The original alphabet was developed by a Semitic people living in or near Egypt.* They based it on the idea developed by the Egyptians, but used their own specific symbols. It was quickly adopted by their neighbors and relatives to the east and north, the Canaanites, the Hebrews, and the Phoenicians. The Phoenicians spread their alphabet to other people of the Near East and Asia Minor, as well as to the Arabs, the Greeks, and the Etruscans, and as far west as present day Spain. The letters and names on the left are the ones used by the Phoenicians. The letters on the right are possible earlier versions. If you don't recognize the letters, keep in mind that they have since been reversed (since the Phoenicians wrote from right to left) and often turned on their sides!
2006-08-17 18:26:29
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answer #1
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answered by Anonymous
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t is generally held that the Latins adopted the western variant of the Greek alphabet in the 7th century BC from Cumae, a Greek colony in southern Italy. Roman legend credited the introduction to one Evander, son of the Sibyl, supposedly 60 years before the Trojan war, but there is no historically sound basis to this tale. From the Cumae alphabet, the Etruscan alphabet was derived and the Latins finally adopted 21 of the original 26 Etruscan letters.
The original Latin alphabet was:
Image:Older Latin glyphs.png
* C stood for both g and k.
* I stood for both i and j.
* V stood for both u and v.
Later, probably during the 3rd century BC, the Z was dropped and a new letter G was placed in its position. An attempt by the emperor Claudius to introduce three additional letters was short-lived, but after the conquest of Greece in the first century BC the letters Y and Z were, respectively, adopted and readopted from the Greek alphabet and placed at the end. Now the new Latin alphabet contained 23 letters:
Letter A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P Q R S T V X Y Z
Latin name Ä bÄ cÄ dÄ Ä ef gÄ hÄ Ä« kÄ el em en Å pÄ qÅ« er es tÄ Å« ex Ä« Graeca zÄta
Latin pronunciation (IPA) /aË/ /beË/ /keË/ /deË/ /eË/ /ef/ /geË/ /haË/ /iË/ /kaË/ /el/ /em/ /en/ /oË/ /peË/ /kÊ·uË/ /er/ /es/ /teË/ /uË/ /eks/ /iË 'graika/ /'zeËta/
2006-08-18 01:53:25
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answer #2
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answered by Anonymous
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alphabet invented 4000 years ago, probably by a group of people related to the ancient Hebrews, Phoenicians, and Canaanites, living in what is now the Sinai desert.
It is beleived by one and all in the world. I think that the people who lived in the ancient period in the world started this. I hope it is one of the correct answers
2006-08-18 01:39:05
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answer #3
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answered by jaikamal_tiens 2
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it was the greeks actually if you are referring to the one we use today but there are earlier forms in different cultures if u want to know more or verify my answer go to the site below.
2006-08-18 01:26:44
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answer #4
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answered by ♥JustLikeHeaven♥ 2
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the phoenicians did. used it to keep records because they were the largest sea faring traders of the time.
2006-08-18 01:26:01
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answer #5
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answered by palm_of_buddha 3
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A to Z
2006-08-18 01:54:42
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answer #6
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answered by jeez 1
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no idea , but a good question. please inform me when you get a genuine answer.
2006-08-18 01:27:11
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answer #7
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answered by SUNIL Raj 3
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????? a old purson
2006-08-18 01:25:20
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answer #8
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answered by lunar 2
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alfred alphabet
haha. i dunno. just a guess.
i think like the egyptians actually
2006-08-18 01:23:52
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answer #9
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answered by Anonymous
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