At 20:26 -0400 2004-08-01, Peter T. Daniels wrote:

> >So you think that a Hebrew Genesis when unpointed is an abjad, but
> >that a Hebrew Genesis pointed is no longer an abjad, but has become
> >an alphabet?
>
>No, a text isn't any sort of writing system.

You're being obtuse; please don't be.

"So you think that a Hebrew Genesis when unpointed is written with an
abjad, but that a Hebrew Genesis pointed is no longer written with an
abjad, but has become an alphabet?"

>The former is written with an abjad, the latter with an alphabet.

That's one way of putting it. I tend to prefer saying that the Hebrew
script is an abjad, though it is used as an alphabet when used for
Yiddish. I am not sure the Hebrew points count as "letters", though
-- in which case it may not be appropriate to say that the Hebrew
script is used as an alphabet when pointed.

> >>and when they get matres, they cease to be true or "pure" abjads.
> >
>> Well. the proposed text states specifically that Arabic isn't "pure".
>
>So it's not good as the sole example.

Perhaps both could be mentioned.

> > Well, the glossary is not all about the study of writing systems.
>
>So why include a term used only in the study of writing systems?

Because the term isn't used only in the study of writing systems. The
term is also used in descriptions of writing systems as used in
implementations for computers.

> > So... is there any serious objection to the definition,
> > aimed not at linguists, but at people interested at understanding
> > writing systems with regard to their implementation?
>
>Surely it isn't a place such people would think of going for help?

I will take that non sequitur as an indication that you do not have
serious objections to the definition. Revised as per your Phoenician
comment:

Abjad. A writing system in which only consonants are indicated. The
Phoenician script is a prototypical abjad; a better-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.

--
Michael Everson * * Everson Typography * * http://www.evertype.com