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)

087 Used to Versus Use to, and Other Listener Questions

087 Used to Versus Use to, and Other Listener Questions

Used to Versus Use to, and Other Listener Questions Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

7 Des 20074min

084 People Versus Entities

084 People Versus Entities

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

16 Nov 20075min

083 Interviewing Tips

083 Interviewing Tips

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

9 Nov 20075min

082 Daylight-Saving Time

082 Daylight-Saving Time

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

9 Nov 20074min

078 Formatting Hyperlinks

078 Formatting Hyperlinks

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

5 Okt 20074min

077 Verbification of a Noun

077 Verbification of a Noun

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

28 Sep 20076min

076 Starting a Sentence With "Hopefully"

076 Starting a Sentence With "Hopefully"

Starting a Sentence With "Hopefully" Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

21 Sep 20075min

073 Simplify Your Writing

073 Simplify Your Writing

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

30 Aug 20076min

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