Re: Abjad: definition

Michael Everson wrote:

>
> Daniels:
>
> abjad a type of writing system that denotes only consonants
>
> The Unicode Standard:
>
> Abjad. A consonant writing system. The main letters are all
> consonants (or long vowels) with other vowels either left out
> entirely or indicated with secondary marking of the consonants. The
> best-known example is the Arabic writing system, and the term "abjad"
> is derived from the first four letters of the traditional order of
> the Arabic script.
>
> Daniels commented:
>
> >The differences, for the one among you who cannot see them: absense of
> >"only"; presence of "(or long vowels)"; mention of secondary markings;
> >bad example. The only pure example is Phoenician.
>
> So, given this, one might propose the following revision:
>
> Abjad. A writing system in which only consonants are indicated. A
> well-known example is the Arabic writing system, though it is not a
> "pure" abjad because consonant letters like /w/ and /y/ are used to
> mark long vowels /o/ or /u/ or /i/. In some abjads, vowels can also
> be indicated by the use of secondary marks on the consonants. The
> term "abjad" is derived from the first four letters of the
> traditional order of the Arabic script.
>
> I believe that this is accurate. Comment is invited. And yes, I am
> leaving Abugida for the last.

When they get vowel points they cease to abjads definitely, and when
they get matres, they cease to be true or "pure" abjads. Thus the only
true abjad in Phoenician.

Why is it useful to include this technical term in the study of writing
systems in the Unicode glossary?
--
Peter T. Daniels grammatim@...