92. From Ox Heads to Silent Letters: The History of the Alphabet with Dr. Danny Bate, author of “Why Q Needs U”

Linguist and author, Dr. Danny Bate brilliantly shares the fascinating history of the alphabet, while also uncovering some of the logic behind English spelling. You’ll hear about the surprising origins of letters (yes, <A> was once an ox’s head!), that vowels weren’t originally part of the alphabet, how the Great Vowel Shift transformed pronunciation, and of course, “Why Q Needs U”. This episode is a must-listen for educators, language lovers, and anyone who has ever wondered: Why is English spelled this way?

Key Takeaways:

  1. The earliest alphabet was built on the acrophonic principle (symbols representing the first sound of a word)
  2. Early alphabets represented consonants only (vowels were added later by the Greeks)
  3. English spelling reflects both: Sound change over time AND Historical and cultural influences (i.e. Norman Conquest, Latin influence)
  4. The Great Vowel Shift dramatically changed pronunciation, but spelling stayed mostly the same
  5. So-called “irregularities” often preserve morphological and etymological meaning connections

Connect with Danny Bate

  1. Website: https://dannybate.com/
  2. Podcast: A Language I Love Is…
  3. Book: Why Q Needs U: A history of our letters and how we use them

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