Alphabet

An alphabet is a complete standardized set of letters — basic written symbols — each of which roughly represents a phoneme of a spoken language, either as it exists now or as it may have been in the past. There are other systems of writing such as logograms, in which each symbol represents a syllable, morpheme, or word, and syllabaries, in which each symbol represents a syllable.

Related Topics:
Phoneme - Language - Systems of writing - Logogram - Morpheme - Syllabaries

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The word "alphabet" itself comes from alpha and beta, the first two symbols of the Greek alphabet. There are dozens of alphabets in use today. Most of them are 'linear', which means that they are made up of lines. Notable exceptions are the Braille alphabet, Morse Code and the cuneiform alphabet of the ancient city of Ugarit.

Related Topics:
Alpha - Beta - Greek alphabet - Linear - Exceptions - Braille alphabet - Morse Code - Cuneiform - Ugarit

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