A Handbook of the English Language

by R. G. Latham

Forr he ne magg noht elless,

On Englissh writenn rihht te word,

þatt wite he well to soþe.

[§ 175]. The order of the alphabet.—In the history of our alphabet, we have had the history of certain changes in the arrangement, as well as of the changes in the number and power of its letters. The following question now presents itself: viz., Is there in the order of the letters any natural arrangement, or is the original as well as the present succession of letters arbitrary and accidental? The following facts suggest an answer in the affirmative.

The order of the Hebrew alphabet is as follows:—

	Name.	Sound.		Name.	Sound.
1.	Aleph	Either a vowel or a breathing.	12.	Lamed	L.
2.	Beth	B.	13.	Mem	M.
3.	Gimel	G, as in gun.	14.	Nun	N.
4.	Daleth	D.	15.	Samech	a variety of S.
5.	He	Either a vowel or an aspirate.	16.	Ayn	Either a vowel or ——?
6.	Vaw	V.	17.	Pe	P.
7.	Zayn	Z.	18.	Tsadi	TS.
8.	Kheth	a variety of K.	19.	Kof	a variety of K.
9.	Teth	a variety of T.	20.	Resh	R.
10.	Yod	I.	21.	Sin	S.
11.	Caph	K.	22.	Tau	T.

Let beth, vaw, and pe (b, v, p) constitute a series called series P. Let gimel, kheth, and kof (g, kh, k') constitute a series called series K. Let daleth, teth, and tau, (d, t', t) constitute a series called series T. Let aleph, he, and ayn constitute a series called the vowel series. Let the first four letters be taken in their order.

1. Aleph	of the vowel series.
2. Beth	of series P.
3. Gimel	of series K.
4. Daleth	of series T.