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Re: Optimum number of symbols

From:Nik Taylor <fortytwo@...>
Date:Friday, May 24, 2002, 0:12
Christophe Grandsire wrote:
> So where is the supposed superiority of the alphabet? That it can do > that with a minimum of characters? True, but often at the expense of > readability, compared to other systems (especially if you make it featural). In > short, the alphabet is no more universal than any other system.
I have to disagree with you. An alphabet can be adapted to a new language with a minimum of change, adding a couple letters and/or diacritics. A syllabry lacks that ability. You'd have to either add thousands of characters to kana, or create some kind of "vowel-killer" mark (plus extra characters) to adapt it to English, for example. And in doing so, you'd be stretching the definition of syllabry.
> That's where I disagree. What did the vowel improve?
Writing. Greek (and most European languages) would be a nightmare to read without vowels. -- "There's no such thing as 'cool'. Everyone's just a big dork or nerd, you just have to find people who are dorky the same way you are." - overheard ICQ: 18656696 AIM Screen-Name: NikTaylor42

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Christophe Grandsire <christophe.grandsire@...>