Why Q needs U and how hieroglyphics created our alphabet, with Danny Bate

Why Q needs U and how hieroglyphics created our alphabet, with Danny Bate

1125. This week, we talk with linguist and author Danny Bate about his book, "Why Q Needs U." We look at the ancient origins of our alphabet, tracing its conceptual leap from Egyptian hieroglyphs to symbols that represent sounds. Danny explains the "acrophonic principle" (one sound from a picture) and why the letter A was originally a consonant, not a vowel.

Find Danny Bate on his website, Bluesky or on X.

Get the book, "Why Q Needs U."

Listen to Danny's podcast, "A Language I Love Is..."

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Episoder(963)

100 How to Write Numbers

100 How to Write Numbers

How to Write Numbers Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

28 Mar 20084min

007 Which Versus That

007 Which Versus That

Which Versus That Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

21 Mar 20084min

098 Who Versus Whom--Advanced

098 Who Versus Whom--Advanced

Who Versus Whom--Advanced Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

7 Mar 20083min

096 May Versus Might

096 May Versus Might

May Versus Might Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

21 Feb 20083min

095 Zeroscape Versus Xeriscape

095 Zeroscape Versus Xeriscape

Zeroscape Versus Xeriscape Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

15 Feb 20082min

093 Hyphens

093 Hyphens

Hyphens Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

31 Jan 20084min

091 Yo as a Pronoun

091 Yo as a Pronoun

Yo as a Pronoun Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

10 Jan 20085min

090 Went Missing

090 Went Missing

Went Missing Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

4 Jan 20084min

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