Alphabets

An alphabet is a standardized set of written symbols or characters that represent the phonemes (basic significant sounds) of a spoken language.

Unlike abjads, which primarily represent consonants, alphabets include individual letters for both consonants and vowels.

This allows for a more precise written representation of the language’s phonetic structure.

The concept of an alphabet is ancient, with the first true alphabet believed to have developed among Semitic speakers in the Middle East around 2000 BCE.

Today, alphabets vary in size and complexity and are used by many of the world’s languages, with the Latin alphabet being one of the most widespread.