Old Albic alphabet: Difference between revisions

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==Intra-fictional history==
==Intra-fictional history==


The Old Albic script is a conscript.
The Old Albic alphabet is probably a conscript.


Before the invention of this alphabet, the Elves were almost entirely illiterate, their language only occasionally being written with the rather ill-suited [[Wikipedia:Phoenician alphabet|Phoenician abjad]].
Before the invention of this alphabet, the Elves were almost entirely illiterate, their language only occasionally being written with the rather ill-suited [[Wikipedia:Phoenician alphabet|Phoenician abjad]].


The Old Albic alphabet was invented by a cultural heroine named '''Lilde Selthare''', founder of [[Old Albic religion#Eaism|Eaism]] and the principles on which the [[Brazen Law]], the constitution of the [[Commonwealth of the Elves]] is based. Lilde also invented a stencil technique to reproduce written texts, and hence she designed it such that no letter contains a closed loop. The letters '''p''', '''t''' and '''c''' are apparently taken from the Phoenician script, with the other letters derived from these three by featural principles:
The Old Albic alphabet is usually ascribed to Senantho the Grammarian whose grammar of Old Albic was found in the [[Tresco Library]] (he is also known for [[Senantho's Law]]); it is indeed quite likely that as a featural alphabet, it is the conscious design by an individual. The letters '''p''', '''t''' and '''c''' are apparently taken from the Phoenician script, with the other letters derived from these three by featural principles:


* Angular forms represent voiceless sounds, rounded forms represent voiced sounds.
* Angular forms represent voiceless sounds, rounded forms represent voiced sounds.
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* A hook on the tail of a letter marks nasal articulation.
* A hook on the tail of a letter marks nasal articulation.
* Tailless letters represent liquids and semivowels.
* Tailless letters represent liquids and semivowels.
* Vowels are broken down into features, written to the right of a circle opening upwards.
* Vowels are broken down into features, written to the right of a circle (opening upwards in stencilled texts).
* Long vowels are marked with a stroke above the circle, which also represents the accent type: a straight stroke for thrusting tone, a tilde-like stroke for slipping tone.
* Long vowels are marked with a vertical stroke above the circle, which also represents the accent type: a straight stroke for thrusting tone, a tilde-like stroke for slipping tone.
 
This phonemically precise alphabet soon became very popular, especially among the working classes, while the old priests rejected it as "blasphemous". But the priests were soon overthrown.


==External link==
==External link==

Latest revision as of 09:35, 11 March 2020

The Old Albic alphabet is a conscript by Jörg Rhiemeier. It is a featural alphabet used as the native script of Old Albic.

Intra-fictional history

The Old Albic alphabet is probably a conscript.

Before the invention of this alphabet, the Elves were almost entirely illiterate, their language only occasionally being written with the rather ill-suited Phoenician abjad.

The Old Albic alphabet is usually ascribed to Senantho the Grammarian whose grammar of Old Albic was found in the Tresco Library (he is also known for Senantho's Law); it is indeed quite likely that as a featural alphabet, it is the conscious design by an individual. The letters p, t and c are apparently taken from the Phoenician script, with the other letters derived from these three by featural principles:

  • Angular forms represent voiceless sounds, rounded forms represent voiced sounds.
  • A stroke across the tail of a letter marks frication. The sibilant s is marked by another stroke through the middle of the letter.
  • A hook on the tail of a letter marks nasal articulation.
  • Tailless letters represent liquids and semivowels.
  • Vowels are broken down into features, written to the right of a circle (opening upwards in stencilled texts).
  • Long vowels are marked with a vertical stroke above the circle, which also represents the accent type: a straight stroke for thrusting tone, a tilde-like stroke for slipping tone.

External link