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The modern English alphabet consists of 26 letters[1] derived from the Latin alphabet The exact shape of printed letters varies depending on the typeface. The shape of handwritten letters can differ significantly from the standard printed form (and between individuals), especially when written in cursive style. See the individual letter articles for information about letter shapes and origins (follow the links on any of the uppercase letters above). The English language was first written in the Anglo-Saxon futhorc runic alphabet, in use from the 5th century. This alphabet was brought to what is now England, along with the proto-form of the language itself, by Anglo-Saxon settlers. Very few examples of this form of written Old English have survived, these being mostly short inscriptions or fragments. The Latin alphabet, introduced by Christian missionaries, began to replace the Anglo-Saxon futhorc from about the 7th century onwards, although the two continued in parallel for some time. Futhorc influenced the Latin alphabet by providing it with the letters thorn (Þ, þ) and wynn (?, ?). The letter eth (Ð, ð) was later devised as a modification of d, and finally yogh (?, ?) was created by Norman scribes from the insular g in Old English and Irish, and used alongside their Carolingian g.
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English Alphabet Subcategories
English Alphabet Articles
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