Ridiculous History Podcast Summary
Episode: How The (English) Alphabet Became A Thing, Part Two: Each Letter Has A Story
Release Date: December 12, 2024
Host: Ben Bolin and Noel Brown
Produced By: iHeartPodcasts

Introduction

In the second installment of their deep dive into the evolution of the English alphabet, Ben Bolin and Noel Brown continue exploring the quirky and intricate histories behind each letter. Building upon the foundations laid in Part One, this episode focuses on individual narratives that have shaped the modern English writing system.

Recap of Part One

The hosts briefly revisit the key points from the previous episode, highlighting memorable moments such as Chaucer's unconventional linguistic choices and their producer Max Williams' voice acting prowess.

Noel Brown [01:19]: "We learned that Chaucer was a saucy boy. He liked butts and then talking funny. And we learned that Max has a real talent for voice acting."

The Printing Press and Language Standardization

Ben and Noel discuss the pivotal role of the printing press in standardizing English, introduced to England by William Caxton in the late 15th century. They delve into the challenges Caxton and his Belgian assistants faced with inconsistent spelling and the economic incentives that led to elongated word forms.

Ben Bolin [10:11]: "What you need to know, folks, is the Idea of generating what we call modern English. While it is launched by the amazing innovation of the printing press, it is complicated by short-term economic interest of the time."

They explain how the printing industry's payment per line incentivized printers to make words longer, inadvertently preserving silent letters and irregular spellings.

Evolution of Individual Letters

The core of the episode systematically explores each letter of the English alphabet, tracing their origins from ancient scripts to their current forms and sounds.

A to C

• A: Originated from a symbol representing an ox, inverted to resemble its modern shape.

  Ben Bolin [25:00]: "Originally a symbol for an ox, which translates to 'ox,' it was flipped upside down to become the letter A."

• B: Derived from Egyptian hieroglyphics symbolizing a house, evolving in shape and meaning over millennia.

  Noel Brown [25:55]: "Originally, about 4,000 years ago, the symbol did not represent the sound B. It represented the idea of shelter."

• C: Began as a boomerang-like symbol in Phoenician, later adopted and modified by the Greeks and Italians to form the modern C.

  Ben Bolin [26:47]: "They took it like a hunting stick, a half moon shape."

D to F

• D: Started as a door in Semitic languages, transformed through Greek (Delta) and Roman adaptations.

  Noel Brown [27:03]: "The original meaning was door."

• E: Initially pronounced as an H sound in Semitic languages, later shifted to its current E sound in Greek adaptations.

  Noel Brown [28:41]: "Pronounced more like an H sound."

• F: Evolved from a Y-like shape in Phoenician to the modern F, influenced by Greek (Digamma) and Roman styles.

  Noel Brown [29:34]: "Pronounced more like a wa, like, wow."

G to J

• G: Originated from the Greek Zeta, transformed by Romans to differentiate from I, establishing distinct G and I sounds.

  Ben Bolin [30:32]: "It's similar to how the amazing author Stephen King has what he calls dollar babies."

• H: Represented a fence in Egyptian hieroglyphics, temporarily dropped from the English alphabet around 500 CE before being reinstated.

  Ben Bolin [33:43]: "British and Latin scholars eventually dropped the letter H from the English Alphabet entirely around 500 CE."

• I and J: The letter I served as a stand-in for J until the 17th century when J was formally recognized as a separate letter.

  Ben Bolin [36:34]: "The letter I used to be a stand in for the J sound in ancient times."

K to N

• K: Originated from the Egyptian symbol for the palm of a hand, evolved through Greek (Kappa) and Roman modifications.

  Noel Brown [37:03]: "Given the name Kaf, which translates to palm of the hand."

• L: Began as an upside-down hooked letter in Egyptian hieroglyphics, shaped by Phoenician and Greek influences into the modern L.

  Ben Bolin [42:36]: "Originally looked like a hooked letter, almost like the old hangman game."

• M and N: M started as wavy lines representing water in Egyptian symbols, simplifying over time. N evolved from symbols representing serpents to the modern N.

  Ben Bolin [45:26]: "Originated as wavy vertical lines symbolizing water."

O to S

• O: Began as a symbol representing an eye, transformed through Phoenician and Greek adaptations.

  Noel Brown [46:34]: "Originally represented someone looking at you."

• P: Originated as an inverted V symbolizing a mouth in Semitic languages, evolved through Phoenician and Roman modifications.

  Ben Bolin [47:42]: "Originally represented 'mouth.'"

• Q: Derived from the Phoenician quof, meaning ax, adapted by Romans into the modern Q.

  Noel Brown [48:15]: "Originally meant ax, Z-A-Y-I-N."

• R: Symbolized the profile of a human head in Semitic languages, transformed into the modern R through Greek and Roman influences.

  Noel Brown [49:17]: "Originally the concept behind the letter R was the profile of a human facing left."

• S: Began as a wavy bow of an arch in Semitic scripts, angled into the modern S by Roman standardization.

  Ben Bolin [49:35]: "They named it Sigma."

T to W

• T: Originated as taw in Semitic languages, meaning cross or mark, evolved through Greek (Tau) and Roman adaptations.

  Noel Brown [50:31]: "Called it tau and added the cross at the top."

• U and V: Initially interchangeable in Roman times, differentiated into U (vowel) and V (consonant) around the 1400s.

  Ben Bolin [51:27]: "The distinction between V and U didn't start to appear until around the 1400s."

• W: Emerged in the Middle Ages as a double U, evolving into the distinct W by the 1700s through the influence of scribes like those of Charlemagne.

  Noel Brown [52:16]: "Started as two U's next to one another."

X to Z

• X: Originated from the Greek psi, adapted into the modern X shape by Roman printers.

  Ben Bolin [53:06]: "Used as an integral part of every SoundCloud rapper's MC name."

• Y and Z: Y began as upsilon in Greek, later borrowed by Romans. Z originated from the Phoenician zion, adapted into Greek zeta, and finally established in English post-Norman invasion.

  Noel Brown [55:43]: "The Normans invaded the United Kingdom and introduced the Z sound."

The Future of Language: Emojis and Beyond

Transitioning from historical letters, Ben and Noel ponder the future trajectory of written language, speculating on the rise of emojis as a universal mode of communication.

Noel Brown [57:06]: "It is fascinating to track whether we're heading towards a future where the written word is being replaced by emojis."

They discuss the potential for emojis to bridge language barriers, despite the loss of nuance, and acknowledge the enduring importance of the written word in human communication.

Ben Bolin [58:23]: "Name check to or shout out to Episode one. Entire novels have been written in emoji as we speak."

Conclusion

Ben and Noel wrap up the episode by reflecting on the dynamic and often arbitrary evolution of the English alphabet. They emphasize the importance of historical influences and the ongoing changes that shape language.

Noel Brown [59:15]: "Thanks to you, Ben, for putting together this incredible two parter on the history of the English language."

They acknowledge their producer Max Williams and encourage listeners to explore more content, highlighting the collaborative effort behind the podcast.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Noel Brown [01:19]: "We learned that Chaucer was a saucy boy. He liked butts and then talking funny. And we learned that Max has a real talent for voice acting."

• Ben Bolin [10:11]: "What you need to know, folks, is the Idea of generating what we call modern English. While it is launched by the amazing innovation of the printing press, it is complicated by short-term economic interest of the time."

• Noel Brown [25:55]: "Originally, about 4,000 years ago, the symbol did not represent the sound B. It represented the idea of shelter."

• Ben Bolin [33:43]: "British and Latin scholars eventually dropped the letter H from the English Alphabet entirely around 500 CE."

• Noel Brown [52:16]: "Started as two U's next to one another."

• Noel Brown [59:15]: "Thanks to you, Ben, for putting together this incredible two parter on the history of the English language."

Final Thoughts

This episode of Ridiculous History offers an engaging and humorous exploration of the English alphabet's origins, making complex linguistic transformations accessible and entertaining. Ben Bolin and Noel Brown skillfully blend historical facts with witty banter, providing listeners with both education and amusement.

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