12
votes
What's the deal with Q?
The Latin alphabet is based on the Etruscan alphabet, which had three signs for the /k/ sound: C (𐌂), K (𐌊), and Q (𐌒). The reason for that is that the Western Greek alphabet the Etruscan alphabet ...
- 8,109
6
votes
How did σσ differ from σ?
Coming back to this several years later, some scholars do believe σσ was used to represent a different quality of sound than σ—at least in Anatolia. From Obrador-Cursach's The Phrygian Language page ...
- 59.9k
3
votes
When and why did "Σ" make a comeback?
Still, the lower case σ,ς are more lunate than not...
In this blog at the British Library you may monitor the transition from manuscript to print (Aldus Manutius) in late 15th century. The Florentine ...
- 1,122
3
votes
Can uppercase j be used to replace uppercase i letter on a monument inscription?
I and J were historically the same letter; using I for the vowel and J for the consonant was a relatively late innovation. So in older inscriptions you may find I's that look like modern J's, and vice ...
- 59.9k
2
votes
When and why did "Σ" make a comeback?
This comes down to the distinction between "uppercase" and "lowercase" letters, which developed out of an earlier (by which I mean Mediaeval, not Classical) manuscript tradition ...
- 59.9k
1
vote
What's the deal with Q?
Q means that the U following it is a consonant.* A U preceded by a C is a vowel.
So, qui is pronounced /kwi/ while cui is pronounced /kuj/.
*But see Cairnarvon's more detailed answer. Really the U ...
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