There are plenty of ways we could structure the alphabet; the computer keyboard in front of me provides one alternative. Our ABCs, known as the Latin alphabet, are the result of millions of people over thousands of years slowly working together and ultimately agreeing on which letters to use and under what circumstances. But many letters change sound completely when they appear in a different language. The Romans spread their language, Latin, and its alphabet all over modern Europe, the Near East and North Africa. The earliest example of the Latin alphabet in use is called the duenos inscription and comes from the sixth century BCE, 2,500 years ago.

Source: The North Africa Journal January 29, 2024 21:07 UTC