ꮆ Ꮇ Ꮈ Ꮉ Ꮊ Ꮋ Ꮌ Ꮍ Ꮎ Ꮏ Ꮐ Ꮑ Ꮒ Ꮓ Ꮔ Ꮕ Ꮖ Ꮗ Ꮘ Ꮙ Ꮚ Ꮛ Ꮜ Ꮞ Ꮟ Ꮠ Ꮡ Ꮢ Ꮣ Ꮤ Ꮥ Ꮦ Ꮧ Ꮨ Ꮩ Ꮪ Ꮫ Ꮭ Ꮮ Ꮯ Ꮰ Ꮱ Ꮲ Ꮳ Ꮴ Ꮵ Ꮶ Ꮷ Ꮸ Ꮹ Ꮺ Ꮻ Ꮼ Ꮽ Ꮾ Ꮿ Ᏸ Ᏹ Ᏺ Ᏻ
Script
"After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb."
Revelation 7:9
Proto-Sinaitic – Transitional (Logographic to Alphabetic)
(c. 1900–1600 BC)
𐤀 𐤁 𐤂 𐤃 𐤄 𐤅 𐤆
𐤇 𐤈 𐤉 𐤊 𐤋 𐤌 𐤍
𐤎 𐤏 𐤐 𐤑 𐤒 𐤓 𐤔
𐤕 𐤖 𐤗 𐤘 𐤙 𐤚 𐤛
𐤟 𐤠 𐤡 𐤢 𐤣 𐤤 𐤥
𐤦 𐤧 𐤨 𐤩 𐤪 𐤫 𐤯
𐤰 𐤷 𐤸 𐤯 𐤰 𐤱 𐤲
𐤳 𐤴 𐤵 𐤶
Phoenician Alphabet
(c. 1050 - 300 BC)
𐤀 𐤁 𐤂 𐤃 𐤄
𐤅 𐤆 𐤇 𐤈 𐤉
𐤊 𐤋 𐤌 𐤍 𐤎
𐤏 𐤐 𐤑 𐤒 𐤓
𐤔 𐤕
Modern Hebrew
(c. 400 BC – Present)
א ב ג ד ה
ו ז ח ט י
כ ל מ נ ס
ע פ צ ק ר
ש ת
ך, ם, ן, ף, ץ
Aramaic Script
(c. 900 BC – Present)
𐤀 𐤁 𐤂 𐤃
𐤄 𐤅 𐤆 𐤇
𐤈 𐤉 𐤊 𐤋
𐤌 𐤍 𐤎 𐤏
𐤐 𐤑 𐤒 𐤓
𐤔 𐤕
Greek Alphabet (Classical)
(8th Century BC – Present)
Α Β Γ Δ Ε Ζ
Η Θ Ι Κ Λ Μ
Ν Ξ Ο Π Ρ Σ
Τ Υ Φ Χ Ψ Ω
Cyrillic Alphabet
(9th Century AD – Present)
А Б В Г Д Е
Ё Ж З И Й К
Л М Н О П Р
С Т У Ф Х Ц
Ч Ш Щ Ь Ю Я
Archaic Latin
Alphabet
(7th – 1st Century BC)
A B C D E F G
H I K L M N O
P Q R S T V X
Ancient
Alphabets
Today, it is estimated that over 7,000 languages are still in active use globally, reflecting the rich diversity of human culture and history. However, many languages have already fallen out of use, with linguists estimating that nearly 30% of all historically known languages are now extinct. This highlights the constantly evolving nature of human communication, both spoken and written.
The written word, which is essential to preserving these languages, takes shape through different writing systems that have emerged over millennia. These systems are influenced by the unique needs and cultural contexts of the societies that created them.
Among the various writing systems, alphabets stand out for their efficiency and adaptability in representing sounds of speech. Modern alphabets, which serve as the foundation for written communication, exhibit significant variations in both style and length. For instance, the Latin alphabet, used in English and many other languages, consists of just 26 letters, while the Khmer script, used in Cambodia, includes over 70 characters. Alphabets like the Phoenician, the progenitor of many Western scripts, and the Hebrew and Aramaic alphabets, which feature right-to-left writing, show how writing evolved based on different linguistic and cultural needs.
The Arabic alphabet, characterized by its flowing, cursive style, is another fascinating example of how alphabets can adapt to different writing traditions. Meanwhile, alphabets like Hangul, used in Korean, take a more geometric approach, arranging characters into blocks to form syllables. Even ancient systems like Proto-Sinaitic, the precursor to many Semitic scripts, give us a glimpse into the early evolution of written language, showing how abstract symbols gradually developed into structured alphabets. These differences in structure and aesthetics highlight the unique evolution of writing systems, shaped by the needs, artistry, and traditions of their respective cultures.
Interestingly, the Archaic Latin alphabet, while foundational to the Roman Empire and its languages, initially lacked several letters that are essential to modern Latin and its descendants. Letters such as "G," "Y," and "Z" were added later, further demonstrating how writing systems adapt over time to meet the linguistic demands of their speakers. This early form of Latin, in its incomplete state, laid the groundwork for the future development of the alphabet and the emergence of the English language. As we move forward, we’ll explore how the English language evolved from these ancient roots, shaping the way we communicate today.