The Latin alphabet and many other languages are not merely the result of a spontaneous thought. Like most other languages, these letters have evolved naturally over centuries. Throughout this process, languages accumulate changes, leading us to the final result: the alphabet as we know it today.
A stone inscribed with Proto-Sinaitic letters. (Photo: Internet)
The earliest evidence and origins of the current alphabet can be traced back to Proto-Sinaitic script, dating back approximately 3,800 years. This alphabet was primarily consonantal and largely based on Egyptian hieroglyphs. From this stage onward, the letters underwent various minor changes, gradually accumulating to present us with a complete alphabet as we have today. We can explore this fascinating evolution through the illustrative images below:
The formation and development process of the modern Latin alphabet. (Photo: Matt Baker/The Language Nerds)
By the time of the Ancient Greek period (around 750 BC), with the use of ancient Greek letters, the alphabet began to take shape as it is today. Subsequently, by 1 BC, the Romans standardized and transformed scrolls into “Codex” (the precursor to modern books), leading to the birth of the Latin alphabet. This means that the Latin alphabet we are using largely originated around 2,000 years ago.
A giant ancient Codex consisting of 481 leaves and weighing about 15 kg. (Photo: Internet)
However, at that time, writing was still quite simple and rudimentary. It took more than two millennia for it to reach its true potential. When it reached this stage, the written word had the ability to influence and forever change the course of humanity, as seen in documents like the Constitution, On the Origin of Species, and A Brief History of Time. Currently, we can only imagine what will happen in the future. Thus, through the characters we have created, we can open up limitless horizons before humanity.
