Definitions of writing systems

[Kathy H.]

> > abjad: A type of writing system that denotes only consonants> > ... but which can *connote* vowels :-)> > -Dan.
 
 
It's an interesting system.  Of course the vowels have to be "recovered" (there might be a better word to put there) somehow.  I don't have fluency in any language that uses an abjadic writing system, so I have no idea how the words are recognized if they might share consonants but differ in their vowels.  
 
How are Arabic verb forms/tenses recognized without explicit vowels?  Anyone care to enlighten me?  
 
In terms of writing systems, though, the point, of course, is that the vowels are not explicitly written.  
 
Kathy
 
 
_________________________________________________________________
Invite your mail contacts to join your friends list with Windows Live Spaces. It's easy!
http://spaces.live.com/spacesapi.aspx?wx_action=create&wx_url=/friends.aspx&mkt=en-us
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://listserv.linguistlist.org/pipermail/slling-l/attachments/20070927/57548214/attachment.htm>
-------------- next part --------------
_______________________________________________
SLLING-L mailing list
SLLING-L at majordomo.valenciacc.edu
http://majordomo.valenciacc.edu/mailman/listinfo/slling-l