Syriac alphabet

The Syriac alphabet is used for writing the Syriac language. It is clearly related to other alphabets used to write Semitic languages.

General remarks

Syriac is written from right to left. It is a cursive (joined-up) script, where some, but not all, letters connect within a word. The alphabet consists of 22 letters, all of which are consonants. The vowel sounds are supplied by the reader's memory or by pointing (a system of diacritical marks to indicate the correct reading). In fact, three letters act as matres lectionis: rather than being a consonant, they indicate a vowel. The first letter, '?laph, often represents a glottal stop, but it can also indicate a vowel at the beginning or the end of a word. The letter Waw is technically a w, but can also represent the vowels o and u. Likewise, the letter Y?dh represents the consonant y, but it also stands for the vowels i and e.

Related Topics:
Cursive - Matres lectionis - Glottal stop

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