A syllabary is a script where each sign represents a combination of consonant + vowel, or just vowel (or sometimes vowel + consonant, as in Hittite cuneiform). Examples: Linear A and B, Cypro-Minoan, the Cypriot Syllabary, Hittite cuneiform.

An abjad is a script where each sign represents a consonant, and vowels are not represented. Example: ( Read more... )

Something just struck me. The Phoenician alphabet is an alphabet without any vowels[1]. Phoenician is written in txtspk!

[1] Yes, I know a couple of letters end up getting vocalic functions, but that's a whole nother story...

I may have mentioned this before, but part of my work now involves transcribing Hebrew because some annoying academic dudes in the 60s decided it was cool to transcribe Phoenician inscriptions into Hebrew ( Read more... )