


Before that, the Greeks used a script called Linear B for several centuries, but it eventually died out with the fall of the Mycenaean civilization. The Greek alphabet as it is known today emerged after the Greek Dark Ages (circa 1200 B.C.). It is the first and oldest alphabet to use vowels. Linguists believe that ancient Greek originated from the Proto-Canaanite alphabet, which consisted of twenty-two acrophonic glyphs, dating all the way back to the Late Bronze Age (from about the fifteenth century B.C.). The Greeks adapted their current writing system from the Phoenician alphabet. Greek has its own writing system using the Greek alphabet. Greek Alphabet Chartġ) The Focus of This Lesson Is the Greek Writing System Understanding the Greek alphabet text can not only help you to build your vocabulary further, but will let you read these words contextually, and develop an appreciation for such things as religious texts, original literature, and even inscriptions on historical locations as you are able to read and interpret the language as it was intended. In fact, if you are using a Greek dictionary it is likely that the words will be transliterated, not written in the alphabet, though the letters will probably be outlined in an appendix of the dictionary.
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This is a practical application for those only interested in learning how to speak Greek, but not necessarily needing to understand how to read the words in context. Those that are learning Greek will most likely build their Greek vocabulary not through initial use of the alphabet, but through transliterated words, meaning the words are taken out of the original script and spelled phonetically using the alphabet of the English language. Often the letters are used as technical symbols or for abbreviations within the medical field. While the sequence of letters has remained the same since the official “Classical” period until contemporary usage, pronunciation of the alphabet has changed dramatically due to gradual modifications in the way in which the language was spoken.Įven outside of the Greek culture the Greek alphabet has many applications. These letters are often used to refer to the Supreme Being, who was said to have described himself as “the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end”. Alpha and omega, the first and last letters of the alphabet have significance to many, particularly the Judeo-Christian religions. The classical Greek alphabet and modern Greek forms are extremely similar, both featuring 24 letters. The Greek alphabetic scripts has been in consistent use since the 8th century BC. Though early in your Greek lessons it is likely that you will only be exposed to the alphabet as a concept rather than a critical aspect of your learning, those that are serious about learning how to speak Greek and discovering a deeper appreciation for Greek culture will eventually need to learn the alphabet. The Greek text varies completely, both in how it appears visually and how it works within the context of the language, from that used in the English language. For those embarking on Greek lessons it is likely not going to be the actual Greek vocabulary that will present the largest hurdle, but the alphabet.
