Contemplating the Mysteries of the World - Part 11: The Alphabet
First published: Tuesday November 23rd, 2021
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Why is the Alphabet So Weird?
What is up Jetpunk. I am back and feeling snarkier than ever (Is snarkier even a word? Oh wait, I don't care). Let's get started shall we?
The alphabet, one of the first things we learn as children, is so STUPID. Different letters annoy me to different levels, and I hope you know that all complaints will be included here, but lets start off generally. Overall, why can't all languages just use the same alphabet? Differences in the systems that different cultures have developed around the world have led to confusing and complicated differences in the ways that we write. Even in two languages that technically use the same alphabet, all of the letters make different sounds than they do in the other language. Take English and French for example. The letters function in different ways, making everything more confusing. In French, "qu" makes the same sound that the letter "k" does in English. Also, most of the time you see the letter "h" in French, it is silent. If two languages are going to use the same alphabet, why can't they at least keep the letter sound consistent.
Next, my complaints about some specific letters...
W. Y'all have already read most of my complaints about w in one of my only posts. I just wanted to reiterate that it is very, very dumb.
C. I think it is stupid this letter doesn't really have a sound of its own, at least in English. It can either sound like a "k" or an "s". C needs to learn to be more original.
Z. The sounds that "z" and "s" make are so similar, I find it stupid to have two different letters. When they are close enough that it is hard to remember when to use a z in a word. Frankly, I think we should just use "s" for everything.
X. What sound does "x" even make... I honestly think it just sounds like you are saying the letter x. I don't think I need to say anything else about this one.
B/D. Why do b and d sound so similar. Its dumb.
Q. There are only about 50 words (depending on who you ask) in the English language that have a "q" and no "u" (look it up). Do not ask me why I know that.
Feel free to add your own complains in the comments. I like to read all of your feedback, not because I care about what you think, because the arguments in the comments are hilarious. Okay, I think I am done ranting about the letters we use to construct words.
Thank you for your cooperation,
Rosie.
X sounds like Z. (e.g. Xylophone or Ximena or Xanthe)
English is weird. This is a fact.
I disagree that all languages should use the same writing system though. Writing systems are just as important to the language as how it's spoken. Also, I think you meant B and D look similar. Anyway, this is how I would ideally make the alphabet
A: A sound as in Father
ə: U in Butter
Æ: Sound in Hat
B: B in Box
C: Ch sound in Chocolate
D: D in Dog
Ð: Th in The
E: E in Check
Ey: A in Make
F: F in Fine
G: G in Good
H: H in Hat
I: I in In
II: Ee in Meet
J: J in Jog
K: C in Cat
L: L in Lamp
M: M in Mouse
N: N in Nice
Ŋ: Ng in Singing
O: O in Hole
Ô: O in Pot
P: P in Pot
R: R in Row
S: S in Song
Š: Sh in Show
T: T in Talk
Þ: Th in Thing
U: Oo in Poor
Ü: Like the word You
V: V in Vent or W in Win
Y: Y in Yarn
Dəs ðæt meyk sens?
But what about the ow sound?
In this age of technology, computers, phones all have the scripts programmed into them and suddenly changing it will result in reprogramming everything. Anyway, we should try to reform English alphabet particularly as Thread mentioned in the above comment.
The Latin script is full of anomalies and that's why they say that the Devanagari script is the best. 😂