Latin spelling connects written forms to the sounds of the language, but its conventions changed over time. This lesson introduces the alphabet’s origins, ancient letterforms, and the ways Latin spelling represented sounds.
The Latin alphabet developed from an Old Italic script, which developed from a variant of the Greek alphabet; Greek writing in turn developed from Phoenician. The Latin alphabet especially resembles the Euboean Greek variant visible on black-figure pottery from around 540 BC.
All flashcards
What is the broad ancestry of the Latin alphabet?
It developed from Old Italic script, derived from a Greek variant; Greek writing itself derived from Phoenician.
What are square capitals?
They are the formal letterforms commonly used in Classical Latin inscriptions, broadly corresponding to modern uppercase forms.
What did ⟨ph⟩, ⟨th⟩, and ⟨ch⟩ represent?
They represented the aspirated consonants /pʰ/, /tʰ/, and /kʰ/, initially especially in Greek loanwords.
Why was ⟨g⟩ introduced?
It was created to distinguish the voiced velar stop /ɡ/ from /k/, which had earlier both been represented by ⟨c⟩ in some Latin spelling practices.
What does a macron show in modern Latin materials?
A macron marks a long vowel, as in ⟨ā⟩. It is a modern editorial aid and was not used consistently in Classical writing.
Quiz questions
Which script was the immediate source of the Latin alphabet?Answer: Old Italic script
What did ⟨x⟩ represent in Classical Latin spelling?Answer: The consonant sequence /ks/
What was the purpose of creating the letter ⟨g⟩?Answer: To distinguish /ɡ/ from /k/
What does a diaeresis in ⟨aë⟩ indicate?Answer: The adjacent vowels are pronounced in separate syllables.
Why can ancient ⟨V⟩ be ambiguous to a modern reader?Answer: It could represent either a vowel or the consonant /w/.