AlphabetSet of letters used to write a given language An alphabet is a writing system that uses a standard set of symbols called graphemes – more commonly known as letters – to more or less represent particular sounds in a spoken language. Specifically, these graphemes largely correspond to phonemes, which are the smallest sound segments that can distinguish one word from another in a given language.
GraphemeSmallest functional written unit Various glyphs representing instances of the lower case letter ⟨a⟩, considered to be allographs of the same grapheme In linguistics, a grapheme is the smallest functional unit of a writing system. The word grapheme is derived from Ancient Greek's gráphō ('write'), and the suffix -eme (by analogy with phoneme and other emic units). The study of graphemes is called graphemics.
AbjadAn abjad (; or abgad, lit.'alphabet') is a writing system in which only consonants are represented by letter signs, leaving the vowels to be inferred by the reader (unless represented otherwise, such as by diacritics). This contrasts with alphabets that provide graphemes for both consonants and vowels. The term was introduced in 1990 by Peter T. Daniels.
Spoken languageA spoken language is a structured system of communication that is produced with speech, sometimes specifically also called an oral language or vocal language to differentiate it from written language and possibly from sign language. However, the term "spoken language" may also be used to incorporate sign languages, referring to any natural language or forms of language other than transcribed or written ones.
SyllabaryWritten set of symbols for syllables or moras of spoken words In the linguistic study of written languages, a syllabary is a set of written symbols that represent the syllables or (more frequently) morae which make up words.
Proto-writingSymbols that communicate ideas but not language The Kish tablet, bearing pictographic symbols. Some of the symbols are written in a “…seemingly archaic form…” according to the CDLI entry.
PhonemeBasic unit of phonology A phoneme (/ˈfoʊniːm/ FOH-neem) is a set of similar speech sounds that are perceptually regarded by the speakers of a language as a single basic sound—the smallest possible phonetic unit—that helps distinguish one word from another. All languages contain phonemes (or the spatial–gestural equivalent in sign languages), and all spoken languages include both consonant and vowel phonemes.
IdeogramAn ideogram or ideograph (from Greekidéa'idea' + gráphō'to write') is a symbol that is used within a given writing system to represent an idea or concept in a given language. (Ideograms are contrasted with phonograms, which indicate sounds of speech and thus are independent of any particular language.)
WritingPersistent representation of languageThe Rosetta Stone (196 BC) bears writing in three different scripts. Hieroglyphs (top) and Demotic (middle) record the same text in the Egyptian language, while an equivalent passage in Greek uses the Greek alphabet (bottom). These correspondences were key to the decipherment of Egyptian hieroglyphs in the early 19th century.Writing is the act of creating a persistent, usually visual representation of language on a surface.Letter (alphabet)In a writing system, a letter is a grapheme that generally corresponds to a phoneme—the smallest functional unit of speech—though there is rarely total one-to-one correspondence between the two. An alphabet is a writing system that uses letters.ConsonantSpeech sound articulated by closing the vocal tract fully or partially In articulatory phonetics, a consonant is a speech sound that is articulated with complete or partial closure of the vocal tract.
VowelSound in spoken language, articulated with an open vocal tractIPA: Vowels audiofull chartLegend: unrounded • roundedA vowel is a speech sound pronounced with minimal to no stricture in the vocal tract. Vowels are one of the two principal classes of speech sounds, the other being the consonant. Vowels vary in quality, loudness, and length. They are usually voiced and are closely involved in prosodic variation such as tone, intonation and stress.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.