By that standard, many alphabets, including the Phoenician and Arabic alphabets,...

PittleyDunkin · 2025-01-17T15:46:01 1737128761

Yes, exactly. Linear A was the first alphabet, and greek gave "alphabet" its name.

I almost get the sense that people are interpreting abjad as "lesser-than" an alphabet. It's just a distinction, it's not a value judgement.

DiogenesKynikos · 2025-01-18T18:08:26 1737223706

It's a subclass, not a separate category. Some alphabets don't write vowels.

PittleyDunkin · 2025-01-19T15:53:20 1737302000

How do you refer just to the sort of alphabets that do have vowels and not abjads?

ivanbakel · 2025-01-17T13:03:30 1737119010

Indeed, Arabic is an abjad.

fsckboy · 2025-01-17T14:06:51 1737122811

shouldn't it be called a bjd?

georgeburdell · 2025-01-17T14:46:57 1737125217

I know you’re joking, but Arabic doesn’t write short vowels only. A as in “ah” is still written, so it would be “Abjd”

DiogenesKynikos · 2025-01-18T18:07:11 1737223631

Abjads are a type of alphabet. In fact, they're the OG alphabet.