The History of the Alphabet: Interview with Danny Bate

from Words for Granted - An etymology and linguistics podcast

In this episode, author Danny Bate walks through the alphabet's evolution from its origins in Egyptian hieroglyphs to the letters of the English alphabet familiar to us today. He explains why English spelling became so irregular, while also arguing that non-phonetic spelling can preserve meaning and help unify diverse English dialects. The conversation also highlights memorable letter histories, including an answer to the question: Why does Q need U? To learn more about Danny and order his new book, use this link: https://dannybate.com/

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This episode was published on March 17, 2026.

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