A Brief Introduction to the Arabic Alphabet: Its Origins and Various Forms (En)

English
By: John E. Healey, G. Rex Smith
Softcover
116 pp
Saqi Books, London, 2009
13.5 x 20 cm
978-0-86356-431-4 . 9780863564314
History - Culture - Arabic Alphabet

The Arabic alphabet has a fascinating history, one that is entwined with the development of culture and society in the Middle East. The authors trace the origins of the Arabic alphabet back to Aramaic, a descendant of Phoenecian, which itself gave rise to the Hebrew and Greek alphabets.

This title offers a primer for both general readers and students alike, A Brief Introduction to the Arabic Alphabet is illustrated and contains glossaries, indices, and suggestions for further reading.

John Healey is a professor of Semitic studies at the University of Manchester.

Rex Smith is an Arabist, historian, and scholar of the medieval history of Yemen.